Time given: 2h40
Completed: 2h20


The beginning of this walk at Plasmolen in the Netherlands resembles a scene out of a fairytale


Initially the route follows a watercourse similar to the bisse water channels in canton Valais, Switzerland



I completed this hike from the Rother book for the Netherlands just 5 days after the previous one, thus profiting from a stretch of fine weather in mid September. This turned out to be even prettier, with a magical stretch along a small water channel very similar to the bisse walks in Switzerland. Even the woodland stretches were like something out of a fairytale. This is not a particularly long hike and I would gladly repeat it again. There is a parking lot on the main road (N271) in the village of Plasmolen. The map writing in the Rother book is 100% accurate and you could easily achieve the walk without the help of another map or the Alpenverein app. Having said that, there a couple of sharp turnoffs and forks in the path that would be easy to miss if you don't pay attention.


On the higher ground, once out of the woods, the route follows the edge of the forest


This tree has supports to prevent it from kipping completely over

Further on, when the route doubles back and heads along the edge of the forest, the scenery becomes more bucolic. A few more sharp turns and quasi double backs lead to an easy uphill which ends at the highest point on the walk, where you enter the heathland of the Mookerheide. This moorish plateau is bleak and windswept and affords good views over the Dutch countryside. The trail descends on the other side of the heath back into the forest and into a small valley. To regain the parking area in the village of Plasmolen there is a sharp uphill in the woods on the other side of the small valley. At the top you reach a surfaced path, like a cycling lane, where you turn right and follow this route all the way back to the village. There appears to be a nice cafe and restaurant near the parking lot, but I didn't try it.


This is the Mooker heathland, at the highest point in terms of altitude on the walk


Here the trail leaves the heathland and heads off down into the woods again