You can easily walk your way through a day out in the woods, along the heath and through characteristic village centres
Rucphen is a walking paradise in a small area. The municipality consists of five village centres, Rucphen, St. Willebrord, Sprundel, Schijf and Zegge, interspersed with expansive forests, purple heather fields, agricultural countryside and quiet sandy paths. Whether you are looking for a short stroll of an hour or a vigorous half-day hike, a suitable route can be found for every walker in and around Rucphen. What makes Rucphen special is the variety. Alongside the well-known marked routes Through the Rucphense Bossen there are themed walks past poems, old windmills and local stories, and short nature strolls for a quick walk in between. There is also plenty for children to enjoy.
The Rucphense Bossen: the heart of walking in Rucphen
The Rucphense Bossen are the municipality's best-known walking area and consist of extensive coniferous and deciduous woods, open heathland and shifting sands. There are five marked routes running through the area: the red route (4 km), the blue route (5 km), the green route (6.5 km), the red-and-white route (7.5 km) and the yellow route (9 km). You start at one of the 11 starting points around the woods, each equipped with an information board featuring a map. This area is at its most beautiful, especially in August and September when the heather is in bloom.
Walking with a story
Rucphen also has several themaroutes where the walk itself tells a story. The ‘Dichter bij het landschap’ (Closer to the landscape) poetry route runs for 10 kilometres through the rural outskirts, allowing you to read 10 poems along the way, seven of which are by well-known writers such as Annie M.G. Schmidt and three by local poets. The Sprundelse Meule-ommekes consist of four walks ranging from 5.8 to 7.5 kilometres through the agricultural outskirts of Sprundel, offering lovely views of the Sprundel church and mill. The Turf walking route around Schijf also takes you along the history of peat extraction in the region.
For children and families
With children included, Rucphen is just as much fun. The Robin Hood Adventure Trail is a playful route for children aged 4 to 10, featuring 17 challenge posts in the woods near the starting point of Camping de Posthoorn in Rucphen. In Sprundel, there is also the Gnome Trail in Fatimapark, a short and child-friendly stroll past 12 talking gnomes, each with their own identity. Both routes are short enough to walk with young children without it becoming an exhausting ordeal.
Short nature walks
Have you only got half an hour or do you just want to stretch your legs? Rucphen also has a number of short nature walks, such as the De Achterhoek Nature Walk, which leads you past a small heath, fields, copses and ponds following orange posts, and the ’t Gaegelpad Nature Walk. Ideal for a short walk after work or in between tasks.
Food and drink on the go
A walk through Rucphen need never be without a break. Along the red route in the Rucphense Bossen you will find ’t Ossekopke, a cosy hospitality venue right in the middle of the woods, and in the village centres you can visit places including The Gerda Hoeve and The Grote Molen. Plenty of opportunity for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat along the way.
Ready to head out on your own?
View the full walking route overview on ontdekr.nl and plan your next walk in nature around Rucphen.