Barneveld - Woudenberg

From village to village – Barneveld to Woudenberg

Hours going: 51/2
paved/unpaved: 40/60
Accessibility by public transport:
Barneveld: Station Barneveld Centrum
Woudenberg: Bus stop De Poort

Fastest connection between end and start point: Woudenberg, stop De Poort: bus X80 dir. Amersfoort, get off: Amersfoort station. By train with the Valleilijn to Barneveld-centrum. Travel time approx. 38 min.

Believe it or not, this route will take you to 'Paradise'! At least...... when we have left the statue of Jan van Schaffelaar with accompanying tower in the center of Barneveld behind us.
Once we have passed the A30 motorway, we enter an area of three estates:
Great Bylaer, Erica-south and Erica-north. The collective name of these estates has the name
'Paradise'. And as the name says, it's unexpectedly beautiful.
On the surface, De Gelderse Vallei is an area known for its intensive livestock farming, including its many prejudices. As this tour lasts, you will think very differently. Take, for example, the number of unpaved roads and paths. If we do not include the built-up areas of Barneveld and Woudenberg, 70% of the tour takes place on unpaved path!
After Het Paradijs we arrive in an area with numerous streams, Barneveldse Beek, Moorsterbeek and Modderbeek to name a few. From the latter we also follow the bank for quite some time.
We pass (at a distance) the villages Achterveld and De Glind.
The tour also leads over one of the largest estates in the province of Utrecht: Landgoed De Boom with no less than 20 tenant farms, recognizable by the blue and white shutters.
At the Valley Canal we also reach the Grebbelinie, full of history and stories.
Only a beautiful entrance gate still reminds of Ridderhofstad Groenewoude, the gate is locked and behind it is a beautiful avenue that ends in nothingness. But then you almost end up in front of the town hall of Woudenberg.