Stippelberg loop from Bakel

Your route begins at the charming Boscafé Grotels Genieten. From here, you'll discover the Stippelberg near Helmond in Brabant, a nature reserve spanning nearly 1,000 hectares. Your route takes you in a large circle around Gemert. Tranquillity pervades the region, which owes its name to ancient drifting dunes that dot the landscape. At the end of the nineteenth century, heathland dominated here, but thanks to interventions in nature, Douglas fir and Japanese larch now also thrive. In the coniferous forest, Natuurmonumenten (Dutch Society for Nature Conservation) creates clearings where native tree species such as rowan, beech, and common oak can germinate. Dead trees are cleared away by nature, stimulating the growth of mushrooms, moss, and insects. Along the way, you'll also pass a real vineyard.