From Galmaarden to quarries

This bike tour takes you through the most remote corners of three provinces: Flemish Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. The hilly Pajottenland is the host. Between one of the landscapes bends the undulating mark. You will come across this watermill stream at the beginning and end of the ride in Galmaarden. Especially the beautiful views further determine the charm of this difficult visit.

1. With your back to the church, pedal to the Brusselstraat. Around the corner, the bailiff's house is now a culture house with cafeteria. You can have a drink in the courtyard, see an exhibition and get tourist brochures. Follow the Brusselstraat until you can turn right into the narrow Munkbaan. Pass the Heetveldemolen on the Mark. For a long time, you drive alone along vast fields, meadows and fields. At the end of the street, just left and then right, the Hazendries. Cross the railway tracks, continue straight ahead and at the T-junction on the right, onto Zwaanstraat. The road, without a bike path, is falsely flat. At the end of the Zwaanstraat, you cycle left into the Winterkeerstraat, direction Bever. At the end of this road, turn left onto Herhoutstraat, direction Soignies. The road, the Geraardsbergenstraat, goes up and up and continues to climb. At an intersection with mirror and with Mark and St. Pieterskapelle signs, turn right and immediately right. At the corner there is a wooden cross between large bushes. You pedal through Boulevard. At the fork, you follow left onto Eysbroeckstraat, then right onto Beverstraat. You keep pedaling until you turn left into a bend, at a St.Pieterskapelle/Herne municipal sign, at a large cherry tree in a yard with a new storage facility behind it. Follow Puydt on the left and continue pedaling endlessly right. To the end of this street, you pedal along the provincial border. At the end of the road, on a small green square, you turn left into the incredibly long Zullikstraat.
2. Take the Zullikstraat, on the motorway, in the street of Manhove. At the end of the street, at the T-junction, turn right and right into Rue Warsbecq. Walking through fields and meadows, asphalt takes you to a 1767 border post. The post and an information sign in French are on the left of the road. Back to civilization, take the first street on the right, the rue du Monument. At the T-junction on the left, take Rue de la Rembeck. You will then enter the bend of the rue de Grammont (N263) which you will follow on the left. Attention: priority road! Continue towards Hellebecq until you turn right onto Rue du Bois. Soon you will dive under the highway. Pedal to the intersection that crosses you to continue on the other side (a little to the left) by the rue du Bois. Further on rue du Bois (there is no road sign) do not follow left but continue to pedal straight into rue D'Horlebaix. At the end, turn left, then right. A few meters further, the road splits. Turn left onto Rue De Gage. You cycle through the forest and pass the Château d'Yve, named after its resident Marquis d'Yve. Beyond the castle park, you can see St. Joseph's Chapel in the field. Past the castle and the estate, you pedal straight until you turn right into rue Gilles. You first descend along the edge of the Bois d'Acren, then you start to go up and you have a view of the impressive Hermitage Quarries on the left. This porphyry quarry is active mainly in autumn and winter, when little greenery is visible on trees and shrubs. You climb through a beautiful and impressive beech promenade to the Ferme du Buse. Continue to follow Gilles Street through the forest and then keep left on Glacenée Street. Once you get out of the forest, it's like there's fog, but it's quarry dust. At a crossroads (in Deux-Acren) follow rue Glacenée on the right. Just before arriving at the village of Deux-Acren, turn abruptly right into Rue D'En-Bas. (You can also go a little further to the car park on the right of the street on the right in the rue D'En-Bas). Continue to follow this street on the right (actually straight). Kick a few times and then head to the right, towards Akrenbos. The street here is still called Rue D'En-Bas.
3. Turn left into Rue d'En Haut, direction Biévène (Bever). Keep pedaling straight, even if the name of the street changes to Lisière Du Bois. After 3 km you cross a crossroads and you will see the Church of St. Gereon of Arkenbos on the left of the road. Take the first side street on the left, the Arkenbos to the end. Turn left (la Trapstraat) and at the crossroads of the Kouter chapel, turn right. Continue straight through the Kouterstraat, straight ahead at the roundabout, through the village of Viane on the Edingseweg towards Zullik. Continue to follow the road until you can turn left into the Rodeweg. Continue cycling through the Rodeweg which turns into Rodestraat. Always pedal straight to the end. Turn left, Stationsstraat. Cross the railway tracks and continue straight until you reach the church.