Log in om deze wandeling aan je persoonlijke lijst toe te voegen.
Inloggen of registreren
Berg en Dal · Rijk van Nijmegen
N-70 hiking route · Circular walk
Climbing and descending
in the Kingdom of Nijmegen
One of the most beautiful walks in the Netherlands.
This makes the route special
- The centuries-old Gnome Tree
- The silent Philosophers’ Valley
- Views over the Ooijpolder
- The climb to the Duivelsberg
- Forests, stairs and narrow hill paths
To take into account
- Regularly steep climbs
- Tree roots and slippery slopes
- It can be busy on popular days
A Dutch adventure
The N-70 hiking route through the Kingdom of Nijmegen
The N-70 hiking route runs over the moraine between Beek and Berg en Dal. In some places you would almost forget that you are still in the Netherlands.
We started from the parking lot at Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Val Monte. We did not spend the night there, but it turned out to be an ideal starting point for this famous circular walk.
The route is named after the nature conservation year 1970 and is full of height differences, stairs, forest paths and surprising views. If you are looking for more routes in the area, you can find them on my overview of walks in the Netherlands all walks together.
Green N70 signs show the way through a landscape that never remains flat for a moment.
The first meters
Climbing and descending in the Kingdom of Nijmegen
After parking we walked almost immediately into the forest. The first part went slightly uphill on a sandy path with a view of the valley.
We quickly noticed that this walk is different: not flat, but constantly moving. Around us we only heard the forest, the birds and our own footsteps.
“The N-70 hiking route is not a normal walk. It is an adventure.”
Getting lost is almost impossible thanks to the N70 symbols.
The direction
Turn left to the Duivelsberg
We walked the route counterclockwise. As a result, we saved the steep climb to the Duivelsberg for the end. After a long journey through forests, valleys and past viewpoints we reached the steep climb to the top. The pancake house at the top was a welcome reward and from the terrace we had a beautiful view of the wooded area.
Constantly changing
Narrow paths on the N-70 hiking route
The route continues to surprise. Narrow paths meander along ridges and alternate with deep valleys. One moment you are walking on wooden stairs, a moment later you are stepping between tree roots or descending over a slippery slope.
It’s a fantastic walk and we’re clearly not the only ones who think so. Even on weekdays it can get busy in some parts. If you like this landscape, you can also buy mine NS hike across the Mookerheide to look at.
The path winds over ridges and descends again and again.
Wooden stairs, roots and slippery slopes demand your attention.
Special places
The Gnome Tree and the Philosophers’ Valley
One of the nicest surprises along the way was the Gnome Tree: an enormous chestnut tree with a trunk circumference of over eight meters. According to stories, it was planted around 1540.
A little further on awaits the Philosopher’s Valley, a quiet piece of nature with a small stream, winding paths and mossy hills. Here you only hear the rustling of the leaves.
A landscape full of moss, winding trunks and stories.
The last kilometers
Back to Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Val Monte
After more than three hours the legs became heavy, but the environment continued to provide enough new energy.
The views, the relief and the old forests of the N-70 hiking route continued to surprise and gave new energy again and again. We slowly descended towards Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Val Monte, where the car was parked. We ended tired but satisfied with the feeling that we had really been away for a while.
Captured along the way
Photos of the N-70 hiking route
A walk that shows how surprisingly rugged the Netherlands can be.
Back to top ↑
Ervaringen van wandelaars
Er zijn nog geen ervaringen gedeeld.
Log in om je ervaring te delen of een routewijziging te melden.
Inloggen