Polarbears

Walked and checked and adjustment done on March 29, 2019 . Re-submitted on 7 February 2020 THERE ARE MISSING SIGNS HERE AND THERE (GPS IS VERY GOOD ) checked again 24 October 2021

In 2021, this starting location was added to world heritage

https://www.kempen.be/sites/default/files/files/route/infofiche/Polar%20Bearswandeling.pdf

 This walk pays tribute to the liberators of WW2. One follows the exploration and approach roads from the Plum Bridge monument in St.-Jozef-Rijkevorsel via the Blakheide to the battlefield at the ring wall of Merksplas-Kolonie. It is now mainly a quiet nature walk.

Because the Hallamshire Battalion was trained in Iceland in 1940 - 1942, they were given an emblem of 'the defiant polar bear on a black field' on their uniform). It was the Polar Bears who sent patrols along the Blakheide to Merksplas-Kolonie.

Polar Bears walk 8 - 16 km

Hiking network " Kempense Kolonies and marking "polar bear "

Shortening Start "Ice cream parlour De Blakheide", choose loop 1 or 2, each loop is about 8 Km

Follow the signs "white polar bear" or the numbers on the hiking network "Kempense Kolonies", a beautiful nature walk.

Sights

War Memorial Plum Bridge at 't Sas van St.Jozef

Blakheide Beerse, kempense nature, with beautiful clay pits

War Memorial in Honor of W. Harper and the Polar Bears

Protected landscape of the Vagrant Colony of Merksplas

Nature reserve Ekstergoor Rijkevorsel