On the first day, in the morning you will take the bus to Lemiers in 35 minutes and walk through Oud Holset into the Holsetterbos. Through the old Vijlenerbosch follows a stretch of ascending and descending forest paths. The forest has a very old and rich variety of biotopes. It is the only part of the Netherlands where mountains influence the climate and provide the first snow in winter.
You could continue to follow the forest area into the Eifel and Haute Fagnes, but on this trail you leave the forest at the small village of Rott to start the descent down a stony road to Wahlwiller. A nice resting point before the climb to the Eyserbos offers the little church along the way where you can enjoy unique stations, painted by Aad de Haas in a deeply humanistic handwriting. Via the southern slope above Wahlwiller, you then walk through vineyards and agricultural fields to the start of the Eyserbos. You pass the small hamlet of Piepert, where the peace never fades and where life has the atmosphere of a small farming mountain village. You climb through mountain meadows and emerge at the top of the Eyserbos. You then descend along a stony path to the bottom of Wittum, with Gulpenerberg on the other side of the road. At bus stop Oude Geul you take the bus back to Eikhold (in 35 minutes).

The second day starts in Gulpen at bus stop Oude Geul (35 minutes by bus from Eikhold) and starts with a pleasant climb to Gulpenerberg. You are then right at altitude to face a fantastic hike from there. First you descend through a meadow and then the route slowly climbs along surprising forest edges, with beautiful views of Vijlen and Aachen. Through gates you walk along the forest edge and cross through the forest to the hamlet of Bissen.
The route continues to Eperheide and offers several vistas. You are now in the Voer region overlooking the Ardennes. A real mountain experience! Here, climbing the Hakkenberg starts and you end up in Wallonia where you descend on a sharply descending hollow road with chalk slopes. The route passes through an ancient landscape, up to above Teuven.
Via a small stretch of tarmac road, you then continue down another hollow road until you reach the small river Gulp. Via farm tracks you pass Nurop and re-enter Dutch territory. At a triangle with a tree and a prayer statue, you then walk the last kilometre to Slenaken. There you can take the bus that takes you back to Eikhold in 45 minutes.

On the third day, you will take the express bus to Gulpen. Via a transfer, you'll be in Slenaken in 40 minutes in the morning. Here you walk back to the triangle to continue the Dutch Mountain Trail.

The landscape is small-scale and hushed. Through an old forest and a descending path, the route goes to Sint Martens Voeren, where you cross the small river Veurs. From there, the climb to the Kattenroth begins. The mountain atmosphere is palpable and the landscape beautiful, small-scale agriculture and forests interspersed with vistas.

Descending through meadows, you re-enter the Netherlands and end up in a different landscape before the village of Mheer. Over narrow stony paths with lots of marlstone and old flints, you enter the atmosphere of the Meuse river. After a short ascent through meadows, the route leads through fruit orchards, interspersed with badger setts, to Eysden. The train from Eysden and a change in Maastricht will take you back to Eikhold in 45 minutes.

Photo at top of page: Petra Vroomen, 'On the road'