Vorden, Ruurlo, Warken

De Keuken van Hackfort is all about 'Pure Delight': enjoying everything good from the Achterhoek in its purest form. In cooperation with De Keuken van Hackfort, we created four Pure Delight cycle routes. The routes take you to places where you can experience and taste the Achterhoek.

On a sunny morning, you get on your bike at Hackfort Castle in Vorden. The old castle tower reflects in the moat and the silence of the estate is broken only by the soft chirping of birds. You take a deep breath of the fresh Achterhoek air before quietly setting off towards Warnsveld.

You drive past grassy meadows and through narrow country lanes, where the sun gently peeks through the foliage. After a while, you arrive in Warken, a lovely hamlet near Warnsveld. Here a romantic gem awaits you: the Berkel. This ancient river rises in the hilly Hengwehr und Hanloer Mark nature reserve in Germany, about 30 km west of the city of Münster. It then winds its way through the landscape to the Dutch border, where it flows into the Achterhoek near Eibergen and flows into the IJssel via Lochem and Zutphen.

The water ripples peacefully along, fringed by reed beds and pollard willows. Here, the Berkel is not only a picturesque watercourse, but also an important lifeline for flora and fauna. The moist banks full of wildflowers and flowering herbs provide food and shelter for numerous birds, insects and small animals.

After enjoying the view over the Berkel for a moment, continue your route to the southeast. The Achterhoek is known for its wooded areas, but the Grote Veld is a gem in itself. Vast heathlands, stately lanes with age-old beech and oak trees and clearings full of wildflowers alternate. Every now and then a roe deer pops up, hidden among the trees, and you can hear a woodpecker rattle in the distance. It feels like you have entered an oasis of calm. The cycle paths continue through the wooded surroundings, letting you relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside.

From Grote Veld, you pedal on to Ruurlo, a rural village surrounded by fields, forests and atmospheric farmhouses. On the way to the cosy village centre, you pass Mill Agneta. Wood has long been cut here with the help of the mill. A little further on, you come to one of the oldest trees in the Netherlands: the Kroezeboom at the junction of Borculoseweg and Kroezelaan. The tree could well be 400 years old....

More leafy scenery full of estates, backdrops and streams awaits you. For instance, the Baakse Beek and the Veengoot meander through the green scenery. Here and there you pass a little chapel or an old farmhouse. At the end of the day, you arrive back at Hackfort Castle just as the afternoon sun sprinkles a warm glow over the castle garden.

Tip: There are some unpaved cycle paths on the route. On some paths, it is wise to be careful with the amount of electric support.