About the Gaasterlandse sandy ridges (end moraines)

Hike Stuwwallen National Landscape Southwest Fryslân

This route is extremely suitable for the tourist hiker in Southwest Friesland. You will experience the unique landscape that was shaped in the penultimate Ice Age.

Distance: 6.6 km.

Description of the hiking route
START: Parking lot next to the church in Hemelum
From this parking lot, we head out of the village towards Bakhuizen. You pass the primary school and turn left onto a (semi)unmade path after about 100 meters. This path, Fort, is an old access road/passageway to Warns.
Old route
After about 350 meters, this path turns right. However, you continue straight over the sand path, thus following the old route of the path (PHOTO 1).
Stuwwallen
At the end of the sand path turn right and follow the path until you reach a fork. Here, turn right and immediately after 25 m turn left to follow the cycling path. You are now almost directly on the high stuwwal that lies behind Hemelum. From this path, you can clearly see the lower areas around the stuwwallen (PHOTO 2). Looking left towards Bakhuizen, you can see the gentle landscape. These are the depressions between the stuwwallen, which have been filled with cover sand (windblown sand) over the centuries. A particularly unique landscape that one wouldn’t immediately expect in Friesland (PHOTO 3).
We follow this cycling/hiking path along several houses and cross diagonally at the intersection, continuing along the cycling/hiking path next to the de Witte Burch campsite. On this cycling path, you can distinctly feel the differences in altitude. You slowly descend the cycling path and return to open terrain, until you cross a path. You cross this and continue on the agricultural path or the adjacent footpath between the rows of trees until you arrive at De Griene Leane (PHOTO 4).
Forest and IJsselmeer
You are now walking on the outside of the Rijsterbos. Turn right at De Griene Leane. At the end of the cycling/hiking path, turn right. From this path, you have a unique view over the gentle landscape towards Mirns (PHOTO 5). You can spot the bell tower of Mirns, and behind it the reflecting IJsselmeer. The hills and elevations are clearly visible here.
You continue straight and cross the next path. You proceed over this path until a sandy path connects to your left. Take this sandy path to the left and follow it. You are now walking over the Bakhuster heech (PHOTO 6). This old sand bath was once one of the main relief routes from Bakhuizen. The sand path eventually turns into a paved road, and you are now going through the new development area of Bakuizen. Follow the fork in the main road towards Hemelum.
 
Village warehouse
When you have almost left Bakhuizen towards Hemelum, you can turn left again at Café Syltsje. After about 150 meters, you will see the village warehouse on the right side. This harbor was once the water connection from Bakhuizen to the larger shipping routes (PHOTO 7). Cargo was unloaded here, and from here the fishermen went into the inland waters of Morra and Fluessen. The old stone harbor is still present as a feature.
We return to the café and continue on our way to Hemelum. Along the way, an old hiking path crosses on the right side. After about 150 meters, you are back at the starting point.
END: Back at the parking lot in Hemelum.