Grolloo-Ekehaar-Hooghalen

Saxon farms around the village green, the fields on the rounded ash trees, the higher fields and the hayfields and meadows in the lower stream valley: in the De Drentsche Aa National Park and National Landscape, the old, typical Drenthe landscape is preserved. The Drentsche Aa winds its way through a landscape that has remained exceptionally intact and where farmers have held sway for thousands of years. Yet the landscape was shaped by the stream, around which an esdorp landscape was built. In the area you will find a characteristic combination of 'spontaneous' nature and agricultural activities on the land: haying, mowing and sod. It is a beautiful landscape, in which open and closed areas alternate strongly. During the bike ride you will pass two resistance monuments. The first is the War Memorial for Canadian soldiers, which commemorates the efforts of the men who liberated the Netherlands. The second is the Hooghalen Resistance Monument, which honors the resistance in the town. When you have cycled approximately three quarters of the route through the Drenthe landscape, you will pass the beautiful mill of Grolloo, located in the middle of the peat area. The paaltjasker is located in the Grollooerveen and can be seen from afar. The tjasker was built as early as 1930, but it was only given its current purpose in 1986. The mill has no other function than that of a tourist attraction. You can also approach it within a few meters, if you are willing to push your way through the tough vegetation. When you return to the starting point of the route, where you parked your car for free, you can have a nice dinner at Cafe Restaurant Hofsteenge. If you want to take advantage of our cycling package and also explore route 120884, you can book a room in the hospitable Bed & Breakfast. These are cosily furnished and you can relax here and enjoy a wonderfully relaxing cycling weekend away.