Cycling route Land van Lochem and Ravenswaarden
Cycling through a varied landscape of stream valleys, hay meadows, country estates, floodplains, heathland and forests.
The Landscape
The Land van Lochem is not an officially defined region, but a name for the green countryside surrounding Lochem, where nature, farming and history blend seamlessly. Stream valleys, hay meadows, sandy soils and ancient deciduous forests alternate with hedgerows, farmyards and country estates, creating ever-changing views that rarely stay the same for long. The Gorsselse Heide adds open heathland, small lakes and woodland edges, with quiet paths that enhance the sense of space.
Between Gorssel and Eefde, the route leads into the Ravenswaarden, a rugged river landscape along the IJssel. Hayfields and pastures are interspersed with hawthorn hedges, pollarded willows and former river channels. During high water, parts of the area flood, creating a different atmosphere each season, from wet riverbanks to flower-rich grasslands. With wide views and the steady rhythm of the river as your guide, you cycle through a dynamic floodplain landscape that is always in motion.
Forests and Heaths
You cycle along woodland edges, small patches of heath and sandy paths that create a calm, varied ride. The transition from sheltered lanes to open stretches reveals new views time and again, with the characteristic Achterhoek bocage landscape. In every season, this section feels quiet and enclosed, while heathland and roadside verges add extra colour in late summer.
Estates and Heritage
This part of Gelderland has a distinctive estate landscape, defined by stately avenues, historic farmsteads and traditional farms that give the countryside structure and character. Hedgerows, old field boundaries and heritage features reflect centuries of land use and settlement. As a result, you are not only cycling through greenery, but through a landscape shaped by human activity and the passage of time.
Polders and Farmlands
Between the villages, the landscape opens into wide farmland of arable fields, pastures and quiet roads that naturally set a steady pace. Ditches and drainage channels draw clean lines across the open land, while rows of trees guide the view without enclosing it. Here, you experience a true sense of space, with long vistas over a well-ordered rural landscape.
Rivers and Streams
In the Ravenswaarden, water clearly shapes the landscape, with floodplains, riverbanks and small channels creating constant variety. Along the IJssel, reed beds, wide green strips and lower-lying areas alternate between wet and dry conditions. This blend of river, space and seasonal dynamics makes the route appealing, both for cycling and for virtual exploration.
Ride along with us on this virtual bike tour
Virtual cycling through Land van Lochem and the Ravenswaarden lets you experience the varied landscapes around Lochem up close, with stream valleys, hay meadows, hedgerows and quiet woodland edges constantly changing the view. You ride at a steady, comfortable pace along sandy paths and open heath on the Gorsselse Heide, ideal for a relaxed session on the indoor trainer.
The route then opens into the Ravenswaarden along the IJssel, where floodplains, former channels and wet riverbanks create a more rugged, spacious feel. With its blend of country estates, farmland and river scenery, this virtual cycling route offers plenty of variety and a landscape that is unmistakably Gelderland.
Want to learn more about virtual cycling? THIS IS HOW VIRTUAL CYCLING WORKS
Route map and cycling junctions
Start and finish near bike node 23 on the Dorpsstraat in Laren. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at one of the other cycling junctions along the route.
- Distance: 59 kilometres
- Estimated cycling time: 3 hours 59 minutes
- Total elevation gain: 60 metres
- 80% of the route runs on paved roads
- 20% of the route runs on unpaved and semi-paved paths
- Ideal for e-bikes and city bikes
- Along the way, there are several places to stop for coffee, a drink or lunch.
