4 walks in the woods

A strenuous walk doesn’t necessarily have to be long. The Kordaal walking route proves that. If you follow it, you’ll have completed a scenic, 6 km route with lots of nature, stately heritage sites and a long, cobbled section.

Except for the Nokereberg, where you’ll have to work a little harder, this is a relatively flat walk. With Kordaal Forest in the leading role, of course! There’s lots of green, with a castle here and there to give it some extra cachet. In Nokere – the start and finish of the Kordaal walking route – you’ll also find a number of attractive outdoor cafés to conclude your outing.

The Cotthem walking route is an oddity in this list of forest hikes. During this walk, the focus is on walking itself. That’s self-evident, but why? Because this route, more than any other, offers a truly terrifying variety of footpaths.

Yes, you start in the centre of Sint-Lievens-Houtem, but as soon as you leave it behind you, it’s 12.5 km of varied footpaths! You can walk for hours on forest trails, country lanes, sunken roads, a Roman road and an old tram bed – just to name a few. Afterwards, you can enjoy a cold beer in the village. After exertion comes relaxation!

Nature knows no boundaries. You can see that in Kluis Forest, the largest forest in the Flemish Ardennes. It’s a strangely beautiful forest that takes you right into Wallonia. It’s always fun to try a walking route with an exotic touch!

Admit it, exploring two language regions on a single hike is not a common experience. But you can tick that off your list if you follow the Kluis Forest walking route. The walking route through Kluis Forest is 6.4 km of pure nature. It also offers a touch of art – you pass through the artists’ village of Kwaremont and visit the Fountain of Love. What can you expect there? We leave that entirely to your imagination.

Freedom and happiness are bountiful during this walking route. You choose the distance you want to walk. This walk is divided into two individual trails, and together they result in 11 km of hiking pleasure. If you prefer a shorter walk, just cut it in half!

Once you descend into the Zwalm Valley, you’ll find yourself in one of the most beautiful stretches of nature. There’s a succession of forests and, of course, the meandering Zwalm River. Here you’ll enjoy fauna and flora as well as a touch of history on the Miners’ Trail.