Geopad 110b-Austerlitz-Heideheuvelroute

By hiking this route, you will get to know both a western stepped slope and an adjacent lower-lying area with meltwater and wind deposits. The solitary heath hill, spots with notable micro-relief, and some monumental wooden structures will be the most impressive sights.

1. The green-marked Heath Hill Route first allows you to climb the southwest slope of the step. Just before the Pyramid of Austerlitz crowns the summit of the glacial ridge, the marking indicates to turn left. You then enter a forested area with relatively much micro-relief. There, the presence of some depressions and rounded hills particularly attracts attention.

2. Between the micro-relief, the route leads to a rather distinctive fork, where it turns right to cross an old meltwater stream. On the other side, you enter a forested area again with much micro-relief. There you turn left. The micro-relief now shows, in addition to some depressions, a larger trough-like terrain depression. This is flanked by an embankment on the east and south sides.

3. Beyond the micro-relief, the green route descends to an area with a bundle of three forest paths diverging to the southwest. The middle one is a preserved part of the historical Driebergsspoor. Together with a part of the Traayweg, which is extending, this path separates the estate Den Treek-Henschoten from the state forest administration of Austerlitz.
The green route crosses the three slanted diverging paths in a zigzag pattern. Further ahead, you can then see the gravel-rich isolated heath hill, after which it is named. It is still unclear whether the hill consists of pushed or meltwater deposits. On the northeast side of the heath hill, there is a bench.
  
4. After the heath hill, the green route crosses the old Treekerlaan and the bike path next to it. On the other side, it leads into a zigzagging, deforested area. There, the previous heath has been restored for ecological reasons. This intended eco-zone connects the largely disrupted Leusderheide through earthworks and military exercises with a heath area north of Zeist, which has been lowered locally due to excavations.

5. At the eco-zone, the green route leads back to the place where the hike began. To do this, you first go back to the Treekerlaan. Follow this to the right for a few hundred meters. Then, turn left. A road with gentle curves then leads to the historic Alte Woudenbergse Zandweg. Follow this to the left. The route then ascends to a natural terrace. Here, it is also not clear whether the terrain is part of the step or consists of meltwater deposits. On the terrace, the wind later deposited some fine sand.

6. More fine sand has accumulated in the shallow valley that flanks the terrace on the southeast side. This valley seems to be unevenly filled in places, making it hard to recognize. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to get to know a part of the depression more closely, also because of the beech forest. The green route also takes a detour there. To follow it, you need to turn right. The green route then leads to the vicinity of the Woudenbergse Weg. From there, you return to the Alte Woudenbergse Zandweg. This leads to the right towards the bundle of southwest diverging forest paths, which you have already encountered during the hike. At the intersection with the first of the three paths that form the bundle, the green marking indicates to turn left.

7. Those who do so will arrive in a relatively low-lying, almost flat forest area with some monumental wooden structures. The marking will lead you on quite a large detour to the vicinity of the inn where the hike began. If you turn right, you will successively pass the central and eastern branches of the diagonally diverging forest paths. After the eastern branch of the bundle of paths, the green route turns right and continues diagonally left for a few hundred meters. Shortly after, you can reach the immediate vicinity of the inn by turning left.