Round Smeerling and Vledderveen

First of all, your route leads you into the Vledderbos, a young forest plantation where you cross a huge forest pond. The forest belongs to Vledderveen, a small village near Stadskanaal. You cycle to Smeerling via small villages and the wide Groningen farmland. This hamlet has been declared a protected townscape because of several centuries-old Westerwold farms. In one of these farms you will find a guest house, a nice place to have a coffee. Smeerling is located in the valley of the Ruiten Aa, a beautiful park-like area around a narrow meandering stream.