Walk into autumn - 8 gems in south-east Groningen

When the leaves turn colour, the air gets fresher and the sun creeps softer along the horizon, the paths invite you in. In our region, there are walking routes that literally give you a taste of autumn: from damp riparian lands and crackling leaves to ancient estates and quiet forests. Here are eight routes that will get you in the autumn mood - with what you can discover along the way.

Ennemaborg - circular walk

Around the Ennemaborg, you walk through baroque gardens, past ponds and bushes, and even among Konik horses and old lanes. In autumn, the leaves sparkle in warm hues, the moat echoes the dead leaves, and you may hear the gentle scraping of horses' hooves in the distance.

Route 4: De Hoorndermeden - Wedde

This route (approx. 3.5 km) takes you past the old Burcht Wedde and through the stream valley of the Westerwoldse Aa, through the Hoorndermeden - marshy grassland on both sides of the river. In autumn and winter, you can see reeds swaying along the path, find traces of water birds, and on wet stretches, water spots shining in the sun.

Route 25: Spiekertocht Ter Apel

This route leads you through partly forest, partly rural areas near Ter Apel. Along the way, you can take note of old forest edge zones, changing vegetation, perhaps mushrooms in damp places and the alternation between open fields and wooded banks.

Grunneger Toalroute

This route (along dialect, landscapes, places with stories) lets you walk through villages and polder landscape, past fields, farms and old country roads. Along the way, it is striking how language and landscape come together: street names, poetry, boundary posts - a walk of phrases and sight.

Ennemaborg at night (Night of the Night walk)

When dusk falls, the countryside takes on a mystical glow. Under a dark sky, walk past silhouetted trees, listen to night sounds (owls, crickets) and experience the intimate contrast between light and shadow during the Night of the Night.

Park Borgerswold

Park Borgerswold is a green stadspark with forest parts, water features, paths along edges of nature and forest edges. In autumn: leaves crunching under your shoes, coloured tree leaves, reflections in the water, squirrels hiding nuts and birds migrating or gathering.

Arboretum village Blijham

In Blijham, there are arboreta (collections of trees) in the village. In autumn, you can admire a diversity of trees here - countless leaf colours, shapes and structures. It is an ideal area for those who want to see the autumn palette: from maples to beeches, from unusual species to a natural exhibition of season in miniature.

Autumn Bocken-Slokke-Loop

This year's autumn walk at Gasterij Natuurlijk Smeerling will be marked by a special edition. Besides the familiar 3-kilometre tour through the Westerwold countryside, which you can walk independently or accompanied by a nature guide, you can enjoy a tasting of three or four autumn beers or a hot or cold autumn drink along the way and afterwards. The whole thing gets an extra festive touch with an October-style pop-up festival: Kleintje Oktoberfest.