Nature-rich gravel route through the southern Peel

The route starts from the parking lot at the Meijel football field and goes counterclockwise. Almost 62% of the route is on gravel roads (see the route description below for a list of gravel strips and their length). Please note: the underpass of the Heldensedijk (between Meijel and Beringe) is closed (until expected March/April 2024). Follow the local diversion for cyclists here (the route will be 400 meters longer).

The route takes you through the many nature reserves in the southern Peel, with agricultural areas in between. It means that you only cycle through two villages (Kronenberg and Helenaveen). In the most north-western part of the route (between Kronenberg and America) you mainly cycle on gravel roads through agricultural areas. A good opportunity to eat/drink is just south of Kronenberg at Grand Café 1466 when crossing the Kronenbergweg (after having cycled kilometers of gravel roads through agricultural areas). This restaurant is located on the right at a distance of 30 meters from the route (kilometre point 57) and is open from Thursday to Sunday.

Successively you cycle through or along the nature reserves of:
- the Canal of Deurne and Noordervaart,
- drainage channel,
- Burnt out,
- Brookberg,
- drainage channel,
- Heldense Bossen,
- Kesselse Bergen,
- Breukerheide,
- Dubbroek (and the Mortelsven),
- Blerickse Bergen,
- Kockersen,
- Blerickse Heide,
- Elsbeemden,
-Shop
- valley Groote Molenbeek,
- Steegberg,
- Heesberg,
- Heesbeemden,
- Black Slice of heather,
- Mariapeel,
- The Zinkske/Helena Canal,
- Canal of Deurne,
- Startebos.

Twice you cycle through a nature reserve that has meadows in its name (Elsbeemden south of Sevenum and Heesbeemden north of Kronenberg). Beemd is a synonym for meadows (and forests) in a stream valley: the gravel roads here can be slightly wetter than elsewhere on the route. The other gravel roads are often in good shape, even after rainy periods. During long periods of drought, the gravel roads south of Kronenberg (Steegbredeweg, Heesbredeweg) can be a bit sandy in character. During harvest and sowing time in a rainy period, these gravel roads can also be a bit more difficult to access because of the agricultural traffic that uses them.

Gravel strips and their length in kilometres:
1.1 Helena Cruise
3.2 Canal of Deurne/Noordervaart
2.7 Drainage channel
1.9 Burnt out
1.1 Schooldijk
3.6 Drainage canal/Spanjersbaan
7.9 Heldense Bossen/Kesselse Bergen
1.2 Rinkesfort
0,7 Dubbroek
0.6 Rooth
2.2 Kockersen
1.4 Breebronne (1)
1.0 Breebronne (2)
1.7 Elsbeemden
0,2 Hazenhorstweg
1.3 Elsbeek Valley
0,5 Most
0,8 Most (part 2)
5.3 Heesbredeweg/Steegbredeweg
1.4 Meerweg (Kronenbergse Bossen)
0,5 Heesbeemd
0.7 crossing the Heesbeemden nature reserve
0,4 Blaktdijk -> Graafsebosweg
0,7 Graafsebosweg -> Blaktdijk
0,4 Reindonckweg
2,1 Americaanseweg/Zuringspeelweg/Bloemvenweg
0.6 Black Plaque Road
1.0 Black Slab Heather
2.8 Defense Channel/Black Plaque Road
0,4 Jan Deckersstraat
3.3 Helena Canal/Deurne Canal/Four Extremes
0,5 Sportpark Meijel (Startebos)
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53.2 km (= 61.7 %) unpaved roads