Route 1: Lutjeloo–Blijham
On this route, you’ll walk through and around Blijham and through the old es hamlet of Lutjeloo. This route is 11.5 kilometres long.
On this route from Blijham, you’ll walk through, amongst other places, Park Blanckenborg – a beautiful 9-hectare walking park – past the 18th-century Reformed church with its memorial to the crew of a British bomber from the Second World War (point 10), the Blijhamsterbos and Lutjeloo. Lutjeloo is an old hamlet and was first mentioned as ‘Lutke Loe’ as early as 1515. The walk then continues through the De Gaast nature reserve and via the Wedderbergen leisure area.
Due to land subsidence, rising sea levels and heavier rainfall in winter, Groningen is sometimes unable to discharge excess water into the mudflats and the Dollard in time.
The rivers in Westerwolde were also, in the nineteenth…
On this route from Blijham, you’ll walk through, amongst other places, Park Blanckenborg – a beautiful 9-hectare walking park – past the 18th-century Reformed church with its memorial to the crew of a British bomber from the Second World War (point 10), the Blijhamsterbos and Lutjeloo. Lutjeloo is an old hamlet and was first mentioned as ‘Lutke Loe’ as early as 1515. The walk then continues through the De Gaast nature reserve and via the Wedderbergen leisure area.
Due to land subsidence, rising sea levels and heavier rainfall in winter, Groningen is sometimes unable to discharge excess water into the mudflats and the Dollard in time.
As early as the nineteenth century, the rivers in Westerwolde were already struggling with excessive water levels. Nowadays, the canals ensure rapid drainage. Even so, the Westerwoldse Aa is still allowed to burst its banks here and there. Walking along the mowing path (between points 28 and 29) beside the stream, you’ll come across a dip in the embankment. At this ‘overflow’, the water can flow into the floodplain on your left, as far as the old winter embankment, which lies a few hundred metres further west. The western embankment also has a similar inlet, causing the De Gaast nature reserve to flood periodically. Furthermore, the reed bed to the north of the Oude Loop (at point 28, you can see the Oude Loop and the Westerwoldse Aa converging on the opposite bank) is a floodplain area, owned by the Hunze en Aa’s Water Board.
This is good for nature, provided it takes place in autumn or winter. Birds do not breed at that time (the rare whinchat and the grasshopper warbler are regular visitors), the hen harrier seeks out drier areas, countless ducks, wigeons, geese and swans enjoy the abundance of water, and the cattle that graze the area are either in their stables or grazing elsewhere. Nor does periodic flooding do any harm to the flora. Plants growing in De Gaast include two-row sedge, cottongrass and ragged robin.
This is a route of the Walking in Westerwolde Foundation, sponsored by Mulder trainings.
Mulder training:
Office: Markt 7
9401 GS Assen
t +31 592 201010 (10-22 hours)
f +31 592 201012
info@mulderopleidingen.nl and www.mulderopleidingen.nl
Lesson locations: Assen, Groningen, Stadskanaal, Veendam and Winschoten
If you have any comments, please let us know via the contact form
Here’s what you’ll see
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Starting point:
Parking area opposite Spar supermarket,
Raadhuisstraat 10
9697 PR Blijham
Navigate to the starting point -
End point:
Parking area opposite Spar supermarket,
Raadhuisstraat 10
9697 PR Blijham
Navigate to end point
Tourist Info Agentschap - Wedde (Camping Wedderbergen)
Molenweg 29698 XV Wedde
Features
Tour/Route
- Route features: From A to A
- Explanatory season: Please note that the bank path along the Westerwoldse Aa can sometimes be very boggy and may not be accessible at high tide, especially in autumn and winter. Wearing waterproof footwear is therefore recommended.
- Tagged: Yes
- Explanatory marking: Yellow-and-white marked WIW 1
- Route typing: Nature trail
- Comment starting point: The starting point is at the car park opposite the Spar supermarket, Raadhuisstraat 10, Blijham
Walking
- Dogs must be kept on a lead Yes