Drongengoedbos hiking route
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Drongengoedbos hiking route
- Length
- 13,7 km
- Time
- 3u 24m
- Terrain
- 38% Verhard
Drongengoedweg 1, 9910 Ursel
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Drongengoedbos hiking route
The Drongengoed Landscape Park is the largest contiguous forest in the province – good for hours of hiking fun. In addition to hikers and cyclists, you'll run into some grazing cows and sheep – and if you're lucky, a roe.
Drongengoedbos
Drongengoedbos Ursel
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen
Drongengoedbos Ursel
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen
The Drongengoed Landscape Park is the largest contiguous forest area in East Flanders. It consists of many shades of green, but also a dash of purple, thanks to the original heather growth that is gradually being restored throughout the forest. In addition to hikers and cyclists, you'll run into some grazing cows and sheep – and if you're lucky, a roe.
Maldegem Field
Maldegemveld
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen
Maldegemveld
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen
Maldegemveld
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen
In the first part of the route, we walk through the Maldegem Field – a nature reserve where the local Natuurpunt division is reconstructing the original biotope of forests and heathlands. This does not mean that nature is given free rein. The area is regularly mowed and grazed by cattle. That gives the seeds of heather plants a chance to germinate again. The result is an extraordinary piece of nature, at times reminiscent of the High Fens. Heather, sundew, marsh clubmoss and peat moss grow in the wetlands. In the drier places, you will find heather, needlefurze and common broom.
Drongengoedhoeve
Drongengoedhoeve
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen
Drongengoedhoeve
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen
Drongengoedhoeve
Bas Van Oort
Drongengoedhoeve
Bas Van Oort
Drongengoedhoeve
Bas Van Oort
One of the main assets of the Drongengoedbos is the cosy terrace of the historic Drongengoed farmstead, built in 1746, where you can enjoy a coffee or an Augustijntje, the local beer par excellence, in the shade of the walnut and chestnut trees.
There is plenty to do on and around the farm. There is a well-kept herb garden, an orchard with local fruits and a landscape information centre that tells the story of the region. Just past the Drongengoed farmstead, you can still see the walls of the original 1242 farm on the right.
Kabouterpad (Gnome trail)
Kabouterpad Drongengoedbos
David Samyn
The great diversity of plants and trees also makes the Drongengoedbos attractive as a learning forest for young children. Near the Drongengoed farmstead, the two-kilometre-long Kabouterpad starts. Based on ten signs with tips, facts and hands-on tasks, preschoolers are introduced to the forest in a playful way.
The Kabouterpad also runs through the newly created play areas near the farmstead, where children can have plenty of fun on the natural play apparatus.