This stage from De Rips to Miheeze goes through the nature reserves Beestenveld, Klotterpeel and Stempelberg. All these areas are reclaimed peeling areas, at the De Rips Forest Museum you can get a good impression of what the area looked like in the past and how the areas were reclaimed.
Distance: 17 km.
Time: 4h00.
Grade: Moderate.
Type: Point to point.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: No info.
Trail: 92% unpaved.
Marking: See PDF route description.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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The Stippelberg.
In the Beestenveld you pass a remnant of the Koordekanaal and a watercourse called the Peelse Loop, parts of which were part of the Koordekanaal. The Koordekanaal itself was part of the Peel-Raamstelling a Dutch defense line that was constructed in 1939. It formed a second line to reinforce part of the line at the Defense Canal. The Klotterpeel is a small peeling area that has escaped the spotlight. Attempts were made to mine it on a small scale, but this turned out to be unprofitable. The area recovered to the swampy conditions that were still common at the beginning of this century with a large fen in the middle, the name refers to the peat cutting. The Dotted Mountain consists of two parts, the eastern part where this stage continues, consists of beautiful avenues that belong to the manor, the western part consists of pine forest with dots in the landscape. The countless dots are drifting dunes that were created by sand drifts. In the outer eastern part, the stage goes over a part of an old path the Oude Bakelsedijk that is now only visible as a worn unpaved path. For centuries peat was transported over this path by the inhabitants of the Peel. This peat was dug into the swampy peatland nearby and was taken away as fuel, bedding material, fertilizer and for sale (the latter often illegally). In 1810 the Oude Bakelsedijk was one of only two major roads that ran through this part of the Peel.
Download PDf for route description.