The best walks and hikes around Kortenaken

A small but absolutely recommended forest, also called a primeval forest. It is narrow but you walk through it lengthwise, so you have the feeling that it is larger than it actually is.

This road, partly next to Kasteel A Speculo, becomes boggy after rain. If the rain continues, several sections become very muddy.

Built in 1865, neo-Gothic country house, surrounded by a landscaped park with a pond; originally less than 3 hectares, later extended to 10.5 hectares. The landscaping concept that A Speculo had in mind was based on the 'saucer model', which gained popularity in the late 19th century, especially in the landscaping of smaller parks and even villa gardens of less than one hectare. The 'saucer' consists of a more or less open, scooped-out central part (in Ransberg with a pond that expanded over the years) and raised, wooded edges, in which a circular, peripheral road is hidden, which offers captivating views or vistas at well-chosen spots, within the estate or to the landscape beyond. The excavated earth was used to accentuate the relief: small hills for pavilions or groups of trees or shrubs – here the small hill next to the pond with four common limes (Tilia x europaea). (Inventory of parks and gardens of Belgium)

What a dilapidated chapel that stands out all the more here in the forest, close to the piece of heathland.

Nice varied footpath with some entrances to the Heibos that I did not know and where a "red walk" runs. The most important entrances to the Heibos elsewhere are already among the highlights.

Here it is also sometimes a bit wetter in drier weather due to the proximity of ponds, some pools and streams, and the lower location between two hills. The domain next to you is from the Liefkensrode farm - https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/7316745

Pachthoeve Campenrode is a closed farm built in brick with natural stone elements and consisting of a house, transverse barn, stables, cart house and storage areas. The farm site has a rich history with a first mention in the 17th century. The farm possibly preserves an 18th-century core in the upper room section of the house. The buildings evolved in the 19th century into a quasi-closed arrangement, and acquired their current appearance in the 20th century. The history of the leasehold farm is closely linked to the disappeared castle or ‘hof van Bleechem’, which was first mentioned in 1336, and was probably a ‘terra mansionaria’ of the abbey of Sint-Truiden. It was a court with a moat just south of the current farm on the other side of the Velp. The court was owned by Godefridus van Bleechem in the middle of the 14th century and later by sons Willelmus and Joannes de Bleechem. ‘Bleechem’ was at that time a hamlet of Loksbergen that was first mentioned in 1315. The leasehold farm itself was only first mentioned in 1626. It is unclear whether a (leasehold) farm was already present from the mention of the nearby ‘Hof van Bleechem’. What is certain is that extensive renovations were carried out by Marie Victoire de Voordt before 1712. In the meantime, the court had gradually evolved into a ruin and would be described for the last time in 1775 as ‘het oudt casteel met syne grachten’. To replace the ‘castle’, de Voordt decided to establish a ‘heerdij’ to the right of the current entrance gate. This may have been a room or a living area that was built for when the owner/lord came to visit. This may concern the upper room section of the current farm. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Pachthoeve Compenrode, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/306950

The Liefkensrode farm was probably founded around 1284 by Hendrik Liefkint, alderman of Diest and founder of the Liefkintgodshuis. He gave the order to clear the existing forests. The toponym Liefkensrode means ‘forest clearing under the direction of Liefkint’. In 1336 the farm was owned by a certain Mathiaas de Lifkenrode who in turn bequeathed it to heirs such as Morijs van Liefkensrode (before 1370) and Reyneris van Liefkensrode (from 1371). However, no documents or descriptions have been preserved about the layout and buildings of the farm since its foundation. The Liefkensrode farm was set up as a late bench with mayor and aldermen at the beginning of the 15th century. In the first half of the 15th century the farm was owned by widow Margerite van Rommale. Around 1526, the entire property came into the hands of an unknown canon of the chapter of the Saint-Lambert Cathedral of Liège. The canon probably gave the order for the construction of the current chapel in the north wing, to the left of the entrance gate. Afterwards, in 1572, it was in the possession of Ardt van Amours, lord of Sint-Margriete-Houtem. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Hoeve Liefkensrode, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/306951