Bachte-Maria-Leerne

Between Deinze and Ghent, the Leie has preserved its authentic character. Never canalized, never overly trafficked, and only rarely straightened, this picturesque river radiates all its charms here. Where it has been slightly straightened, as at the romantic Astene-sas, the old arms have been preserved. These form an idyllic unity with the surrounding meadows. A whole school of painters was lured to the banks of the Leie in Sint-Martens-Latem by this romantic image. You begin your walk at the imposing Ooidonk Castle, which overlooks the Leiemeersen of Bachte-Maria-Leerne. Add to that: crossing an old arm of the Leie with a self-service ferry, strolling along the Schipdonk canal and through the church paths over the Kouter of Vosselare, and you have all the ingredients for a varied outing.
DEPARTURE POINT
You reach the church of Sint-Maria-Leerne by taking the E40 at exit 13-Drongen (Ghent-West) and taking the N466 towards Deinze. After 4 km, you pass the church of Sint-Martens-Leerne, and after another 500 m, turn left into Molenhuisstraat (one-way street). At the end of this street, you go left and immediately right into Ooidonkdreef.
PARKING
In Ooidonkdreef near the church.
TYPE OF ROAD
A mix of cobblestones, gravel paths, low-traffic asphalt roads, slab paths, and meadow paths.
ACCESSIBILITY
Ideal for strollers and guided wheelchairs with a generous variation (1100 m longer) between Bachte and Vosselare.
INFORMATION
-VVV Leiestreek: Gentpoortstraat 1, 9800 Deinze, Tel. 09 381 95 01, Fax 09 381 95 59, leie@toerismevlaanderen.be, www.vvvleiestreek.be.
-VVV Office Nevele: Cyriel Buyssestraat 15, Tel. 09 371 68 11, www.nevele.be.
EATING & DRINKING
-Restaurant-Tavern-Tea Room De Sterre: Ooidonkdreef 16, 9800 Deinze-Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Tel.+Fax 09 282 30 81, open 12:00-14:00 and 18:30-21:00, closed Tue.-Wed.
-Restaurant-Tea Room Koetshuis Ooidonk: Ooidonkdreef 28, 9800 Deinze-Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Tel. 09 282 73 13, Fax 09 282 71 39, March-Sept. closed Mon., Oct.-Feb. closed Mon.-Tue.
-Café De klok: Leernsesteenweg 219, 9800 Deinze-Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Tel. 09 338 85 13, closed Mon.
-Café In den Appel: Leernsesteenweg 221, 9800 Deinze-Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Tel. 09 282 23 56, closed Tue.
-Café 't Bachtenaerke: Leernsesteenweg 64, 9800 Deinze-Bachte, Tel. 09 380 15 45, Fax 09 380 82 42, closed Wed., small menu and steak.
-Café-Snack Flamingo: Vosselaredorp 45, 9850 Nevele-Vosselare, Tel. 0476 86 12 17, open daily 10:00-22:00, closed Tue., small menu.
-Tavern-Tea House 't Pastershoekske: Lagestraat 19, 9850 Nevele-Vosselare, Tel. 09 371 70 53, pastershoekske@eamil.com,
closed Wed. evening-Thu.