Warmbeekvallei - red - 6,5 km

The red route offers a completely new perspective on this beautiful hiking area. You will mainly hike along vast fields and through dense woodlands, while enjoying breathtaking views. The route takes you mostly over dirt tracks, providing an adventurous experience.

Along the way, you will pass two fascinating burial mound sites from the Iron Age and Bronze Age. These historical places show that people already appreciated the beauty of this region long ago.

The Valley of the Warmbeek

The Warmbeek rises in Peer, twenty kilometers southward, and flows through Hamont-Achel, with a descent of 9 meters over a distance of 8 kilometers. At Sint-Huibrechts-Lille, the stream crosses the Bocholt-Herentals canal and changes its name to Tongelreep at the Dutch border, eventually flowing into the Dommel at the Genneper Parken in Eindhoven.

In the past, the meanders of the Warmbeek near the Achelse Kluis were straightened and diked to drain the water more quickly. Thanks to recent re-meandering, this area now serves as a natural water buffer, where the river can flood during high tides.

Between the Tomp and the Mulke, the riverbed was relocated to create a mill pond of about 7 hectares, essential for the functioning of the watermill during dry periods. In 2015, fish ladders were installed at the former watermill the Mulke, allowing fish to swim upstream again to their spawning grounds. Upstream of the fish ladder, a 'spawning riffle' was created, ideal for rare stream fish such as the chub and the bullhead.

Come and experience the diversity of the red route and the beautiful Valley of the Warmbeek!