Migration birds trail: from Hoenderloo to Loenen – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Today, I am hiking the section of the Migration birds trail between Hoenderloo and Loenen in the Netherlands. I have fond memories of holidays in Hoenderloo. Many of the places I pass are still recognisable from the past.

Hoenderloo in my memory

My hike starts at the Centrum bus stop in Hoenderloo, where I ended last time. From there, I first walk towards the trail. I walk past a meadow with horses and a white church on the horizon. I have to pay attention at the church, because the Merchants trail (Long distance trail 3) also passes by here.

The trail takes me further into the town and I take a short break at the famous IJs van Co ice cream shop. I remember us getting soft ice cream here in the past. Unfortunately, it is still closed at 7 o’clock in the morning. In my memory, the park across the street was much bigger. But then again, I was a lot smaller back then.

I walk out of Hoenderloo along the edge of the forest. Soon I am able to enter the forest near the Miggelenberg holiday park. This is the park where we used to stay. I have fond memories of this park, such as playing badminton with my father and the shuttlecock getting stuck in a tree, followed by the broom he used to try to get it out 😂.

I don’t visit the holiday park, but just walk around it. I actually recognise the path behind the park. I have a nice anecdote about this too:

I went for a walk in the woods with my parents (I think it was with blue trail markings) and I really enjoyed it. A week later, feeling overconfident, I thought I could walk the trail myself, but I got hopelessly lost somewhere behind the park. In a state of panic and in tears, I ended up running back to the cottage, via the path where I am now. A forest like that is quite big when you’re small.

Other trail guide about this region

The trail continues along wide sandy paths and forest lanes towards a main road (again recognisable from the past).

Nature reserves Schenkenshul and Hoeve Delle

Across the road, I arrive at a beautiful open plain called Schenkenshul. This nature reserve is new to me. It’s a nice change from the rather monotonous walk so far.

I walk straight across the grassy plains and dive back into the forest on the other side. After a long stretch through the forest, the next main road appears, with a roadside restaurant on the other side. That’s convenient, because I really need to go to the toilet. I take a well-deserved break there with coffee and a piece of cake.

I cross the A50 highway and immediately after the bridge, according to the trail guide, I have to turn left into the Hoeve Delle nature reserve. However, I don’t see any markings. The trail has probably been changed here. I decide to follow the old trail, which turns out to be a good decision. What a lovely path! Not much later, I come across the markings again. The new trail would have sent me on a long detour around the nature reserve.

Loenen waterfalls

A little later, I arrive at the Vrijenberger Spreng. I follow this brook for quite some time until I reach the small Loenen waterfall. I also remember this waterfall and its larger counterpart from the past.

With a view of the waterfall, I take another break. Adorable goldcrests fly rapidly from tree to tree. They are too quick to photograph.

Goldcrest
The goldcrest is the smallest bird in the Netherlands. The bird is approximately 9 cm in size. It has a grey-green body with a black crest with a bright yellow stripe running through it. Its cousin, the firecrest, has a bright orange stripe and is much rarer than the goldcrest.

Goldcrests particularly like pine forests, but can also be found in parks and sometimes in gardens. In summer, they live in groups high up in the treetops, and in winter they come down lower and you will encounter them more often.

Goldcrests nest from April to June, with two clutches per year of 7 to 13 eggs.



Source (in Dutch): Vogelbescherming

Goldcrests are not the only birds I encountered during this hike. Below is a checklist of all the birds I saw.

I cross the Vrijenberger Spreng and walk on unaware that I have overlooked a trail marker. I’m walking in completely the wrong direction and have almost made a circle. Just in time, I realise that something isn’t right. Otherwise, I would have walked the same part along the Vrijenberger Spreng twice. Thirty-five years later, I can still get lost in the forest! Fortunately, Google Maps is my saviour 😄.

Once back on the trail, I pass the big Loenen waterfall. I find the small one slightly more beautiful, perhaps because there are fewer people and it is deeper in the forest.

Just before Loenen, I walk along a lovely winding path, the last stretch through the forest.

The trail doesn’t go through Loenen, but stays on the outskirts. There I come across a wooden shoes trail: the Loenen Enken trail. I do walk into Loenen, because I am at the end of my hike. At the Centrum bus stop, I take the bus back home.

Final thoughts

More beautiful forest hikes

I love walking in the forest. The forest hikes below were the most beautiful ones I have done so far.

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