The best dog-friendly hikes and walks in Kasteeldomeinen In De Vallei Van De Tappelbeek

beautiful nature reserve, in heavy rain not all paths are accessible!

beautiful view over the meadows!

The Kesselse Heide is a provincial green space covering 79 hectares, 61 of which are open to the public. The initial acquisition took place in 1978, and it has been expanded since then. The entrance is located in Nijlen, at Vaerestraat 4. The space is freely accessible daily from sunrise to sunset. There are two ponds in the area. These old wells not only provide a pleasant change of scenery but are also a boon for the many plants and animals. Since 1996, the Kesselse Heide has been a protected landscape. It is one of the few remaining remnants of the once vast Kempen heathlands. The heath is a living community created in our region by humans. Historical agricultural practices created a landscape that has been preserved through human intervention: grazing by sheep, burning the heath, and sod cutting. Sod cutting is the removal of the topsoil and vegetation. A dug-out sod of plants and their roots is a sod. If heathland is left untreated, it will evolve into oak and birch forests, and the typical species associated with a heathland habitat will disappear. In the mid-19th century, the Kesselse Heide—like many other parts of the Kempen region—was afforested with Scots pine, a valuable timber for mining. However, during both World Wars, these sod-covered forests were felled, and from then on, the heathland was able to expand again. Current management consists of removing trees and mechanically cutting sods to give the open heathland every chance to thrive. https://youtu.be/NoPf0HSeFz8

The Kesselse Heide-Het Goor area consists of a variety of nutrient-poor meadows, pastures, marshes, and ponds, bordered and crisscrossed by enclosed landscape types, and contains numerous landscape elements. The area is characterized by a richly varied and sometimes rare flora. Several historic farm buildings can be found within the area. The Kesselse Heide-Het Goor area, with an area of approximately 2,620 hectares, is located between the villages of Nijlen and Kessel, north of the Lier-Herentals road. The northern border of this area is along Vogelzangstraat, the eastern border along Achterbist, Kannaertsstraat, and Goorstraat. The Grote Steenweg forms the southern border, and the western border is formed by Heidestraat and Vaerestraat. The landscape includes the following topographical areas: "Kannaerdsche Heyde," "Kesselse Heide," "Mol Heide," "Achterbiest," "Het Hoog Bosch," "De Hooge Heide," "Het Armveld," "De Schommers" or "Vissen Eynde," "Het Goor," "Het Goorkasteel," and "Hoge Heyde." Several streams traverse the area, specifically the Goorkantloop, the Elstbeek, the Paddenloop, Blauwe Hoekloop, and the Visbeek. The elevation within the area varies from approximately 5 meters +TAW to approximately 10 meters +TAW. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kesselse Heide-Het Goor, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302886

Nice boardwalk path towards the fishing pond

Fort Kessel is a concrete armored fort built shortly before the First World War. Along with 29 other fortifications, it forms the outer fortification belt of the Antwerp fortress. The fort was built between 1909 and 1914 and modified during the interwar period (1934 and 1939). Until 1940, it played a role in the Belgian army's military defense strategy, first as an artillery stronghold and later as an infantry support point. The fort was demilitarized in 1947. Today, it is an important wintering site for bats. (Inventory of Immovable Heritage) And there is much more to do in and around the fort. Information can be found at https://fortvankessel.be

It is very nice and quiet to walk here.

The Willeborrebeek Valley is a recognised nature reserve. A Flemish nature reserve (VNR) is a nature reserve owned by the Flemish Region and managed by the Flemish government, and in particular by the Agency for Nature and Forests. In contrast to this are the recognised nature reserves, which are nature areas owned by organisations or private individuals and managed by nature associations, such as Natuurpunt and Limburgs Landschap vzw, and recognised as a nature reserve and subsidised by the Flemish government.