Wooden shoes trail: Grift and Graften trail – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wooden shoes trails are fun and always a surprise! This blog post contains a brief description of the trail (a trail shortcut 😉), a few photos and a simple sketch to illustrate. No need for a hiking map, the info on the website is clear enough.

This time a report on the Grift and Graften trail.

My experience

The Grift and Graften trail is a 12-kilometre round walk that starts in the town of Achterberg in the Netherlands. As I’m travelling by public transport, it’s easier for me to start in Rhenen, right by the train station. There’s even a marked trail of about 1 kilometre leading to the wooden shoes trail. I’m hiking the trail clockwise.

When I reach the wooden shoes trail, I’m immediately treated to a lovely view over the valley from the Laarsenberg. The fields are laid out in terraces on the slope of the Laarsenberg and are known as ‘graften’. This is partly where this trail gets its name from. I walk along sandy paths between the graften and eventually arrive in Achterberg.

In Achterberg, I come across roadworks and have to go back a little way and take a detour. After this extra detour, I reach the official starting point. I then walk along farm road towards the Grift river, also known as the Vallei canal and partly the source of this trail’s name. I also walk straight across a field and along a gravel path. The gravel path is the alternative route during the nesting season. All around me, I can hear the lovely sound of black-tailed godwits. I’m completely in my happy place.

Once I reach the Grift river, I see several intersections leading to other wooden shoe trails: the Harsloër trail and the Nude trail. I haven’t walked either of these trails yet, but they’re on my list.

Trail guide about wooden shoe trails

The trail now follows the meandering Grift river for quite a distance, with the Grebbeberg on the horizon. I’ve been along this stretch before on the Migration birds trail between Rhenen and Ede, but in the opposite direction.

Near the Grebbeberg, I take a detour to the Military Cemetery, as there are toilets at the visitor centre 🙈. Of course, I also take a moment to have a look around the free visitor centre. Here, you can learn about the events that took place during the Second World War – it’s still a truly impressive story.

I’m heading back along the trail through the woods over the Laarsenberg. A side path off the trail leads me to a trench from the Second World War.

Suddenly, I hear strange noises coming from the woods, but they can’t be birds. Then it dawns on me that Ouwehands Zoo is nearby and the noise is coming from the monkeys 🐒. It’s a strange experience.

Not long after, I’m back at the starting point and walk back to the station.

The photos

Final thoughts

Back in time

In March 2021, I took the hike described below. It just goes to show that, over the years, the blossoms have been appearing earlier and earlier.

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