This walk in the Hoge Kempen National Park first goes through the Mechelse Heide, the largest heathland of Flanders, with panoramic views and past gravel and sand quarries. Then it goes towards the Valley of the Kikbeek source where fjord ponies graze on the heath and where you can see lignite layers on the surface.
Distance: 15 km.
Time: 4h30.
Grade: Moderate.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Not allowed.
Height gain: 246 meters.
Trail: 90% unpaved.
Marking: Different markings.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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The Kikbeekbron.
The walk starts from the Mechelse Heide entrance gate of the Hoge Kempen National Park. Immediately after departure you climb to the edge of the forest and have beautiful views of the former sand quarry and the pasture area. Then you descend to the shore of the first lake and you climb again to go through heath and forest to the Valley of the Kikbeek where heather, swamp and wetlands determine the landscape. At various points you get a panorama of tens of kilometers far, including on the Meuse valley, Liège and the Mining region.
Download PDf for route description.
On the walk you encounter a mix of different markings making it almost impossible to give an exact route description. Download the PDF file where you can find more information. Anyway if you walk this route without GPS, good preparation is necessary.
POI 1 - Mechelse Heide.
The Mechelse Heide is a nature reserve between As and Maasmechelen. The area is located on the eastern edge of the Kempens Plateau and is about 700 ha. In 1967 the area was designated as a nature reserve. Around 2000 a busy motorway that ran straight through this area was closed for motorized traffic. The area is part of the Hoge Kempen National Park and is managed by the Agency for Nature and Forest. The soil consists of loamy sand with here and there peat. Central to this area is a large heath field. In addition to the rare red heather, there are many types of brewing. Typical breeding birds are the tree pipit, the redbreast flute and the nightjar. Other animal species that can be found there are the smooth snake, the hawfinch and the saddle grasshopper. Besides heather you can also find pine forests here.
Natuur en Bos.
www.natuurenbos.be.
POI 2 - Kikbeekbron.
The Kikbeek source, a moorland with a restructured sand quarry, houses a rich range of heather vegetation. The flanks of the sand quarry are covered with mosses, bushes and heaths, pipes, gorse, creeping broom, brine and typical pioneers such as birch, willow and pine. All these plants nestled naturally here. In and around the big pond there is a lot of life. Small sedges, round sundew and marsh wolf claw, peat moss and peat fluff are numerous here. It is also buzzing with activity in the air. Numerous birds find an ideal breeding ground in the Valley of the Kikbeek source, such as the nightjar, the yellowhammer and the woodlark. An extra effort has also been made in this area for many animals. For example, ponds have been dug out on the flat plateau to make it the rare natterjack toad. You will not spot him soon, because it is a night-active animal with a good protective color. From 1960 onwards, the scarce white sand of the Kikbeek source was used for the production of pure glass. The reclamation completely stopped in 2001 and step by step the flanks of the sand quarry were restored. On the higher plateau, next to the restored quarry, you can still find the original heath landscape. Those interested in geological history should definitely visit the Kikbeek source. The steep edges of the Opgrimbie sand quarry show how the Kempens plateau developed layer by layer. It is the only geological site in Belgium where you can see lignite layers on the surface.
Natuur en Bos.
www.natuurenbos.be.
