GRAND CANYON OF FLANDERS 6,5KM - one of the largest heathlands in Flanders! Maasmechelen

We start at the entrance gate of the Mechelse Heide. Parking is right in front of camping Salamander. Immediately after the start we see the backdrop of the hourglass path, a wheelchair path of 1.5 km through the former sand quarry. Definitely worth taking a look. After 300 meters we go through a gate towards a climb. This climb takes us over 500 meters to the view over the Meuse valley and the Hoge Kempen National Park. This panorama point is indicated by a large compass on the ground. We walk on this higher area until after 1.25km we descend to the large lake, during this descent you walk through a hollow dirt road. We follow the road further along the water and when we are 1.5km far we see the active sand quarry of the Mechelen heath on the left. The décor looks like a mini Grand Canyon. From this place we walk 1.25km further on sandy roads that sometimes contain sloping sections. We are 3km far though we take a long staircase down to the valley of the area. The first part is a dirt road that will take us to the Purple Heath. The Purple Heath starts when we are about 3.5km away. We now walk 2km through the Purple Heath with a view of the valley. We have done 5.5km when the heath turns into wooded surroundings. We walk another 1km through the forest until we arrive at the parking lot at the entrance gate of the Mechelse Heide. In total we have 6.5km.

ROUTELAND