In the heart of the Drentse Hondsrug, in the wooded Southeast Drenthe, lies Odoorn.
The Hondsrug has an ancient history and is filled with exciting stories to tell. It used to be the only area where people could live without getting wet feet. There are many traces of the past, with beautiful nature and interesting historical sights to explore. To help you discover the area, we have created four different hiking guides, each leading to a different area in the vicinity.
You have the following choices:
- Poolshoogte
On the wild Drenthe sand grounds, thousands of trees were planted in the early 20th century. They were intended to protect the villages and also provided a source of income from the wood. The forests of Odoorn are genuine reclamation forests, but today, nature and recreation take precedence. During the walks, you can encounter Papenveld, Odoornerzand, the Sheepfold of Exloo, and the "eendenkuil" (duck pond).
- Exloo
Exloo is an esdrop in the Drentse sand grounds, in the municipality of Borger-Odoorn. In Exloo, you will find a pleasant combination of nature and technology. During these hiking routes, you will take a real journey back in time of up to 470,000 years. You will traverse forests, heathlands, and drifting sands, passing hunebedden (dolmens) and fields. You will see impressive remains of the ice ages and the mysterious Leewal, meandering through the landscape.
- Valthe
Southeast of Odoorn lies the village square of Valthe. Valthe is a pleasant place for hikers. The routes pass by many historical landmarks, through fields and the forests of Valthe. Along the way, you may come across burial mounds, hunebedden, old cart tracks, and a hiding place for people during wartime.
- Drenthe Path
In this hiking guide, we have outlined three beautiful stages of the Drenthe Path for you. The Drenthe Path is a hiking route of over 324 kilometers through Drenthe. The route takes you along the beautiful nature reserves and village squares of Drenthe. Along the way, you will pass heathlands, sand drifts, sheep flocks, and, of course, the famous hunebedden of Drenthe.
Walking through the history of Drenthe
Hotel de Oringer Marke offers a large number of hiking routes ranging from 5 to 30 kilometers. We have a long-standing tradition as the center of the Drentse Wandel 4 Daagse (Drenthe Hiking 4-Day Event) for 30 years in Odoorn. We also have multiple GPS devices with all the hiking routes. This way, you can easily explore the most beautiful routes and never get lost.
There are various routes available to explore the different nature areas around Odoorn. Naturally, we have included pleasant rest stops for lunch or a cup of coffee during the longer hikes. The routes include famous landmarks such as "Eppies Bergie," the Leewal, the "katerdil," the meltwater valley in the Hunzebos, the "grote molenveld," the tea house "Poolshoogte," the sheep flock, the village squares Exloo and Valthe, or the hiding place in the Valtherbos. Enough for days of hiking pleasure.
The following walks are available:
- Hunebed and Grafheuvel Route: 5.2 km
Experience a piece of history, pass by the contours of hunebed D34, and take a moment at "Eppies Bargie," an ancient high burial mound located on the northern fields of Odoorn.
- Zuidenveldroute: 5, 11, or 15 km (take-away available along the way)
Hiking enthusiasts are in the right place with us; within a few minutes, you will be in the beautiful nature reserve of Odoorn. Get away from it all, but still close by. Enjoy the tranquility and the beautiful purple-colored heath in August. The 11 and 15-kilometer routes will take you through the village of Exloo, a suitable place to stop for a drink on a terrace.
- Schoonmeer Route: 5 km
From the "schaapstreek" (sheep street), you are immediately in the forests of Odoorn. A beautiful trail with signposts will show you the magnificent nature. Along the way, you will pass the ice skating rink of Odoorn, "het Schoonmeer" (the Clean Lake), from which this route gets its name.
- Pelgrimspad Route: 6.5 km or 9.5 km
Experience Odoorn from a different perspective, discover its history, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. A walk with yourself. This walk takes you through every corner of Odoorn.
- Exloo, Odoornerdennen: 10 and 15 km (take-away available along the way)
A hike through Odoorn's prehistory. Take a time-travel journey of 470,000 years. Discover beautiful forests, fields, heathlands, and drifting sands. A relaxing trip with many things to experience.
It seems like you have an array of exciting cycling and walking routes to explore around Odoorn and its surrounding areas! Here's a summary of each route:
1. Ronde Poolshoogte (10, 15, 20, and 30 km): Take a trip to Poolshoogte in Odoorn, where you can look out over the treetops of Odoorn's forests. Along the routes, you'll come across an observation tower situated in the middle of the forest, as well as a delightful tea house with a play area – a perfect spot to take a break. Keep an eye out for the sheep park, where the animals roam freely in nature, and pingoruïnes.
2. Odoornerzand Route (6 km): Discover the ancient Odoornerzand, a former drifting sand area, on this scenic 6-kilometer round trip filled with nature and relaxation.
3. Route Odoorn, Valthe & Valtherbos (14 km): Travel from "Eppies Bergie" to the former Valthe station. Along the way, you'll encounter historical sites such as the old hiding place where people sought refuge from 1942 until the end of the war, hunebedden, and pinoruïnes. This route is packed with history, including "Full House," the location where an American bomber crash-landed in 1944.
4. Dichter bij Odoorn (2.9 km or 4.1 km): Explore and observe the village of Odoorn. The route features panels with poems about the culture and history of Odoorn. The 2.9 km and 4.1 km routes can also be combined for a lovely 7 km journey.
5. Drenthe Pad Etappe 1 (16 km): The entire Drenthe Pad offers 329 km of walking pleasure. Etappe 1 takes you through Odoorn, Exloo, Ees, and Borger. In Exloo, you'll find the sheepfold housing a flock of 250 Drentse heath sheep. Continue your journey through a former drifting sand area, like the Buinerveld, a large forest with small peat areas formed during the Weichsel Glacial Period. Ees features a striking concentration of glacial potholes, and don't forget to visit the Hunebedcentrum in Borger.
6. Drenthe Pad Etappe 2 (15 km): "Etappe 2" leads you through Odoorn, Valthe, and Emmen. Enjoy kilometers of solitude as you walk towards the Hunzebos, a forest with historical features from the Ice Age, also known as a "dry valley." You'll encounter Saxon-style farms on the old village square (brink), as well as the hiding place of Albert Zefat from World War II. The Emmerdennen is a stunning finale, often called "Little Switzerland," with beautiful forests and ancient sand dunes.
With such diverse and captivating routes, your cycling and walking adventures in Drenthe promise to be unforgettable! Enjoy the beautiful landscapes and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of the region. Happy exploring!