Alone in the world in Balen

Appointment at the parking lot at the Halflochtdijk in Balen. Turn left from the car park. Where the asphalt road turns left to the Sint-Odrada chapel (1896), you turn right into the forest road. On KP 51, at the bridge over the Grote Neet, it continues straight ahead, towards KP 56. It can also be done via the winding bat path, to the left of the road. You then walk through a swampy area and come back further on the wide road. Continue to FP 56. Turn right on the forest road towards KP 78.

At the end of the drive you enter an open meadow landscape. You step past a barrier and at the fork after it turn right, through a 'green tunnel'. Then cross a small bridge and continue walking through an open landscape with reed collars until you reach KP 78. Turn left, direction KP 63. At the end of the drive you walk through a meadow landscape with reed collars. On FP 63 turn left, direction KP 62. You step through a tunnel of hedgerows and arrive at FP 62. Continue straight ahead, direction KP 58. At the fork turn left and then right into the forest road. When you come out of the forest, you cross the Asbeek and continue walking through the Scheps nature reserve. Before a meadow, step right into a lane with canada poplars. You walk past a barrier with 'Scheps' on it, make a right-left nod on the T and continue to KP 58. Turn left until the quadruple jump with FP 57.

Shortening 1: turn left to KP 55 (read more from *)

Turn right, direction KP 21. Cross the railway, cross the N18 and walk up the Antverpialaan. After the cross of Malou you come to KP 21. Turn left, over the Peer Luytendijk, direction KP 94. You walk along the Vrede-Hoeve to a crossroads with a chapel. Cross it and continue to FP 94. Turn left, direction KP 88. You walk along a forest edge and cross the Grote Neet via a concrete bridge.

On FP 88 you have the choice for FP 95: straight ahead or right. Choose straight ahead. You step between blackberry bushes and ponds and walk on a narrow bat path. After a folding gate you continue to enjoy the beautiful landscape. The path dives into the forest and just stops after a bend. At the junction at a large lake there is no more signage of the walking network. Now follow the X-signs of Natuurpunt. You walk next to a large pool and turn left at the end. Step over a primitive bridge and follow the edge of the forest to the right for 20 meters. The X signs lead you into the forest. In marshy places there are some poles, which should serve as a bridge. Boots are absolutely necessary here.

After a swing gate you come to KP 95. Choose direction KP 30 and step between meadows and hedgerows until you reach an asphalt road. Turn left until you reach the N18. Cross it and walk next to the chapel of Schoor (1461) to KP 30 and then to KP 31 at the railway crossing. Continue straight ahead towards FP 54. At the junction with the chapel, step left into Schepsmolenstraat. In a bend with a beautiful view of the Nete valley you cross the bridge over the Kleine Hoofdgracht. Then you cross the Grote Neet and follow it to the right. Walk through a grove and step through a swinging door to KP 54.
Shortening 2: continue straight until FP 51 and then turn right until the departure point

Turn left, direction KP 55. You go into the forest. On the right the municipal fish pond of Scheps and a little further the path to the picnic island. Highly recommended! Continue to KP 55 (* Turn left, direction KP 56). Turn right, direction KP 56. Follow the forest road past a barrier and a building of drinking water company Pidpa. Immediately afterwards you step into the forest next to a barrier. At a rest zone you walk right between reed beds and meadows. Turn left with the wide grass road and step further into the forest next to the umpteenth barrier. If you feel like it, you can walk left to the bird watching wall. Continue to FP 56. Turn right until you reach the departure point.