On foot to Scherpenheuvel

With the church of Messelbroek (V) on your left, you start towards junction 209. Turn right into Engelenberg and turn left at the roundabout. Leave the IJsbergstraat on the right and continue walking until you reach an intersection. Cross it and continue your way, towards Zichem. At junction 209, walk straight ahead, towards 120. Turn right into the Wezelbaan, turn left and turn right into the Egelstraat. At the end, follow Spitsmuizenstraat to the left. Ignore the Eekhoornstraat on the left and continue along the edge of the forest. The road becomes unpaved and at the fork you turn right and walk through the Heidebos. When you get out, it continues between the meadows. On the T turn left and immediately right. Cross an asphalt road and continue walking on a field road. You step through a bush again and then over a narrow path to a concrete road. Cross it and continue walking on the Lobbense Molenweg. You climb around a grove to junction 120. Walk left over the former railway bed from Zichem to Scherpenheuvel, direction 140. Cross the busy Molenstraat and continue walking until junction 140. From this quadruple jump you can enjoy a beautiful 360° panorama. Continue walking towards 139. Cross another intersection and turn right at junction 139 onto the field road. You walk through the gently undulating landscape, towards 406, and get a view of the tower and the dome of the basilica of Scherpenheuvel 1, which indeed stands on a hill. After a climb you will arrive at junction 406. Those who feel like taking a closer look at the basilica can turn right here and walk via junction 137 and the Stations of the Cross to junction 244 at the pilgrimage site. Back and forth that means 1.8 km of walking. Our walk turns left, direction 376. Cross the Timmermansstraat and head into the forest. When you get out, you walk between the fields and where the road turns right, turn left. Turn with the path to the right and keep following the forest edge until you reach junction 376 on a wider field road. Walk left, direction 383. While descending you can enjoy a beautiful panorama with the church of Zichem in the background. You come again to the old railway bed and to junction 383. Make a right-left nod, cross the Bredeveldstraat and enter the Kwalijkstraat, direction 138. Walk past the football fields of Zichem and where the road turns right, turn left onto the church path, to junction 138. Turn right there, direction 208. Along the backyards you reach the stone road on Diest. Follow it to the right until you can follow the old railway embankment on the left. On the left are the Maagdentoren 2 and the Oranjekasteel. Cross the bridge over the Demer and you are at junction 208. Turn left, direction 134. You come to two bridges, do not cross any and walk right until the Ernest Claesstraat and junction 134. Cross the bridge and continue walking towards 135 and the centre of Zichem. At the next bridge, turn right and follow the Demer until you reach watermill 3. Cross the bridge and you will be at junction 135. Continue to follow the river, direction 141. At a white villa you leave the Demer and you come to junction 141. Turn right, direction 283. You walk on a path for cyclists and pedestrians, which briefly turns into the Van Thienwickelstraat and then back into a 'slow' path. This changes to the Spechtstraat, which has been made car-free with poles. At junction 283, go straight ahead, towards 261. You come to Dijk. Right. Leave the road to Messelbroek and the Spellehut and continue walking until junction 261. Take the field road on the left, direction 207. You come to the Demer again and follow it to the left. After a few meanders you reach node 207. Turn left, direction 128 at the church of Messelbroek.