Through the Kattenbos and along the Molse Nete in Lommel

On the territory of Lommel there are a large number of nature reserves scattered here and there. The varied Kattenbos with remaining heathlands, the picturesque canal of Beverlo and the Molse Nete are well worth a walk. Departure at the parking opposite tavern de Vijf Linden, Zandstraat 18 in Lommel (V). From the car park, go into the forest. After about ten meters you go to the right (green rectangle) right through a shelter. After 350 meters green goes straight, but you take the narrow path through mixed forest (red triangle and orange sphere) on the right. At a crossroads of paths, turn right and come back to green. On the left you pass a soggy area with a beautiful pond, on your right there is a play forest.

Opposite a beautiful heathland you go to the right (green) and at the level of a number of wooden posts you take the narrow path to the left (without signs) through the heathland with a number of scattered juniper bushes. At the end of the heath (bench) you can shorten the walk by 5 kilometers. In that case, go straight ahead (orange sphere) and follow the signs very carefully. After two right-left movements through forest, you turn right on a field road between forest and field. At the end of the field road you take the right again to turn left about 50 meters further into a beautiful path. You cross the narrow Molse Nete and come together with red a little further on the normal route.

For the full walk, follow the orange sphere on the left along the heath. At an intersection, turn left. At a crossroads, take the path sharply to the right (red triangle). You now follow the red signs for quite some time. Past some wooden posts and the Fluxys gas pipeline, take the path parallel to the track on the right. Past a number of backyards you go right into the forest (red). For a field, turn left. After a while you will notice the windmills of the Lommel industrial zone on the right. You get on asphalt.

On a street road, go diagonally straight. Before the bridge over the Beverlo canal, go right next to the bridge and then take the towpath along the canal. Further on you will find a picnic bench. At a culvert with blue railing (the Molse Nete) you take a narrow path down on the right. At the street road you turn left to turn right after 100 meters along the Molse Nete, which is no wider than a stream. On the left you notice, now very close, the wind farm. Ignore all side roads. Where you cross a cycle path, follow the earth road straight ahead, parallel to the cycle path. After a while you get into a nice drive. A little further you join the hikers who followed the abbreviation (orange sphere).

After about 150 meters you leave red and orange for a while and follow the GR signs on the right through the grove. After another 200 meters you will automatically come together with the normal road. At the next intersection, leave the red triangle and follow the orange sphere on the left (prohibition sign cars, motorcycles). A little further you turn with orange to the right. Take the forest road to the left (orange) 600 metres further. You pass the railway and leave it after 500 meters diagonally to the right. Keep following the orange signs very carefully through a beautiful forest until you come to a T opposite a narrow stream. Normally orange goes to the left here to take a field road to the right a little further and shortly afterwards meet with red.

In case of flooding at this place, follow the following detour if necessary. Turn right along the stream. Cross the next bridge to the left and follow the road straight ahead (no indications). Ignore the side roads from the right. The slightly wider road turns diagonally left into a narrow winding path over a number of dune ridges. At an intersection with a forest road, take it to the left, after which you come to a T. Follow the red triangle on the left. At the next fork you come together with the orange sphere.

You now follow red and orange and pass the Leyssensmolen that was built at the end of the eighteenth century. Cross a little further down a street and follow the path straight ahead. You rejoin the green rectangle and turn left. Ignore the first path to the left and continue straight on green until you reach the parking lot again.