From Ypres to Heuvelland and back via Great Route Paths

Show mapNavigatePrintDownloadEdit
Advertisement
Advertisement
33 km
185 m
06h35
Hard

View on interactive map

Route information

237 views | Public | DutchFrenchGerman

Last verified: 13 May 2025
Translated by OpenAI

Description by the author

Departure and arrival: Rijselpoort Ieper

The route mainly follows low-traffic asphalt roads, with some unpaved field paths, and primarily follows the Grande Route Paths (region GR Heuvelland, GR5A, GR128).

Depart from Ieper over the fortifications and along the Ieper-Ijzer canal, and walk through the Tortelbos and over country roads to Kemmel. Through the Warandepark, you continue towards Wulvergem and take some beautiful field paths that lead you past the mine craters between Mesen and Wijtschate. The 'Pool of Peace' (Spanbroekmolen crater) is a place to pause for a moment, both literally and figuratively. A beautiful passage through the Kroonaardbos in Wijtschate then brings you to Hollebeke, and through a detour through the somewhat mysterious Huikerbossen, the diverted canal takes you back to Ieper.

 
The hike itself is not difficult; only the distance may make it a bit challenging. The beautiful vistas and perhaps a meeting with a unicorn or a deer more than compensate for it.

 

 

Advertisement

Route origin

Route description

Region

Statistics

Difficulty level: Hard (87/100)

Length: 33 km

Duration: 06h35


Total ascent: 185 m

Maximal slope: 2.7 %

Average slope: 0.6 %

Net ascent: 0 m

Total descent: 185 m

Roads and subsoil

Paved roads: 21.1 km (64 %)

Cobblestones: 0 m (0 %)

Scenery

Car free roads: 12.8 km (39 %)

Noise pollution

Amount of traffic


Natural area

Urban area

Water rich area

Characteristics

    Themes

      Groups

        Start and end of the route

        Closest address to start: Kanonweg 10, 8900 Ieper, België
        Closest address to end: Kanonweg 7, 8900 Ieper, België

        Navigate to starting point

        Places of interest

        1. Belle Godshuis Museum

          0 · Heritage
          The Belle Almshouse Museum exhibits beautiful items from the rich collection of the Ieper Public …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        2. the Market Square in Ieper - the Cloth Hall - In Flanders Fields Museum

          0 · Museum
          In spite of their medieval appearance, no building in Ieper is more than 100 years old. The city …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        3. In Flanders Fields Museum

          0 · Museum
          Want to revive one of the hundreds of stories of men, women, soldiers or children during the war? …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        4. Museum of education

          0 · Culture
          This museum is housed in the former Saint Nicholas church, a unique Construction in Flanders. The …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        5. José Desodt

          0 · POI
          With the covered wagon you can explore Heuvelland in a relaxing way, enjoy the green surroundings …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        6. 16th demarcation post

          0 · Marker
          Shortly after the First World War, the idea was formulated in France to build a road along the old …
          Onroerend Erfgoed Vlaanderen
        7. Kemmel Number 1 French Cemetery

          0 · Cemetery
          Kemmel No. 1 French Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead …
          Wikipedia
        8. Tree nursery De Linde

          0 · Natural area
          A visit consists of a walk through the company, a beautiful piece of nature at the foot of the …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        9. Sint-Laurentiuskerk

          0 · Heritage
          Kemmel is a very old parish close to Kemmelberg (156m) inhabited previously by the Celts. Like the …
          Wizpr.guide
        10. Labyrinth

          0 · Pub
          Highly recommended to enter with children (and the elderly) is café het Labyrinth. Here they have …
          Dromos
        11. Heuvelland

          0 · Municipality
          Heuvelland ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality …
          Wikipedia
        12. Sint-Machtuskerk

          0 · Heritage
          Wulvergem with only 280 inhabitants is the smallest village in the region and is on the West …
          Wizpr.guide
        13. R.E. Farm Cemetery

          0 · Military Cemetery
          R.E. Farm Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead of the …
          Wikipedia
        14. Pool of Peace

          3 · Historical place
          On the site of this now peaceful pond once stood the Spanbroek Mill - Spanbroekmolen in Dutch. The …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        15. Pool of Peace -

          0 · Battlefield
          The Spanbroekmolen crater, also called Pool of Peace, is the largest and most imposing mine crater …
          herpatrick
        16. Lone Tree Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

          0 · Cemetery
          Lone Tree Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead of the …
          Wikipedia
        17. Spanbroekmolenkrater

          0 · Museum
          The Spanbroekmolen crater, also called Pool of Peace, is a mine crater in the Belgian village of …
          Wikipedia
        18. Wijtschate Military Cemetery

          0 · Cemetery
          Wijtschate was in French and British hands until it was captured by the Germans on 1 November 1914 …
          herpatrick
        19. Sint-Medarduskerk

          0 · Heritage
          During the First World War, the village of Wijtschate was totally destroyed as evidenced by its …
          Wizpr.guide
        20. Renko Head

          1 · Culture
          Hospicestraat - 8950 Wijtschate Renko Head is a sculpture by Johan Tahon. The image is a kind of …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        21. Hoeveslagerij 't Lindebos

          0 · Farm
          In the farm butcher's shop 't Lindebos, you are guaranteed to taste only products from the …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        22. The Palingbeek

          0 · Natural area
          A stone's throw from Ypres, in the middle of a rolling and wooded landscape, lies the provincial …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        23. The Bluff

          0 · Leisure Centre
          One of the entry points of the Ypres Salient is located in the provincial domain De Palingbeek. …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        24. Mine Craters The Bluff

          0 · Pond
          "The Bluff" is located in the Provincial Domain "Palingbeek", N of the Bylanderpad and W of the …
          192248
        25. Spoilbank Cemetery

          0 · Military Cemetery
          Spoilbank is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead of the First World …
          Wikipedia
        26. Chester Farm Cemetery

          0 · Military Cemetery
          This was a frontline cemetery at a farm, which was coined with the name 'Chester Farm'. The first …
          Onroerend Erfgoed Vlaanderen
        27. 17th demarcation post

          1 · Marker
          Shortly after the First World War, the idea was formulated in France to build a road along the old …
          Onroerend Erfgoed Vlaanderen
        28. Bedford House Cemetery

          0 · War
          This cemetery, just outside Ieper, is one of the largest British cemeteries in the Westhoek. …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        29. Mine Crater at St.Eloi

          1 · War
          The crater at St.Eloi is the result of the largest deep mine detonated during the war. The crater …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden
        30. Belle Godshuis Museum

          0 · Heritage
          The Belle Almshouse Museum exhibits beautiful items from the rich collection of the Ieper Public …
          Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden

        Interesting products for your trip

        Advertisement

        Comments

        Activities

        Nearby

        Routes nearby

        Lodging nearby

        Services nearby

        Belle Godshuis Museum
        the Market Square in Ieper - the Cloth Hall - In Flanders Fields Museum
        In Flanders Fields Museum
        Museum of education
        José Desodt
        16th demarcation post
        Kemmel Number 1 French Cemetery
        Tree nursery De Linde
        Sint-Laurentiuskerk
        Labyrinth
        Heuvelland
        Sint-Machtuskerk
        R.E. Farm Cemetery
        Pool of Peace
        Pool of Peace -
        Lone Tree Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
        Spanbroekmolenkrater
        Wijtschate Military Cemetery
        Sint-Medarduskerk
        Renko Head
        Hoeveslagerij 't Lindebos
        The Palingbeek
        The Bluff
        Mine Craters The Bluff
        Spoilbank Cemetery
        Chester Farm Cemetery
        17th demarcation post
        Bedford House Cemetery
        Mine Crater at St.Eloi
        Belle Godshuis Museum
        0 km1 km2 km3 km4 km5 km6 km7 km8 km9 km10 km11 km12 km13 km14 km15 km16 km17 km18 km19 km20 km21 km22 km23 km24 km25 km26 km27 km28 km29 km30 km31 km32 km33 km19 m77 m
        PLUS
        500 m

        © 2006-2025 RouteYou - www.routeyou.com