Lochemse Berg

A push moraine in the midst of flat land

Between Lochem and Barchem the Lochemse Berg rises out of the coulisselandschap — a push moraine thrown up by advancing glacial ice during the ice age. Its highest point sits at 49.2 metres, no alpine glory, yet in this flat region every metre feels like a gain. You walk over soft forest paths where the light falls in fragments through the canopy of oak, beech and spruce, and where it is quieter than you are used to.

Forest, heath and old fields

Together with the neighbouring Kale Berg and the fields and hedgerows between them, the wooded area forms a 171-hectare nature reserve, managed by Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen. You taste the variety with every step: the resin of the conifers, the cool shade of the deciduous wood, and the clearings where the wind has free play. In the morning the mist still hangs between the trunks and the paths are yours alone.

At the highest point a slender observation tower, the Belvedère, has stood since 1893 — a national monument that lives up to its name (beautiful view). The tower itself is no longer open to the public, but the surrounding forest invites you to wander and to do nothing at all for a while.

Walking at the pace of the land

This is walking country par excellence. From Barchem and Lochem marked paths lead up the hill and down again, with glimpses of the Berkel valley along the way. Take your time over it: the Lochemse Berg asks not for performance but for attention. Come early or late in the day, when the light is low, and let the region slowly work on you.