By 't Hageland in Lubbeek

This tour lusts through the heart of the Hageland around Lubbeek. Orchards, gentle hills and views make this region a perfect cycling country. Although you will occasionally have to go straight on the pedals to overcome a ledge in the landscape. But the panorama that awaits you at the top will make you accept that it is always worthwhile to pedal up a short slope.

1. At the classicist St. Martin's Church in Lubbeek you cycle out of the Dorpsstraat in the direction of Boutersem. Follow the descending Dorpsstraat. Where it goes right to Boutersem you cycle straight ahead in Heurbeek. You climb out of the village and don't care about side roads. After a bend, take Kerkomsestraat on the right, a hollow road that rises gently. Between the fields it turns into the Driesstraat. Follow along to the left and then straight on until the T where you turn right into the Boskouterstraat. On the corner you will find a cozy bicycle café 'Sportlokaal', where you can eat or drink something. Follow the undulating road until you reach the Malendriesstraat. Turn left and then the first right. You cycle through the territory of Kerkom. The concrete road first makes a sharp turn to the left and then to the right, so you come to the Smisveldstraat. Left. After a turn, take the Lubbeekstraat on the left. Cross the intersection and continue cycling in the Lubbeeksestraat. Pedal past the puddles on the left and then turn left into the Moffelstraat.
2. Follow this one-way road to the T-junction where you cycle right into the Kasteelstraat. If you want to view the castle of Roosbeek (on the outside) you first have to turn left. Cycle past an old village pump and follow on the T, the Oude Baan to the left. Then take another left on Breisemsestraat, a 'heavy cobblestone road' between fields. At the end you turn right into the Koffiestraat. From now on you will cycle for a while on the territory of Tienen. Just climb and then take the Kapelleblokstraat on the right. Continue straight on until you reach the intersection with Kerkomstraat. Here is a late Gothic St. Cornelius chapel from the 14th century. Cross the intersection and cycle on the other side through the Kleinveldstraat. In a wide bend you do not pedal on the right in the Vloedweg but you steer left, still through the Kleinveldstraat. Now you cycle through an open agricultural landscape. In the next bend, do not follow along on the left but keep to the right. Then take the first road on the right. There is no street sign but it is the Vossekotweg. It is a bit bumpy here but you take the first road on the left and from here it goes much better. You are now in the Dennenboomweg but you only notice that when you are in Vissenaken.
3. You cycle along the edge of a forest again. Beyond the forest you get to see a beautiful panorama. Keep pedaling until the T-junction where you turn left into Sint-Pietersstraat. From here it is a long way straight, over the intersection with the Romeinsebaan, over the intersection with the Aarschotsesteenweg and further straight into the Waterstraat. At the end of the Waterstraat you cycle left, in the Vissenakenstraat, direction Attenrode/Wever. You cycle over the Velp and along the Dalem watermill. Beyond the mill there is another calf biter waiting for you. You arrive in Wever where the Vissenakenstraat turns into Torenstraat. Continue straight and then turn left into Butschovestraat. At the fork you have to keep right and follow the Heirbaan.
4. At the crossroads, keep following this street on the right. You can climb a bit again and your efforts will be rewarded with a beautiful panorama. Cross the intersection with Langestraat and continue to rise gently. The view on your left is becoming more and more impressive. Don't worry about side roads and cross the next intersection. You are still in the Heirbaan. You are allowed to descend a bit, pass a bush and ignore a side road on the right. At the T-junction at the end of the Heirbaan, take the Hoefstraat on the left, which is already called Nijsel Rodestraat a few meters further. At the T-junction turn left into Binkomstraat and a little further right into Kerkstraat, direction Kiezegem. Don't worry about side roads and turn left at the first intersection into Neckerspoelstraat. At the fork keep right and at the end follow the Glabbeeksesteenweg to the left.
5. In a bend, you cycle at a beautiful field chapel, under a linden tree, on the left into the Peerdsweidestraat. On the left a beautiful panorama, on the right orchards. Cycle straight on at a crossroads until you reach the intersection with the busier Tiensesteenweg. Cross that stone road, continue straight and then left into the Sint-Gertrudendries. Ignore all the side roads and enjoy the view. The street name changes to Grotendries and starts to drop sharply. Without stairs you get to Sint-Maartendries. Keep cycling straight ahead and you will come back to the church of Lubbeek.