Want to spend a day relaxing in the great outdoors, among the sheep? To calmly overlook these woolly grazers and the expansive heathlands? To photograph or paint them? Or just to enjoy a refreshing walk on the Balloërveld and be surprised by places you would normally never encounter as a hiker? Then join the Shepherds of Balloo for a day.
Back in Time at Balloërveld
Where can you walk for more than 2 hours without meeting anyone? On the vast, quiet heath of Balloërveld. Here, you can still find the Drenthe of a hundred years ago. Close your eyes and imagine who used to travel through this landscape. Ancient cart tracks remind you of a busy traffic day in the Middle Ages and a tank trench makes World War II visible.
Looking for the best view? From the Galgenberg, you have a beautiful panoramic view of the area. Atop the burial mound, you can even look around 360 degrees. With only an 11th-century church tower on the horizon. As if you're looking at a postcard.
"With a little bit of imagination, you could imagine yourself in the Drenthe of centuries ago."
Kees van Son Forest Ranger
The ranger's path on
The ranger's path starts at Schaapskooi Balloërveld in Balloo. A nature-rich path of about 6 km. You walk through an almost un-Dutch landscape. It's a hike for the true adventurer; the wide loose sand paths you mostly walk on make it a challenging route.
After the walk, you definitely deserve an ice cream or a good cup of coffee with a shepherd's cookie! For that, you visit De Balloohoeve, located in the center of Balloo.
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