For many, cycling in Limburg is synonymous with cycling in South Limburg. The routes of the Amstel Gold Race, Klimclassic and the Volta Limburg Classic. With familiar names like Bemelerberg, Cauberg and the Eyserbosweg. Almost everyone with a road bike has done their first climbing kilometres in South Limburg. But the elongated, former mining province has much more to offer. Gravel routes, for example. The platform Land of Gravel and Sand, which was launched recently, has a host of beautiful gravel routes for those who have played out South Limburg on road bikes. Today we zoom in on one of these routes, Glamour Gravel in central Limburg, created by Leandra Bisschops.
Starting point Neer
The Central Limburg region is an often forgotten region, especially when it comes to gravel trails. Soon people head for the eastern neighbours, or the gravel cyclist loses himself in the trails of the Brabant countryside. This route, which measures just over 60 kilometres, starts in the town of Neer. This church village, located in the Leudal, lies right along the Meuse and not only houses a beautiful castle (Neyenghoor) but also two water mills, several monasteries and a total of four chapels. It can rightly be called a church village. If you would like to ask for blessing before your ride, you will be in the right place at the start. It is located next to the Sint-Martinus church. Handy.
Helden woods
From neer, you head north along the river Maas towards Kessel, where you soon encounter the first nice gravel strips. Pretty soon after you leave Kessel you dive into the Helden woods, where the crackling surface awaits you. Beautiful long gravel strips, where you can enjoy the surrounding nature. Along the way, you also come across some history, such as the war memorial just before the 20-kilometre point. Pretty soon after that, you come to a beautiful wide gravel strip, leading you towards the Limburg town of Panningen. For me, a name always linked to amateur football.
Transitions
The 60-kilometre gravel route is not just about gravel paths. I think this is almost wishful thinking in the Netherlands, with our good infrastructure and tight cycle paths. Not for nothing are we praised for this at home and abroad. After the nice gravel road, road 208, you have to cross asphalt again for a while at Panningen and Beringe. only to return to nice, unpaved stretches further on at Marisberg. Like this one below.
Helena canal
After about 40 kilometres, you cross the Helena Canal and follow it for quite a bit. This is great cycling. The Helena canal is almost 16 kilometres long in total and runs partly through North Brabant with the lion's share in the province of Limburg. The canal was built in the 19th century to facilitate the drainage of adjacent peatlands. It is quite funny that this canal runs parallel to the Deurne Canal. Eventually, it flows into the 'Grand Canal du Nord'. At some point in this route, you make 'the switch' from the Helena Canal to the Deurne Canal and the Noordervaart. It's slowly time to ride towards Neer again. A nice, long gravel path, which goes almost as far as Nederweert brings you back to the starting point via the Waterbloem area. TIp from us: have something to drink or eat at the 'Radhoes Neer'. This former town hall of Roggel and Neer now houses a tavern where you can have another beer or, in summer, also get a (traditional) ice cream. Top!
