200 km tour ONO: through the Rhineland

Last update 28 June 2021 (after cycling this tour on 27 June).

Departure is from Asten-Heusden and you cycle the tour clockwise. Via Liessel, Griendtsveen, America, Horst and Lottum you cycle to the Maas.
With the ferry Lottum - Lomm you cross the Maas and then you cycle via the hamlet of Hanik and nature reserve Straelensbroek to Germany.
Via Walbeck you cycle through the Rheinland on extremely quiet roads to the ridge at Sonsbeck (2 climbs) and after about 91 km you arrive in Xanten, a beautiful town and ideal stopping place.
Then you cycle through nature reserve Bislicher Insel and then after passing through the village of Perrich, you take the cycle path inside the dike along the Rijndijk and from Büderich this cycle path runs on top of the Rijndijk. In good weather on Sundays and public holidays you can encounter many cyclists on the Rijndijk. At Wallach, the cycle path is less well located over a distance of 500 metres.
At Ossenberg you leave the Rhine and cycle past Ossenberg Castle (which is completely walled, only through the entrance gate you can catch a glimpse of the complex).

The route goes over the Bönninghardt ridge (1 climb) and then continues through the Rheinland, mainly in a southern and western direction to Straelen on extremely quiet roads.
Please note: at kilometer point 146.8 of this route there is a piece of unpaved road over a length of 300 meters (this part is included in the German cycle route network, and I have put it in to avoid cycle paths along main roads on the way to Straelen, it is easy to cycle with the road bike)! Between the German towns of Vernum and Winternam, there is a wirtschaftsweg in the route with some bumpy asphalt. You also cross a railway line here, but the railway trees are closed by default. Through a talking post you have to make contact with an operator who then opens the rails.

Please note: the tour in Straelen goes right through the center and you cycle briefly against the traffic on the inner ring road (which is allowed for cyclists).

After Straelen you descend the small ridge on which Straelen is located, and go via the Dutch village of Schandelo to the ferry Velden - Grubbenvorst, and cycle via Blerick, Koningslust, Helenaveen and Neerkant back to Heusden.