Cunera Church and Konik Horses

This route is part of the group 'The Most Beautiful Routes of the Heuvelrug Walking Tour'.

For more information: www.heuvelrugwandeltocht.nl

The route starts at Veenendaal Centrum Station

After the houses of Veenendaal are behind you, the climb of the Heuvelrug starts almost immediately. A very nice climb, which goes over the Prattenburg Estate with its beautiful beech avenues. Then it continues in an easterly direction to the city of Rhenen. But before you get there, you'll have plenty of time to let your gaze glide over the southern slopes of the Plantage Willem III. The mild climate made this area ideally suited for growing tobacco, as the inhabitants discovered as early as the 17th century. The plantation was founded in the mid-19th century, but tobacco cultivation lasted only a few decades. Since 1995, the area has been in the possession of the Utrechts Landschap, which has turned it into a beautiful nature reserve. Konik horses and Galloway cattle take care of the grazing, so that the beautiful open character of the landscape is preserved.

In Rhenen you will of course pass the famous Cunera Church, but the Market Square behind the church with the Old Town Hall is also worth a visit. The very tip of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug is the Grebbeberg, which really has to be climbed! Our route shows not only the views over the Betuwe, but also the views from the 'back' of the Grebbeberg. This makes the name of the village of Achterberg very understandable. Gradually it goes up the Heuvelrug again and we can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Heuvelrug a few more times, from Kwintelooijen, a former sand quarry. Once back down, our route ensures that you reach the starting point of the route at Veenendaal Centrum station in an original way.