Tuesday 22 October 2024 • 7 minutes reading time
Rustling leaves under your shoes, chestnuts falling from the trees and searching for mushrooms. Autumn is in full swing. Autumn is a great time to walk with the autumn sun on your face and escape the hustle and bustle for a while.
There are plenty of beautiful places around Groningen to clear your head and enjoy the autumn forests and hiking trails.Below is our collection of beautiful places and hiking trails around Groningen.
Near the village of Paterswolde, just outside the city, lies the landgoed Vennebroek.The endless paths along fields, oak and beech avenues and through beautiful park forests take you into a royal setting. Around this time, the estate has a breathtaking autumnal appearance. You’ll also find more than 200 different species of mushrooms. If you look closely you might spot the rare evening red stingray mushroom. On the south side of the nature reserve is Huis Vennebroek, the old carriage house now serves as an information center. The house is surrounded by more than 300 old chestnut trees.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Next to the Vennebroek estate is the Friesche Veen nature reserve.Here you will find different landscapes.Marsh forest alternates with reed land.From the bird hide you can spot several special birds.A large cormorant colony has established itself in the Friesche Veen.The nature reserve has a special kind of vegetation, as you will find apple trees, grapes, raspberry bushes and currants.This is because the dike in the nature reserve was reinforced with “city waste” with this also came waste from the city gardens, hence this special vegetation.
Photo: Leonie Wiers (Marketing Drenthe)
On the border of Groningen and Drenthe you can find the Onlanden.This nature reserve is not only a beautiful place to relax and walk, but also has an important function. In fact, the nature reserve also serves as a water storage area for the city of Groningen.The nature reserve is rich in various special animal species such as the marsh harrier, the bald eagle, Exmoor ponies, the great egret and many other animals.From the watchtower you can enjoy all the beauty that the Onlanden has to offer. From all different levels you can see the area from a different perspective and in the background you can see the skyline of Groningen.In short, enough reason for a visit.
The Noordlaarderbos is a fairytale forest full of history.The cart tracks from the Middle Ages are still visible in the height differences.In fact, a frequently used trade route between Groningen and Coevorden used to run here.You will also find ancient burial mounds dating from well before the Middle Ages, these mounds are at least 2500 years old.A little further on in the forest you will find the Galgenberg, also called the Holy Mountain.Near the Nivon natuurvriendenhuis house you will find a hill with a row of large pine trees.There are several stories going around about this hill. One of these stories is that criminals were executed here. Another story is that the hill was used to announce a religious message. The Noordlaarderbos is home to several birds of prey, such as the sparrow hawk, goshawk and long-eared owl. If you are lucky you will spot a stone marten or a badger there after sunset.
About 15 km from Groningen lies Appelbergen. Like the Noordlaarderbos, Appelbergen was also part of the trade route between Groningen and Coevorden.The nature reserve has different types of landscapes: forests, flying pines, heathland, shifting sands and marshes.This is home to various animals.If you watch carefully you will see special reptiles such as the viper, viviparous lizard and the ring snake.The Appelbergen has a rich history.During the May Strike in 1943, sixty men were killed, 34 of whom were buried in an ”unknown” place.This was done as a method of intimidation to call a halt to the May Strike.At the end of 1945, a spot was designated in the Appelbergen where the victims were hidden.A few years later it turned out that there were more missing persons buried in the Appelbergen.
Photo: Stella Dekker (Marketing Groningen)
A little further from the city, about 35 kilometers from Groningen, you will find the Boomkroonpad. Here you will have a unique experience, as you enter the Boomkroonpad, you will imagine yourself in a real fairy tale. You walk between the treetops through the forest.The highest point in the tree crown path is 22.5 meters high. Besides the treetop trail, there is much more to experience around the outdoor center for young and old.The area contains a play forest and beautiful nature to completely unwind.The tree crown path is also the start of several hiking trails through the forests of Gieten-Borger.
A 15-minute bike ride from the center of Groningen is natuurgebied Kardinge , a surprising piece of nature.The nature reserve contains many flowery roadsides and grasslands.In this nature reserve runs the Natuurbeleefpad Beijumerbos.During this route you will encounter different pieces of nature, from beautiful fields to small ponds.The route also offers several resting places to enjoy the song of sand birds in silence.The route is 3.4 kilometers long.The Nature Experience Trail can also be visited by people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters. The path contains no high bridges, thresholds or other obstacles.
Photo: Marketing Drenthe
30 kilometers from the city you will find the Frisian village of Bakkeveen.In the Mandefjild nature reserve are the Bakkeveen dunes.Around this large sand drift run several hiking trails through forests, heaths and fens.If you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of Drentse heath sheep or Exmoor pony’s .There are also traces of historical events in the Mandefjild.There is an important connecting route between the province of Drenthe and Friesland.This road is better known as the ”hollow road.”The nature reserve has been declared a Natura 2000 area, which means that the area is protected at the European level.
The great sand drifts, the Zeegser Duinen are a wonderful place to unwind. Walk across the dunes, forests or moorlands. This beautiful piece of nature used to be considered wasteland, but nowadays it is one of the most beautiful hiking spots in Drenthe.The juniper used to be completely in its element here because the soil was perfect for it.Once the juniper became established, different types of trees were added.This created varied forests around the Zeegser Duinen.
Photo: Marketing Drenthe
About 15 kilometers from Groningen is landgoed Nienoord. Nienoord is known for its family park, but you can also enjoy hiking on this estate.Walk through old forests and farmlands and imagine yourself back in time.In the middle of the estate you will find Borg Nienoord.This borg was built in 1542 and has a rich history, many important families have lived here. On the estate you can find three hiking trails, but of course you can also go on your own adventure.
Maaike is een geboren en getogen Groningse, ze houdt van de gezelligheid van de stad en de nuchterheid van de mensen. Ze studeert communicatie en schrijft over al het leuks dat Groningen te bieden heeft.