West Brabant has a rich cycling history. The region is known as the birthplace of famous Dutch cyclists and has traditionally hosted many cycling competitions. Think of the Acht van Chaam, where top riders from the Tour de France start the day after this competition. With the arrival of the third stage of the Vuelta Holland The region also received international attention. And what a feast that was, right? We know from experience that you can bike around here. We already wrote a blog about it earlier. smoothest bike paths around Breda and beyond Cycling in West Brabant with a touch of Italy.Now a nice story about the moorlands around Chaam.
Text & photos: Nynke Cuperus
Because the ravines in Chaam are also highly recommended! The forests are perfect for that: think of the Pannehoef near Rijsbergen, the Mastbos near Breda, the Vrachelse Heide near Oosterhout and Boswachterij Dorst. But the Kalmhoutse Heide near Bergen op Zoom on the border with Belgium is also worth a visit. So there are plenty of options! And that’s without even mentioning the wonderful sandy paths through the agricultural landscape.
A route for everyone
In this blog, we take you on a beautiful gravel route through the Chaam forests and the fields around them. I (Nynke) cycled it three times in the summer of 2022, so the photos might show that the nature is changing. It’s not a very long round – about 35 kilometers – but that makes it very accessible. You can, for example, cycle it on a beautiful summer evening, leave somewhere else, and cycle to the starting point or go with someone who isn’t a very experienced cyclist. One of the times I cycled this route, my parents even joined me on the mountain bike. And how fun is it to be able to cycle with your mother!
Through the gardens of country estates
Our bike tour starts within a stone’s throw of Breda and the A27, near Estate Ulvenhart. A beautiful ‘village’ of restored historic farms. From the estate, we immediately cycle through gravel paths into the forest. It’s nice to start like that! We stay a while at the farms, because Landgoed Luchtenburg and Landgoed Hondsdonk are also located in this area. The latter has a beautiful manor house and a garden with a swinging pond that we cycle past.
You hardly even realize that you’re cycling in the garden of a manor house. At first glance, it looks just like a forest. We cycle along narrow, wooded paths and have the feeling that we’re really in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes the paths suddenly end up on a piece of pasture surrounded by forest. We also suddenly come face to face with a deer.
Avoiding cow patties and barbed wire
As soon as we leave this forest, the first obstacle soon comes our way. We cycle over a slippery sandy path, for which my tires are not really suitable. I try to avoid falling over. Next to me, I see a mixture of mud and cow droppings. A little further on, there is a puddle. And I don’t really want to know whether that’s rainwater or cow dung. I step off for safety’s sake. A few meters later, I also see a barbed wire fence. And you’ll see; the monkey cage can begin! I climb – very awkwardly – under the wire. I’ll spare you the photos.
New favorite trail discovered?
We are now cycling a few kilometers on asphalt, on a road I’m familiar with. It’s a nice change after all the small forest paths and the dirt road. Suddenly we turn right and a beautiful gravel path appears. During my cycling days, I never noticed that! As we continue cycling, it definitely exceeds my expectations. We are cycling completely alone among corn fields, cows, and geese. Beautiful flowers are blooming, and the light on this summer evening is absolutely fantastic. I believe I have discovered a path I will often come back to!
As we cycle towards Baarle-Naussau, we encounter the next obstacle: a very sandy path. My friend gets through it with his mountain bike, but for me it’s like trying to ride through the dunes. The sand is so fine and dry in some places. So I start a walk of a few hundred meters.
Hidden path
Next comes another small stretch of asphalt, when my friend’s bike computer suddenly indicates that we need to turn right. “Here?” I say. “That really can’t be right.” The grass is high. I can barely see a trail, and there’s a path that I can cycle over. And yet the bike computer is right. My friend goes in front. Soon it becomes clear that I might have imagined it a little too dramatically. It’s actually really easy to do. Another place where you normally wouldn’t come at all. That’s what makes the heather so awesome!
Gravel Wallhalla
Then we arrive in the Chaamse Forests; a haven for gravellers. You’ll find dozens of long, straight gravel paths and hardly anyone else will be there. One of the highlights is the Ossengoor, a beautiful pond hidden in the forests. You’ll definitely encounter waterfowl, dragonflies and waterjunks here. It’s also a hotspot for ticks, so check your body for this annoying creature when you’re at home.
Tips and tricks
Our gravel tour is almost over! On our way back to Landgoed Ulvenhart, we cycle through Landgoed Valkenberg. And if this wasn’t a diverse tour… Would you like more gravel tips in West Brabant? Then we recommend following the king of gravel routes in this region on Instagram: @bjornrides.cc. And if we can give you one more gravel tip, these routes are also very cool!
Are you going to go for a hike for the first time? Check out our tips for your first gravel adventure.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.