Hiking

As a walker you can fully enjoy the landscape and culture of the Reest valley from Bed & Wijn in IJhorst. The farmstead borders directly on the Staphorst forest district, so you literally step out the front door and stand straight into nature. Dozens of routes lead you across the heath, through vast forests and through hay meadows past age-old farmyards. The Reest, the winding little stream that separates Overijssel from Drenthe, is never far away. For those who love calm, space and a landscape that shifts with every season, the Reest valley is one of the most beautiful walking areas in the Netherlands.

A varied walking landscape

The beauty of walking in the Reest valley is the constant variety. One moment you walk through cool, shady forests, the next you stand in an open stream valley with a wide view. In spring the heath blooms and the birds sing, in summer the hay meadows are fragrant and in autumn the forests take on beautiful colours. Each season has its own charm, and from the farmstead there is always a route to suit the weather and your fitness.

The Reest valley: a living stream valley

The Reest is one of the best-preserved stream valleys in the Netherlands. For centuries the little stream formed the border between Overijssel and Drenthe, and that history is still visible everywhere in the small-scale cultural landscape. Hedgerows, old farmhouses, hay meadows and winding paths tell the story of how people and nature shaped the landscape together here. Anyone who walks here tastes that calm and that history with every step.

Beautiful walking routes in the area

• Wildenberg Route · 7 km — across heath, through forest, past little pools and over the Reest that separates Overijssel from Drenthe.
• Sporen Ommerschans Route · 7 km — along the traces of the old fortification and the Society of Benevolence.
• Reest & Estates Route · 11 km — along old country estates through open cultural landscape with vistas towards the Reest.
• 't Ende aan de Reest Route · 6 km — from the 't Ende information centre via forest, former sheep field and hay meadows along the Reest.

Walking in every season

Whether you seek out the first colours of spring in early March or walk through crunching leaves in autumn: the Reest valley is worthwhile all year round. In summer the forests offer coolness on warm days, while the open stream valleys have a serene, bare beauty in winter. The alternation between short strolls and sturdy day trips means there is a suitable route for everyone, regardless of the weather or your walking experience.

Beyond the Reest valley

Anyone who likes to look a little further will find even more beautiful walking areas a short drive away. Think of the vast Dwingelderveld with its heathlands and pools, the wooded Drents-Friese Wold or the water-rich Weerribben. That way you combine walking close to home with journeys of discovery through the most beautiful nature of Drenthe and Overijssel.

Practical information

For these walking routes and many more you can turn to Tourist Info Punt het Reestdal, Dorpsstraat 65a, 7957 AS De Wijk (email: dewijk@touristinfo.nl). There you will find route maps, junctions and tips for along the way. Combine your walk with a visit to nearby Staphorst or a quiet cycle ride through the Reest valley.

Coming home to the farmstead

The nice thing about walking from Bed & Wijn is the homecoming: at the end of the day your own luxury suite and a glass of wine await your return. That alternation of being outside and coming back into the warmth makes a walking weekend in the Reest valley complete. Plan your stay easily via our booking page and discover the Reest valley on foot.