The 5 Most Amazing Peaks around Tielt-Winge

Nice ridge with beautiful views of the surroundings.

Beautiful forest with many large and old deciduous trees. The forest is situated on a hill, offering beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Old unpaved footpaths are still common in the agricultural area between Halen and Loksbergen. The road layout has changed relatively little between the 17th century and the present. East of these roads lies the Betserbaan, which played a key role in the Battle of Halen. Of interest is this Kanoniersstraat, which is unpaved for its entire length between the Betserbaan and the Kauwplasstraat (1.6 km) and has a cart track as its base. Where this road crosses the summit of the Mettenberg, it cuts into the flanks, creating a sunken lane with wooded banks on the verge. These wooded banks belong to the category of "indigenous trees and shrubs," with the most common species being robinia, oak, and hawthorn. Historically, the Kanoniersstraat was the old connecting road between Halen and Leuven across the interfluve of the Ketelbeek and IJzerenbeek (demonstrable by a 17th-century tithe map). It has since lost its role as a connecting road. Kanoniersstraat has now been given a purely local role, allowing it to retain its authentic appearance as an old road. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Sunken Roads, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/300954

The Balenberg in Baal is much more than just a hill. This is the home base of the Sven Nys Cycling Center, where sports, nature and experience come together. With its modest height, the Balenberg is an ideal place for those who want to test their legs on a short climb, but also for families who like to walk or cycle in a green environment. At the top of the hill you can enjoy a beautiful view over the Hageland, and in the museum you can discover the impressive story of cyclo-cross legend Sven Nys. The surrounding routes take you over gravel paths, sunken roads and quiet country roads — perfect for both the sporty cyclist and the recreational walker. A stop at the Balenberg is a must during your trip in the heart of Flemish Brabant!

A sunken road is a road that is so deeply worn that it lies between two slopes. It is the result of centuries of use and erosion. The most beautiful sunken roads can be found especially in hilly areas with a subsoil that easily forms steep walls, such as in Haspengouw and Hageland.

A shady path...

The Eikelberg (in the southwest of the municipality of Aarschot) is an approximately 48 meter high hill belonging to the Diest Formation, located between the village center of Gelrode to the south and the fossil meander of Vorsdonk - Turfputten (also protected) to the north. Via the Liedeberg, east of the Eikelberg, this hill connects to the protected landscape 's Hertogenheide in Aarschot, approximately 800 meters from the Eikelberg. This iron sandstone hill forms the southern border of the Demer Valley, which forms the transition between the Zuiderkempen in the north and the Hageland in the south. Immovable Heritage Inventory: Eikelberg, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/308979

Opposite the wet Walenbos lies the high-altitude and dry Troostembergbos with sometimes steep climbs. It was long the domain of the noble De Troostemberg family and is full of old beech trees. There is a little bit of everything in a relatively small area besides the hiking trails. There is a bivouac zone, a play zone, a climbing area with rope, a play meadow, an off-leash dog zone, an experience walk and much more. From one of the avenues you also have a beautiful frontal view of Kleerbeek Castle. At the foot of the hill where the forest is located is a fairly busy lane that many cyclists know well, the Kasteeldreef. At the beginning of that lane (from the road to Aarschot) there is a parking lot for hikers in the Troostembergbos (via a signposted short path). You can easily combine the Walenbos and Troostembergbos on walks, both are actually more or less separated by the paved road to Aarschot (where the Troostembergbos is located to the west of it). It can sometimes be quite busy here and there are often walking clubs during the weekend.