4.6
(126)
565
hikers
Sleeping Giant Route
01:29
5.91km
10m
Hiking
Hoo hoo hoo! How spooky! On this tour, about halfway between Eindhoven and Mechelen, you will meet a host of fairytale characters. It’s likely to also be a bit spooky and you’ll have to be careful not to wake up Slapende Reus, the slumbering giant that gave the hike its name.
You will need to be brave. Mysterious roots will grab at you, trying to hold you down. But don't be afraid, goblins and gnomes live in this forest and will protect you.
If you are very quiet, you may meet some of them. They live deep in the mountain that bears their name and only sometimes come to light. Listen carefully and you will hear them mining ores and singing their wild goblin songs.
A picnic area and two forest playgrounds invite you to stay and play, but in truth the whole forest is one great adventure playground.
To access the trails, there are several car parks and facilities nearby.
Last updated: August 9, 2024
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
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1.76 km
Iron Age Play Zone
Highlight • Rest Area
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2.66 km
Aerial Roots of the Kabouterberg
Highlight • Natural Monument
Even though these trees look like mangroves, nature is just playing tricks on us here. Rain has washed out the soil and flushed out the "normal" roots.
But that doesn't detract from the creepy impression. Depending on your level of imagination, use your imagination: don't get too close to them - they'll grab you. Or think of Harry Potter's Whomping Willow. Maybe these are copies of it?
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2.97 km
Kabouterberg, Kasterlee
Highlight • Forest
Speaking of which, doesn't the name of nearby Kasterlee remind you a bit of Casterly Rock from Game of Thrones, the ancient ancestral seat of House Lannister on the west coast of Westeros? That can not be a coincidence...?!
Those who are less imaginative will simply be happy about the possibility of a nice picnic even in rainy weather.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4.64 km
Devil's Pit Pond
Highlight • Lake
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Tip by
4.89 km
De Hoge Mouw with its sleeping giant
Highlight • Monument
You are on the Kempen ridge, a chain of hills made of ferrous sandstone. Due to its length and height, it is not only the largest, but also the most impressive far and wide.
Look around you: the landscape, the forest, the heath and the sand have inspired people and stimulated their imagination for centuries. So it's no wonder that there are so many legends about mythical creatures here.
The huge shape of the shifting dunes makes it appear as if there is a giant in the landscape. Dunes typically move about five meters a year, while those in the Kempen no longer move. The vegetation on them has brought them to a standstill. As long as the vegetation is there, the dunes stand still - and the giant sleeps on.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5.42 km
Zandplek Play Area
Highlight • Rest Area
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5.91 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
3.79 km
704 m
631 m
406 m
373 m
Surfaces
4.93 km
454 m
263 m
185 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Saturday 9 May
19°C
9°C
0 %
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Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h
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This route was planned by komoot.
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Trail Reviews
The Sleeping Giant – a short but healing walk Between the stately trees and the soft rustling of the wind, there it lies: the Sleeping Giant. An impressive work of art that seems to dream in the middle of nature. Today it was not a long walk for me, because my lower back is still playing up a bit. But sometimes a short walk is exactly what you need – to get moving, to breathe in the fresh air and to feel the healing power of nature. With every step I felt how the surroundings did me good. The sun played with the bronze-colored surface of the giant, making him seem alive – as if he could wake up at any moment. Just standing still for a moment at this special work of art was enough to find a moment of peace and recovery. The Sleeping Giant Route is not only a beautiful walk, but also a place to catch your breath. Today it was a short walk, but one that did me good. Sometimes less is just enough.
Good to do in these very wet months, mostly a dry course except for a small section along the Lichtaartsebaan track where it was a bit more difficult without boots.
This afternoon we honored our southern neighbors with a visit, a beautiful walk that is also very suitable for children up to the age of 12 because there are various starting points to the play zones / sand spot & Iron Age, the Kabouterberg and the TrekJanPad. The beautifully undulating terrain of the Hoge Sleeve is characterized by coniferous trees, sand dunes and heaths. The Hoge Sleeve mountain is 35 meters high, together with the Kabouterberg and Zwarte berg in Kasterlee it is part of the Kempense Heuvelrug and forms the area SLEEPING GIANT
Great walk...lots of elevation...not for beginners...wonderful in the woods.
The walking wire is gradually taking up again after much too long mandatory rest. This walk is ideal in terms of miles to get back into it and there are plenty of rest benches to give the foot and knee a welcome break.
Today we had to toss. It was a walk in the woods. We went to Kasterlee and of course our Woffer was allowed to come with us. In terms of trails, we had a lot of choice. We visited the sleeping giant. We also encountered several gnomes. It led us to beautiful roads. It was also a very educational trip with tasty beechnuts in a lane if you searched well. TrekJan told some stories by means of brown poles. You had to turn a crank and at the Devil's Pit our Akina was an angel 👼 . She didn't jump into the water and we continued after the White Madam's story, a little later. We got some ups and downs on this tour. This gives us a good condition and makes us tough.
Comments
January 6, 2022
Hoo hoo hoo! How spooky! On this tour, about halfway between Eindhoven and Mechelen, you will meet a host of fairytale characters. It’s likely to also be a bit spooky and you’ll have to be careful not to wake up Slapende Reus, the slumbering giant that gave the hike its name.
You will need to be brave
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