Scherpenberg and Rodeberg, mid-season route

Start:park in Loker (Locres). There are a few parking spaces at the entrance to Kalissestraat.
Note: it is also possible to park along the N375, which links Loker to Ypres.

(S/E) Head north-east along Kalissestraat and follow it for about 300 metres. Take the path on the right to cross the Hellebeek Nature Reserve: the path is well-maintained, though the facilities are a bit dated. At the exit, follow the small road on the left until you reach a junction (marker 49).

(1) Climb the stairs (short but the steps are high!) and head right, following the small road. Just before reaching it, take the path on the left and follow it (north-east) to join a small road (marker 50).

(2) Follow it for about a hundred metres to the right and look for a path on the right (marker 51, large picnic table and slide!). Follow this lovely path to a crossroads.

(3) Take the small, winding road (Kalissestraat) on the left until you reach a T-junction.

(4) Take the small road on the left and you’ll immediately come to marker 54. Continue straight on, pass a farm and arrive at marker 53.

(5) Take the road on the left. 150 metres further on, take a lovely grassy path on the left that runs alongside the road. At the end, go through the gate and you’ll find a wide track.

(6) Follow this path to the left. After about a hundred metres, walk alongside a vineyard; at the far end of it, turn right, still following the vines, and join the N375 (Dikkebusstraat). Cross it (take care!) and follow it to the left, taking the cycle path. Turn into the^{first street} on the right and reach a T-junction, opposite a farm

(7) Take the road on the left, pass between the farm buildings and, keeping in the same direction, continue along the path until you reach a T-junction.

(8) Take the road on the left, pass marker 70 and reach the N 375 (marker 52).

Follow it for a few metres to the left before turning right (take care!) onto Scherpenbeckweg. Follow this until you find an entrance to the woods on the right.

(9) Take the path on the right to climb the Scherpenberg (often slippery). At the top, at the fork, take the path on the right, then immediately the one on the left (gate). A lovely descent through the undergrowth leads to a wider path.

(10) Follow this path to the left to reach marker 48 and a small road.

(11) Follow it to the right to reach the N 375. Cross it (take care!) and follow it to the left (paved road). Ignore the^{first road} on the right and, a little further on, veer to the right to join Rodebergstaat (petrol station and bread shop). Reach a junction.

(12) Turn right. About 400 metres further on, follow a path on the right. The lower part of the descent is quite damp. Reach a junction of paths and a small road.

(13) Follow the road a few metres to the right, then take a path going uphill to the left. At the top, you will find marker 29.

(14) Take the path on the left. 100 metres further on, at marker 28, turn right to reach marker 13. Take the path on the left to begin the circuit of Sulferberg. Pass the summit (bench and cairns) and continue along this remarkably well-maintained path (wooden decking and steps) to marker 12.

(15) Follow the path to the left to find, after a few metres, an entrance on the right (gate in poor condition).

(16) Head right (fairly steep and slippery descent) to find a recently restored footbridge at the bottom. Cross it and continue along a somewhat obstructed path (2 fallen trees as of early February 2026, but this isn’t a problem) to reach a small road. Follow it to the left for 100 m to return to the crossroads – the small road passed earlier.

(13) Leave the road and head right onto a path heading south. Apart from the lower section, this path is in very good condition. Join a small road at a farm (marker 27).

(17) Follow it to the right. 150 metres further on, at a right-hand bend, leave it (marker 26) to take the path on the left (wooden footbridge) and reach marker 90.

(18) Take the^{second path} on the right (through the undergrowth). Stay close to the edge of the woodland, then at the very end, turn left to head uphill and reach a wide path (marker 25). Take this path on the left and arrive at marker 33.

(19) Head right. At the^{first fork} , take the path on the right to reach a^second fork. Turn right and follow the correct path, keeping as close as possible to the fence on the left. You will reach a wide path and marker 23.

(20) Take the path on the left to quickly reach the edge of the woods. Head left along the edge (path marked by hikers’ footsteps) and reach a T-junction. Turn left, staying along the edge, and reach marker 64. Continue straight on to reach marker 21.

(21) Take the road on the right and reach a junction. Take the wide path on the right (see practicalinformation 1) and reach marker 10 (junction).

(22) Turn left to marker 19 (crossroads). Take the path on the left (very wet at the start, but a nice trail has formed in the undergrowth on the left). Reach a junction (marker 20) where you turn right onto a road (Schomminkelstraat). 300 metres further on, reach marker 15.

(23) Turn left onto a path that joins the N 398. Cross it and take the footbridge opposite. Walk past 3 sun loungers and join Soldatenstaat. Follow it to the right to reach marker 7. Head straight ahead, go through a gate and, on the path, walk towards marker 8 (one section may be quite soft) (See practical information 2). Reach marker 8 (gates).

(24) Make a quick first turn right then left and go through the gate to head towards marker 14 (GR® and well-maintained section). Staying in the undergrowth, you reach the edge of the woods and marker 14 (gate).

(25) Head down to the road, turn right and then immediately left onto the tarmac (GR®) to join the N 398. Follow it for a short while to the right, then turn left onto a small road (Kleine Bergstraat GR®). 300 metres further on, you’ll find a hairpin bend on the left (GR®).

(26) Take this path, which bends right twice, then left once to reach a small road. Follow this small road to the left. You’ll arrive at the entrance to a local pub. There, I turned right to cross the courtyard and reach the edge of the woods (this might be a good opportunity to have a drink) (See practical information 3). Then follow the edge of the woods to the right. Further on, the path turns left into the woods and reaches marker 65

(27) Continue straight ahead up a steep climb (staircase) to reach marker 38. There, turn right (end of the GR®) and reach the Grand’route. Follow it to the right (it is paved on both sides) until the junction (chapel and marker 39).

(28) Take the wide path to the left of the chapel, through the vineyard. After about a hundred metres, turn left into a wide lane through the vines. Continue until you reach a copse. Then turn left along the edge of the copse and, going uphill, join a small road (information sign).

(29) Follow it for about fifty metres to the right before turning left, in a hairpin bend, onto a narrow, steeply ascending path. Reach a crossroads where you continue straight ahead, still climbing, to arrive at the Mill (Baneberg).

(30) Continue straight ahead on the tarmac (large car park on the right). At the end of the car park (marker 37), take the correct path on the right which descends to join Oude Bellestraat at marker 46. Follow it to the left and return to the starting point. (You can leave the road 150 metres further on to take the path on the left which runs alongside the vineyard, but the access can be very muddy) (S/E).

The paths are generally in good condition with nice features, but the undergrowth can be tricky. Wear sturdy footwear and a walking stick may be useful.

Practicalinformation 1. A little further on, you can turn right, then immediately left to walk along the edge of the field. At the crossroads, you can continue along the edge of the vineyard before returning to the path shortly before marker 10.

Practicalinformation 2. At marker 7, you can also turn left onto a small road to find marker 14.

Practical information 3. If you are unsure about passing by the estaminet, continue straight on to marker 21. Turn right to marker 64 and turn right again at the edge of the field.