Cycling through the beautiful Westerwolde

Ter Wupping

The first few kilometres you will cycle through a wide landscape, occasionally you will see small forest plots. Just past the hamlet of Höchte you will see the Onstwedder Holte on your right, a low ridge. Around Ter Wupping you will cycle through a mosaic of rounded fields, hayfields, groves and hedgerows. You will also pass through the stream valley of the Ruiten Aa, one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. In spring the valley turns yellow due to the many marsh marigolds.

Picturesque Smeerling
Smeerling is a hamlet that enjoys protected village view because of several centuries-old Westerwold farms. In one of these farms you can make a refreshing stop at Gasterij Natuurlijk Smeerling. Further on you will pass the Juffertoren of Onstwedde. Along the Pagediep you drive to the Vledderbos, which was created at the end of the twentieth century and borders Stadskanaal.

Lady's Tower Onstwedde
In Onstwedde you drive past the Gothic Nicolaaskerk that was built around 1500. The Juffertoren, which is over 41 metres high, is certainly one and a half centuries older than the church. It seems to be crooked, but that is an optical illusion. It is one of the two Juffertorens in Groningen that still exist. The name refers to a damsel: that is not a young woman, but a long pine trunk that tapers to a point.