The hike goes through the northern part of the Groote Heide with some beautiful fens such as the Drooge Meerven, the Deep Meerven, the Veeven and the Klein Huisven.
Distance: 15 km.
Time: 3h30.
Grade: Moderate.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: No info.
Trail: 87% unpaved.
Marking: See PDF.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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Groot Huisven.
The Groote Heide was once an approximately 5000 hectare heath area that stretched between Heeze, Geldrop, Eindhoven, Valkenswaard and the Achelse Kluis. Especially in the early 20th century, large-scale exploitation took place, in which fens were drained and - mainly - coniferous forest was planted. The large heather area is divided into the Groote Heide near Heeze, the Valkenhorst the part between the A2 and N296, the Leenderbos and the Groote Heide between the Leenderbos and the Belgian border. The hike goes through the northern part of the Groote Heide with some beautiful fens such as the Drooge Meerven, the Deep Meerven, the Veeven and the Klein Huisven. One of the fens the Groot Huisven, which was drained and reclaimed into pasture at the time, was probably the largest heath fen in the Netherlands. It is more than 2.5 kilometers long, rather jagged low, with a size of about 150 ha. The hike goes along this former fen, the relief of the riparian zones are still (visible!) present in the landscape.
Download PDF for route description.