The Gasthuis woods are located south of Ypres and are very dominant in the landscape. The wooded areas cover a total of over 230 ha. Paths and trails have been laid out, which are accessible to the public. The walking route goes through four forest domains: Het Zwarte Leen, Groenenburg, Zandvoordebos, and finally the beginning of the Palingbeek.

The forest complex Gasthuis woods, on the Ypres Salient, the ridge around Ypres, forms a true walking paradise.

Directions

With the war site behind you, turn right onto Zwarteleenstraat and then immediately turn right again, towards junction 29. When crossing Wervikstraat, enter the path along the cow pasture and from here also follow the signage for “Gasthuis walking route” and the walking junctions for a while.

When crossing the second pasture, nothing suggests that the hill on the left is the fiercely contested Mount Sorrel. Every Canadian schoolchild knows this hill where tens of thousands of soldiers died during a German offensive between June 2 and 13, 1916.

To junctions 29 – 30 – 43 – 42 – 39 – 41. Here, it is possible to shorten the route to 10 km, go directly towards 37 for that.

If you choose 13 km; then from 41, head towards 40 and only then to 37.

Then 36 – 35 – 34, pay attention now to leave the junction route slightly further and turn left, follow the Gasthuis walking route until a T-junction and then take a left back onto the junction route towards 31 – 11.

Here, go under the railway to 12, where remains of bunkers can still be seen on both sides. Domain Vierlingen is part of the provincial domain Palingbeek. Proceed straight to the railway, follow junctions 27 and 28, the path climbs gradually. The British referred to this artificial hill as “caterpillar” due to its shape. The hill was formed by the construction of the railway in the middle of the 19th century. At the highest point, there is a deep hole caused by depth mines on June 7, 1917.

Towards junction 29, along the boardwalk path through Hill 60, an original piece of wartime landscape guarded by sheep, you will reach the parking lot again.

Need more walking inspiration? Surf to www.pasar.be/wandeltips