In autumn and winter, it's delightful to spend time in the Sterrebos in Rumbeke (Roeselare). Not only is the beautiful Castle of Rumbeke worth a visit. In the 27 ha large park with the castle pond, you can also enjoy the last warm rays of sunshine. As a finale, you can indulge in a delicious meal, snack, or aperitif at one of the catering establishments on the estate.

Sterrebos, enjoy strolling in the majestic avenues

The provincial estate Sterrebos is a 27-hectare castle domain with a wide variety of indigenous tree and shrub species. Several beautiful exotic tree species, such as the impressive plane tree by the castle, are sure to surprise you. Behind the castle, you will find a 19th-century park in English style where, among other things, bald cypress, ginkgo, and a beautiful North American amber tree grow.

Bergmolenbos and Sterrebos

The Bergmolenbos is the urban forest in the making to the south of Roeselare. At the edge of the forest expansion project, you will find the Clay Pits, which are a haven for many birds. A 34-hectare domain forest with various broadleaf tree species surrounds the clay pits. A little further on, you will find a fruit orchard and the provincial domain Sterrebos. You can walk under a varied canopy, alongside small water features, flower-rich hay meadows, and across a 19th-century castle park. This green gem in Roeselare will not bore you quickly!

Clay Pits become a hotspot for nature

The Clay Pits are part of a clay quarry. Until 1984, there was a brick factory here. Later, the clay pits were filled in as a landfill. Fortunately, a small part was spared as a nature reserve. Natuurpunt took over its management, and today a great diversity of fauna and flora adorns the Clay Pits. In summer, it serves as a guesthouse for birds such as the warbler, willow warbler, garden warbler, and turtle dove. The reed zones are an ideal breeding ground for, among others, the little reed warbler, reed bunting, and bittern. A highlight among the plants is the one-meter-tall giant horsetail with its striking brown spikelets.

The 34-hectare domain forest surrounding the clay pits is managed by Nature and Forest. You will find various broadleaf tree species such as willow, alder, summer oak, maple, common ash, and elm. Shrubs and rose species further color this forest. In the play forest, young people can frolic to their heart's content.

Directions for a walk in two loops, the first 3 km in the castle domain and a loop of 6 km through the new walking area across from the N36.

Directly opposite the parking lot in Sterrebosdreef, 66, is the entrance to the castle domain, take Immediate right along the beech hedge, then the 2nd path left. At the first path on the right that you do not take, you already have a nice view of the castle. Then twice right and walk until just before the main entrance gate. Left, between the castle and the pond, over the little bridge and immediately follow the right path to a gate, here turn left and then the first left, then through the gate and in the middle of the field, right towards the two small ponds, take the right to walk along the shore of the right pond. Until you walk back right to the "star", walk into the 3rd avenue here.

to the end left and further along the hedge until the 2nd opportunity left to return to the “star”, now walk into the avenue that gives you a view of the castle tower, first right and then left the long avenue that brings you back to the parking lot.

For the 2nd loop, left the Sterrebosdreef to the end, right and at the traffic lights cross the N36, now right until you take the entrance left of the Bergmolenbos.

Now follow this wide walking path over a distance of 2.5 km where we cross an asphalt road 4 times. At the end of this path, take the left asphalt road until right into the small parking lot and continue straight up the path, now you walk in a loop where you can take a turn to a bird observation hut. After the loop and back in the parking lot, take the right asphalt road and keep right until a T-junction, here go straight back to the entrance of Bergmolenpark and there turn right for the return to the starting point, the parking lot in Sterrebosdreef.