Westhoek hiking trail

Greetings from Flanders - the region in the north of Belgium that is fortunately only a stone's throw away from my home in the Ruhr area! Over the next few days I'll be looking at several hiking trails in different parts of the region. The fact that hiking in Flanders rhymes so well can only be a sign, right? I'm starting on the North Sea coast near De Panne with a walk through the De Westhoek nature reserve, which is the largest contiguous dune massif on the Belgian coast. Finally back by the sea! The nature reserve is just what I like. The hiking trail is very varied and leads through wild dune forests, grassland and over narrow sandy paths to the beach. Take off your hiking boots and exfoliate your feet! Here I jump into the waves, treat myself to a refreshing cool down and then collect lots of mussels - after all, that's a must on a coastal hike! Of course, I don't miss the very special viewpoint at Westerpunt and let the 360-degree view sweep over the dunes and the sea. On the border path between France and Belgium, I finally return between sea buckthorn, sea thistles and yellow rock roses. Unfortunately, I can only observe the Scottish Highland cattle and Konik horses that live semi-wild here from a distance today. Nevertheless - what a great circular hike through such an untouched dune landscape!

my komoot route deviates somewhat from the marked route because there were several diversions due to flooding

It is an extensive nature reserve with a very beautiful dune landscape west of the town of De Panne (Belgium) and directly on the border with France. It is therefore the westernmost point of Belgium. At the moment, some paths are under water due to the heavy rain. A section of beach was also part of the tour. We also walked the border path (Belgium/France) in the area. The area is a varied landscape with sheep, horses and large grazing animals. You have the opportunity to find peace and quiet. The development of holiday apartments in De Panne is, in my opinion, quite dense and high, so I really enjoyed the tour today. https://depanne.com/de/westhoek.php

A beautiful loop outside of de Panne. A good level of fitness is required, as two-thirds of the route is on heavy sand. Otherwise, the route can be reached by tram.

The forest, the dunes, the beach...a big breath of exotic air.

Week Away - West Coast / Day 6 Westhoek Nature Reserve, De Panne. Where is the Westhoek, exactly? We went looking for it in West Flanders and… found it. The Westhoek (Nature Reserve) is literally located in the westernmost corner of Belgium, on the border with France and the North Sea. The nature reserve is a true dune area for walking. The winding trails take you past ancient trees, thickets, dunes, and dune hollows. The westerly wind keeps this area in motion, and it might look different on your next visit. With a bit of luck and a strong Beaufort temperature, you might encounter some moving dunes here 😉. And perhaps you'll suddenly come face to face with a Scottish Highland cattle or a wild Konik horse! It's highly recommended for anyone looking for peace and quiet. Intrigued? Want to know more? Click through to https://www.natuurenbos.be/natuurgebieden/de-westhoek Practical information: There are several entry points. We chose to start at the Duinhoek - Duinhoekstraat De Panne entry point.

Departure and end point: Parking in front of hotel Dony, Donylaan 17