Around Scherpenheuvel

1. You leave Scherpenheuvel, at the Mariahal (V) car park in the Spordel (street) and cycle towards junction 93, at the first intersection. On the corner you can catch a glimpse of the basilica (1) of Scherpenheuvel on the left. Cross the intersection, direction 94, and follow the Noordervest to the end. At café Het Molenhuis turn left and continue to a roundabout. On the left it goes to the basilica, on the right to Aarschot and the E314. Cycle straight ahead, towards Diest, without worrying about side streets until you can turn right into Rootstraat. Climb through this street for local traffic to the Oude Tiensebaan. Cross this priority road and continue cycling through Groenhoef, a winding hollow road. When you come out, you have a nice panorama on the right. When the Koestraat comes to Groenhoef, you cycle left to the T. There you turn right and cycle on a separate cycle path next to a wide concrete road. Cross the N258 carefully and you are in Rillaar.
Continue cycling along the Schoonderbeukenweg to junction 94. Keep cycling straight ahead, direction 6, until you can turn left into Vrankenbosstraat. You now cycle on a narrow asphalt road through the forest and take Oudenbos on the right at the fork, undulating further to junction 6. Turn left, direction 5, and cycle over Donk to the E314. Follow it to the right until the first intersection. Turn left under the highway and follow the Tieltseweg until the junction with junction 5. Turn right, direction 65. You are now in Houwaart and cycle on a wide concrete road along the edge of the forest until you can turn right into the Solleweg. Continue on a narrow asphalt road, towards the forest. At a crossroads go straight ahead and climb into the forest. At a building of the water company turn left and follow Kaaskorf, undulating and winding through the forest. Ignore all side roads until you reach a crossroads after the Geboortebos in Tielt-Winge. Then turn left and descend via a hollow road to a T-junction. Turn left again and follow the Houwaartsebergweg to the end. Turn right and continue on the dotted line cycle path next to a wide concrete road. Past a chapel and the nameplate of Houwaart and then past the church and the town hall. At the T-junction with the Sint-Rochuskapel just left and immediately right into the Streekweg. Continue to the busy N223, cross and turn right.

Past the castle of Horst
You now cycle between meadows and fields and along the castle domain of Horst to the intersection with junction 65. On the right is the castle of Horst (2). Turn left, direction 98. It rises gently and to the right in the fields stands the St. Joseph's Chapel (3) under a centuries-old lime tree. At junction 98 continue straight ahead, direction 97. On the T you follow the Houwaartsebaan to the left until you reach the castle of the Troostemberg. Here you follow Dries to the right until you reach a triangular square with junction 97. Continue cycling straight ahead, towards 96, on a dotted line cycle path. Don't worry about side streets and at the Y-junction follow the wide concrete road on the left until you can take the Gemperstraat on the left, between fields and next to an orchard to a T. Follow the gravel path to the right past an orchard and the forest edge.

From the Gempemolen to the castle
Then go into the forest and continue cycling to the Gempemolen (4). Cross the bridge and cycle past the mill to a T-junction. Here turn left and after an orchard you descend on the right to a priority road. Cross, make a left-right nod and cycle into the Tweevijverstraat. At the fork turn right into the Kareelweg, gently up between the fields. On the right you see the castle of Gemp (5). After a hollow road you arrive at junction 96. Turn left, direction 23, winding along a forest and between fields and meadows to the Grotendries, which you follow to the right. After a bend you enter the Sint-Gertrudendries and you follow it to the left, past a forest near the invisible castle Leenberg. A little further you will pass the Sint-Gertrudenhof. At the end of the Sint-Gertrudendries, follow the Lubbeekstraat to the left until you reach the busy Tiensesteenweg (N223). Cross and continue cycling through the Peerdsweidestraat, direction Meensel-Kiezegem, until junction 23. Continue cycling straight ahead, towards 77. You end up in the bend of the Glabbeekse steenweg and cycle between two orchards until you can turn right, just before the nameplate of Sint-Joris-Winge, into the Bronstraat. Continue on a narrow concrete road between the fields and past orchards and a grove. At junction 77 continue straight towards 76, past the CV Bremberghoeve (beef and veal for sale). At the end of the Bronstraat turn left and immediately after right into the Hazelaarstraat. Orchards on the left, loose buildings on the right. Turn left into Woubeekstraat and enjoy the 360° panorama. At a T-junction with junction 76 turn right, direction 47. Follow this dotted line cycle path until you reach a priority road with a mandatory stop. Cross carefully and continue cycling along a dotted cycle path. Along the nameplate of Molenbeek-Wersbeek, a modern chapel and between fields and orchards up to junction 47. Continue straight ahead, until junction 95, 300 m further. Straight ahead again, between the meadows, direction 39. Cross a priority road and continue cycling on the Halensebaan to junction 39. Continue cycling straight ahead, direction 38, until you reach the busy Provinciebaan (N29). Follow it to the left until you can turn right into Eugeen Coolsstraat. The road splits immediately and you follow the Zelliksebaan on the left. Don't worry about side roads, cross the Begijnenbeek and cycle further between meadows and fields to the wooded Hermansheuvel. At the intersection, cross the Leemhofstraat and at the fork take the right, the Struikstraat. You now pass the Hermansheuvel and turn left into the first street (Doornhof). This narrow, winding road turns into a 'deep' hollow road.

Under the E314
Cross an intersection and continue through a bicycle tunnel under the E314. Continue to a priority road. Follow it to the left until you reach the T with junction 38. Turn left and through the centre of Assent, direction 93. Pass under the E314 and on the other side immediately right into a narrow path next to the edge of the forest. It turns into a field road and you arrive at the Provinciebaan (N29). Follow it to the right on a cycle path, separated from the busy road by a hedge. Just before open exit 24 of the E314, cross the busy road and follow a cycle path to the N2 (Diest-Leuven). Cross over and follow to the left. Then take the first road on the right (Ballaar), away from the crowds. The road becomes hollow and you climb between the fields. Leave the Dennenstraat behind, cycle under the E314 one last time and enjoy the beautiful views. Don't worry about side roads until you can follow the Groenstraat on a T on the right. Ignore Op 't Hof on the left and you get a nice view of the tower and the dome of the Basilica of Scherpenheuvel. Opposite a white chapel from 1896, turn left into the Holleblokstraat, until the end, on the Diestsestraat (N10). Follow it to the left and then turn right into Timmermansstraat. You follow this dirt road to the first intersection. Turn left into Spordel and continue cycling along the football field to the parking lot.