Hike through the Veluwe or Utrechtse Heuvelrug? (NL)

**Pantalaimon** · 26-01-2009, 20:43

Hi there!
For a time now, I have the idea in the back of my head to hike through the Veluwe or Utrechtse Heuvelrug(The 2 large(st) forests in the Netherlands) from one end to the other.
Today I was walking on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. While thinking of preparations for my Sweden trip in June, I connected the idea of preparing me/my kit with the idea of hiking across the Veluwe/Utrechtse Heuvelrug and thought that there are more bushcrafty people in the Netherlands(or somewhere else) who probably like the idea too.

My raw idea was a hike from 4 to 7 days (U. Heuvelrug would be shorter). Not more than 5 hours walking a day (there are plenty more things to do in de woods!

) Not too many planning (going where your feet takes you or interesting spots).

One reason for me to do this, besides the obvious ones, is to learn what I need to carry (or can replace) for water and food etc.

What do you think of this idea? Do you like to join? Tell me!

**stijnb** · 26-01-2009, 21:18

I've been thinking of similar things, the biggest problem is probbably finding a place to legally sleep.(not a problem if you don't mind a bit of risk)
The longest route possible would probbably be from hilversum to zwolle, only near wageningen, there is about 10 km of non-forrest.
Just measured it on google earth and it should be about 125 km...

**Pantalaimon** · 26-01-2009, 22:20

Hi Stijn!

Well, from Zwolle to Wageningen is the longest route indeed. I thought of something from Nunspeet to Arnhem(north-south). Probably 60 km in straight lines.
There are some paalkampeerplaatsen where we can put some tarps up, but I like to seek some quiet places where we can make some shelters from natural materials. I know a beautiful spot for a debris hut for example (made my first one there, and am proud of that). And on almost every legal campsite campfires aren't allowed. When avoiding weekends, it's possible to walk all day without seeing more than 5 people. Depending on weather and distance to a city/town. So you don't have to care about being caught for wildcamping.

Any other things whats holds you back of joining this trip?

**squantrill** · 27-01-2009, 11:40

Originally Posted by Pantalaimon

Hi Stijn!

Well, from Zwolle to Wageningen is the longest route indeed. I thought of something from Nunspeet to Arnhem(north-south). Probably 60 km in straight lines.
There are some paalkampeerplaatsen where we can put some tarps up, but I like to seek some quiet places where we can make some shelters from natural materials. I know a beautiful spot for a debris hut for example (made my first one there, and am proud of that). And on almost every legal campsite campfires aren't allowed. When avoiding weekends, it's possible to walk all day without seeing more than 5 people. Depending on weather and distance to a city/town. So you don't have to care about being caught for wildcamping.

Any other things whats holds you back of joining this trip?

Id be interested to.. not sure about a week off work yet though!

**Pantalaimon** · 27-01-2009, 17:01

Nice!

What about (the end of) May? Spring!
The woods are not yet crowded with the summer visitors(and mosquito's

)
And we have the chance to really use the shelters.
Plus getting off work is much easier

**stijnb** · 27-01-2009, 20:08

ehm I can go in the weekends and in school holidays...(there is one from 14-22 february) or the first week of may.....

using natural shelters is not only great fun, but also allot harder to spot(boswachters) and an A-frame shelter filled with leaves is also a bit warmer than a hammock.(and if you cheat by using a tarp and then leaves, it can be done in 5 mins)
I think we should probbably discuss it further via pb or mail as 1 wild camping is illegal and 2 I can read english no problem, but I suck at writing in english.....

**squantrill** · 27-01-2009, 21:19

Originally Posted by stijnb

ehm I can go in the weekends and in school holidays...(there is one from 14-22 february) or the first week of may.....

using natural shelters is not only great fun, but also allot harder to spot(boswachters) and an A-frame shelter filled with leaves is also a bit warmer than a hammock.(and if you cheat by using a tarp and then leaves, it can be done in 5 mins)
I think we should probbably discuss it further via pb or mail as 1 wild camping is illegal and 2 I can read english no problem, but I suck at writing in english.....

Syijn your english is perfect trust me I know

**stijnb** · 27-01-2009, 21:27

Here's a list of natuurcampings in Gelderland:
http://staatsbosbeheer.nl/Overnachten/Kampeerterreinen/Zoekresultaten.aspx?campingTyp e=&province={0ADB082A-5196-4368-BAA7-D2D02D0F6238}

It would be possible to make a route so that we can stay on one of those campsites every night, then we can also make a fire...
Though it is less "free" than just walk southward untill we're tired.
Off course a combination is also possible...

**Ahjno** · 27-01-2009, 21:56

Originally Posted by stijnb

I think we should probbably discuss it further via pb or mail as 1 wild camping is illegal ...

I'll echo what Stijn said guys, please keep it legal on the forum.
Thank you

**Pantalaimon** · 28-01-2009, 20:48

Okay, Stijn, you said the first week of May. That's fine by me!
Squantrill (Simon was it?) What do you think about it?

**mortalmerlin** · 03-02-2009, 16:53

I would be interested in joining too. 1st week of may sounds good.

**squantrill** · 03-02-2009, 20:16

Originally Posted by Pantalaimon

Okay, Stijn, you said the first week of May. That's fine by me!
Squantrill (Simon was it?) What do you think about it?

Are we looking at the first whole week or the first weekend in May ?

Long weekend no problem a week for me right now is going to be a bit akward..

re: pm

Simon

**mortalmerlin** · 03-02-2009, 20:34

Originally Posted by squantrill

Are we looking at the first whole week or the first weekend in May ?

Long weekend no problem a week for me right now is going to be a bit akward..

re: pm

Simon

A week might be a problem for me to take off too.

But maybe it's possible we could go along for x number of days and leave the group half way though or something like that?

**Pantalaimon** · 03-02-2009, 20:45

Originally Posted by mortalmerlin

A week might be a problem for me to take off too.

But maybe it's possible we could go along for x number of days and leave the group half way though or something like that?

I just was typing that proposal

you're of course also welcome

So, shall we begin the trip on Friday then? Includes a long weekend for you the whole Friday?

**stijnb** · 03-02-2009, 21:32

we could also start by crossing the veluwe in the weekend and do the utrechtse heuvelrug during the week or other way round...

or stay at one spot(natuurcamping?) in the weekend so we can have a fire and make some jerky and stuff and do the hike in the week...

**Marsdijk** · 08-02-2009, 20:34

maybe try also the website : http://www.kampeerclub.nl/terreinen/leusden.php

**squantrill** · 09-02-2009, 11:20

Originally Posted by stijnb

we could also start by crossing the veluwe in the weekend and do the utrechtse heuvelrug during the week or other way round...

or stay at one spot(natuurcamping?) in the weekend so we can have a fire and make some jerky and stuff and do the hike in the week...

Im up for that

I just have my naatuur camping book in Ill take a look but remeber most of these campings maybe shut and we will need to approach the bos wachter niels and I had to do the same for kuinre when we stayed there over a long weekend

Simon

**Thijzzz** · 20-02-2009, 23:54

Mmmmm, I'm interested. Same for me with work: leaning more towards taking friday and monday off, a whole week is too much.

Remark: I ususally don't walk much with a rucksack, so this will be a good test for me too. Might also mean that I won't be the quickest

**Pantalaimon** · 24-02-2009, 08:51

Nice! More people!

So it seems that the trip starts at the 1st of May?

**stijnb** · 18-03-2009, 07:35

so, any more ideas regarding the place we'll start?
if we'll start near hilversum, we can have the first night legal at austerlitz, then we could probbably be near wageningen at the end of the weekend and be near zwolle at the end of the week. so anyone who can only stay for the weekend can get on a train at wageningen.

another posibility would be to start in either zwolle, Arnhem or wageningen and split up at Apeldoorn...

feel free to criticize

**stijnb** · 18-03-2009, 07:49

oopz doublepost

**Pantalaimon** · 18-03-2009, 10:39

you're really planning to walk across the utrechtse heuvelrug AND the veluwe? I thought it was this or that. It won't be easy, walking one week >20km a day with a backpack full of gear, but it's okay with me!

But because the majority of the group will stay just a long weekend, shall we walk from North to South? From Nunspeet to Arnhem?

I'm quite familiar with the area under Nunspeet. We can start at 't Harde(village next to Nunspeet, train station). If we go south, it will be a very variable walk with different sorts of land: heathland, 'kwel' (clear water source!) and of course woodland.

**stijnb** · 18-03-2009, 13:15

ok nunspeet sounds good if we walk less, there's more time to gather food and find water...
In may there's really alot of food to be found, is ther some fishable water on the route?

**Pantalaimon** · 18-03-2009, 14:32

Not that I know of. I'm not really a fisher :P

In the Leuvenumse/Hierdense Beek should be some fish, but thats on the western parts near Harderwijk. I think next friday I'll take a look.

edit:
Been there!
I haven't seen any fish! It's quite clear water, not very deep at the moment/spot though. But it still runs through some 'civilised' areas, so there can be some pollution from fertilizers or sewer overflows. But that's probably minimal.
Maybe next year I'll be able to test some waters on pollution.

**stijnb** · 14-04-2009, 16:13

hey, as it wil be in about two weeks from now, maybe it's time to get some more detailed planning done.

Where exactly will we meet and at what time?
We will need some pretty detailed maps of the area(I allready have a compass)
As the veluwe is the almost only location in the netherlands that's not below sea level, water will be an issue, some refill locations will be needed and a ceartain carrying capacity per person would also be handy.

so'.....
like to hear something again

**Pantalaimon** · 14-04-2009, 21:28

The bicycle-map is the map that covers the whole Veluwe. It isn't detailed like the Staatsbosbeheer/Falklandplan maps, but that isn't always necessary. Staatsbosbeheer has maps from Nunspeet and the middle of the Veluwe. For resupplies there are supermarkets in some villages.
We could start at Nunspeet, than we could decide which direction (western/eastern part) we could go to.

What about starting at friday 10am? squantrill/simon, mortalmerlin, thijzzz, what about you?

**squantrill** · 15-04-2009, 20:05

Originally Posted by Pantalaimon

The bicycle-map is the map that covers the whole Veluwe. It isn't detailed like the Staatsbosbeheer/Falklandplan maps, but that isn't always necessary. Staatsbosbeheer has maps from Nunspeet and the middle of the Veluwe. For resupplies there are supermarkets in some villages.
We could start at Nunspeet, than we could decide which direction (western/eastern part) we could go to.

What about starting at friday 10am? squantrill/simon, mortalmerlin, thijzzz, what about you?

Afraid Ill have to cancel job changing again!! have fun though guys real shame this is almost by back door

Simon

**stijnb** · 15-04-2009, 20:33

ah that sucks mate, hope we'll see you in again soon at another event though!

**Thijzzz** · 19-04-2009, 18:07

10 o'clock is fine for me! Shall we exchange personal details like phone no's. etc via PM?

I'll come from the south (Oss), so if there's anyone I can pick up, just let me know!

**mortalmerlin** · 20-04-2009, 18:39

Friday 10am sounds good.

Is the plan to go from Nunspeet towards Arnhem then? I kind of need to know where I will arrange collection from

I will PM you (Pantalaimon) my contact details as well.

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