Cycling route Southwest Salland and IJssel Valley
Cycling in a beautiful green landscape with floodplains, forests, meadows, and country estates with beautiful tree-lined lanes.
The Landscape
Between the Veluwe and the Sallandse Heuvelrug lies Southwest Salland, a varied bocage landscape of historic farmsteads, hedgerows, and country estates that have shaped the scenery for centuries. Around Diepenveen and in the Deventer countryside, stately estates with park woodlands and tree-lined avenues create a seamless blend of nature and heritage.
From the higher sandy grounds with forests, meadows, and maize fields, you gradually cycle toward the IJssel valley, where the landscape becomes more open and untamed. Along the river, the dynamic interplay of water and land is reflected in dikes, floodplains, flower-rich grasslands, oxbow lakes, channels, and stretches of riparian woodland, with sweeping views across the river at every turn.
Forests and Heaths
In Southwest Salland, you ride through the wooded heart of the De Oostermaet hunting estate, where long avenues, hedgerows, and open clearings shape the rhythm of the route. Between Lettele and Bathmen, woodland edges and scenic views create a calm, enclosed atmosphere, ideal for a relaxed cycling tour.
Estates and Heritage
Around Diepenveen, you cycle past the Nieuw Rande estate, where tree-lined avenues, water features, and park-like woodland give the landscape a classic country estate character. In the surrounding area, the historic Deventer countryside comes to life, shaped by centuries of estate culture and traditional farming.
Marshes and Peatlands
The drainage canals of Salland recall the wet lowlands and former marsh areas that were once drained to make the land usable. Along waterways such as the Zandwetering, low-lying fields with reed fringes and damp grasslands give parts of the landscape a distinctly marshy character.
Rivers and Streams
The IJssel valley leads you into the wide river landscape of the IJssel, where dikes and floodplains continually reveal new views toward Deventer and Olst. You cycle past former river channels and side arms, where water, grasslands, and rough vegetation come together to create a dynamic river landscape.
Join our virtual bike tour and experience the journey
Virtual cycling through Southwest Salland and the IJssel Valley lets you experience the green Deventer countryside from home, with tree-lined lanes, hedgerows, fields, and stately country estates around Diepenveen and Lettele. In the video, enclosed bocage landscapes and park woodlands alternate with quiet rural roads, offering a changing backdrop with every kilometer.
The landscape then opens out toward the IJssel, where dikes, floodplains, and flower-rich grasslands offer sweeping views across the river landscape. You see the river at work in former channels, side arms, and rough vegetation, as the route leads you along water and open land toward Deventer and Olst.
Want to learn more about virtual cycling? THIS IS HOW VIRTUAL CYCLING WORKS
Route map and cycling junctions
Start and finish near bike node 75 on the Boxbergerweg in Wesepe. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at one of the other cycling junctions along the route.
- Distance: 51 kilometres
- Estimated cycling time: 3 hours 26 minutes
- Total elevation gain: 36 metres
- 87% of the route runs on paved roads
- 13% 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.
