Through the nature reserves of Leopoldsburg

This tour takes you to the natural area in the vicinity of the Kempen and Limburg municipality of Leopoldsburg, which is best known for its barracks and extensive army training grounds. On this tour you will pass a military domain here and there, but you will also discover areas such as the Pijnven, a nature reserve of 853 ha and the Kraanveld domain forest. The old mining terril and the valley of the Zwarte Beek, one of the most valuable stream valleys in Western Europe, are also on the program. Unique is that nature management is carried out throughout the river basin, from source to mouth. In Visitor Centre De Watersnip you will learn all about it.

1. Start at the parking lot of clubhouse Drakar in the marina (V) of Leopoldsburg. Follow the towpath along the Beverlo canal to junction 275, at the Balen-Zwaling bridge. Turn right here, away from the canal, direction junction 272. First through a quiet agricultural landscape and along a military domain (forbidden to enter!). You cycle up the Lommelse Gracht and then on a paved cycle path through the woods, to junction 272 with picnic area at the IJzeren paal (1). Here you choose on the right, direction junction 257, on the asphalt cycle path through the Pijnven, a nature reserve of 853 ha, of which 70 ha recreation zone. After a while, your bike path runs along a road with a fair amount of traffic and then further into the forest. The path winds and ripples more or less parallel to the Kiefhoekstraat. Then just next to that road and a little further right into the Weyenbrugstraat, still towards 257.
2. Military domain Through the forest, between the meadows and after a while again along military domain. After a bend, a sign states that you are not allowed to leave the road for a distance of 1 km, due to 'Military Exercise'. You actually cycle around a gigantic nature reserve, where only soldiers are allowed to enter. Back in civilization, you reach junction 257. Follow the Nethestraat to the right, direction 258, through a residential area. At the end of the Nethestraat you cross the Nete. It is not on the sign, but it is the Grote Nete, which rises nearby. You cycle past the nameplate of Hechtel-Eksel and a sign 'Military Domain - Forbidden Access'. Along the edge of the forest and the military domain, it then continues between meadows with hedgerows to junction 258. If you opt for the shortening, cycle on the right here, towards junction 342. However, you don't have to go that far. You follow the Kamperbaan straight through the military training area to the center of Leopoldsburg. Before junction 342 you have to turn left there. Turn right, direction Mol and follow this road until you reach the marina.
3. If you opt for the big tour, cycle straight ahead at junction 258, towards 517. You wind around the center of Hechtel and cycle under the North-South connection, an expressway with highway allures. At junction 517 turn left towards junction 05. At junction 05 you will see a large column with information about the Cycle Route Network. Now follow the old railway bed to the right, direction junction 309, through the Resterheide with the Begijnenvijvers. After 5 km you reach junction 309 on the Grote Baan, next to Park Molenheide. Now you have to follow direction 308 and the busy road 200 m to the left. Turn into the Kievitwijk. Then again over an old railway bed to junction 308 with picnic area. Turn right here, direction 307. Leave the Heerkensweg on the right and cycle into the Kraanberg domain forest. Another beautiful asphalt bike path, separated from the dirt road by poles and a wire. Turn left with the path, past a giant landfill and continue to ignore all side paths into civilization.
4. Along the mine terril Past eatery and bicycle café 't Boske you come to the Lindeman district, with a huge mine terril in the background. You cycle past the Turkish mosque Selimiye Camii and between football fields. It then goes down sharply. After a nod up, you touch a busier road. At junction 307 turn right, direction 310. Now it goes for a long time next to the old mine terril (2), now a Flemish nature reserve, mostly green, but part still as black as before. After the sign of Koersel into the forest and through a gate, which can be closed with a small barrier with a sign 'Forbidden Access - Military Exercises'.
5. Valley of the Black Brook A little further through such a gate and past Visitor Center De Watersnip, where you can learn everything about the valley of the Zwarte Beek. Just before tavern De Watchtower (3), at junction 518, turn left to junction 310. Those who are not afraid of heights can climb the tower with an open spiral staircase, for a breathtaking view. You can also surf to www.toerismeberingen.be at home and watch the 360° panorama quietly. Opposite Parochial Center 't Fonteintje is the chapel of Our Lady on the Stake (4) with Lourdes Grotto and Calvary. And... with a bit of Limburg humour. One spring reads: 'Drink the water from this spring'. On the three taps where water comes out hangs a sign from the city council of Beringen with the text: 'No drinkable water'.
6. The entire recreation area arose around this chapel. Continue cycling past tavern De Bron and leave the area over a large parking lot. Continue along a winding, gently undulating forest path to junction 310. Turn right, direction 341. Via the Melkpad, a narrow road, forbidden for military vehicles, you enter the valley of the Black Brook. First you cross the Oude Beek, then the Zwarte Beek itself. Continue through the forest to junction 341. Cycle straight ahead, direction 342, until you reach a railway, with the Beringen mining terril on the left. You cycle the other way, to the station of Beverlo. Ignore the road to the center of Beverlo on the left and continue cycling to junction 342. Cross the railway here, direction 276. After an SME zone back into the forest, up to junction 276, with a beautiful picnic area. Continue cycling straight ahead, towards 555, through a residential area and then again on a beautiful cycle path through the forest, past sports hall De Merel. At junction 555, follow the Engenstraat straight ahead until junction 277. Between the meadows you reach junction 277. Here you turn right, direction 275. Cross the Asbeek and follow the Asbeekstraat to the right just before the railway. At the end of this street cross the railway and up to the Mol-Leopoldsburg road. Cross carefully and follow the towpath next to the Beverlo canal to the right. Around the swing bowl to the departure point. Tavern Drakar is open from 10 a.m.; closed on Mondays; winter: closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; Own picnic eating allowed.