Brasschaat, Wuustwezel and Kalmthout

Explore the Groot Schietveld Nature Reserve in Antwerp's Noorderkempen, an area that is a military domain and used as an artillery training ground. It is an elongated and triangular terrain. In the northeast and southwest it slopes downwards, allowing excess water to drain naturally. This is collected in a stream called the Kleine Aa, in the Schaapsdijkbeek and in Het Moerke, a small stream that was once the center of a beautiful stream valley with swampy heath and peat moss. The nature reserve covers 1,571 hectares and, together with the nearby Kalmthoutse Heide, is the largest nature reserve in the province. Large, contiguous heathland, dozens of fens and meadows are surrounded by forests. Because dry and humid areas alternate, many different types of plants can be found in Groot Schietveld: heath orchid, bog orchid, bell gentian and round sundew grow in abundance. The diversity also attracts many insects and more than thirty species of butterflies, including the gentian blue, flutter from flower to plant. But the area is best known for its large population of breeding birds, including the honey buzzard and the nightjar and vipers, which is among the most important in north-west Europe. The route starts at Profile Luverdy in Brasschaat. Here you get a whopping 10 euro discount on maintenance and repairs when you show your bicycle discount pass, so this is an excellent opportunity to give your bike a little maintenance before you start exploring your way through the beautiful nature.