Ruinen: heathland paths and village history

Ruinen offers a range of themes for a stay: hiking trails of varying lengths, heathland and forest landscapes, village history, and nature and wine experiences. If you are looking for a hotel in Ruinen, you can plan your trip around whichever of these activities is most important to you.

Hiking trails by distance and terrain

The Natuurpad Ruinen runs through the Boswachterij Ruinen forest and across extensive heathland and “wild ground.” Another option is the family-friendly Dwingelderveld walking route near Ruinen: it is 4.7 kilometres long and passes over the historic Ruiner Es and through the varied coniferous forest of the Anserdennen. It starts at the Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld and is marked with red arrows.

Ruinen’s five Dorpsommetjes walking routes range from about 2 to 10 kilometres. The Kleine Pattiesroute is listed as a shorter route at 2.6 kilometres; it passes through and around Ruinen, is signposted, and is not paved throughout. Free parking for this route is available at the De Kaamp car park or at the Fietstransferium at Kloosterstraat 12. The different lengths and information about the surfaces make it easier to compare the routes based on specific features.

Two completed connections also add to the selection: the “Van Brink naar heide” walking link was built in Ruinen. A new cycling connection links Ruinen with EuroParcs. The information on these connections concerns different ways of getting around; they do not describe the same route.

Landscape, birds and sheep

At Vogelpark Ruinen, Dutch meadow and wading birds can be seen in a natural habitat. These include black-tailed godwits, common redshanks, curlews, oystercatchers, pied avocets and lapwings. There are also aviaries with foreign and exotic bird species. The bird park therefore features both the meadow and wading birds listed above and the species in the aviaries.

The Schaapskudde Ruinen is one of two flocks that graze in Dwingelerveld National Park and comprises about 300 Drenthe heath sheep. At the Schaapskooi Ruinen, visitors can watch the sheep set off or return each day. The historic use of the landscape is also reflected in the Brink: originally, it was a communal area used by farmers. Sheep were gathered there and then driven together to the heathland.

History and local experiences

In 1139, Ruinen was a “Hoge Heerlyckheid.” That year, Otto van Runen received the rights from the Bishopric of Utrecht. The Brink tells the story of communal use of the land, while the year 1139 points to another aspect of the village’s history. This allows you to include the history of the landscape and Ruinen’s historic status as separate themes in your trip planning.

Guided tours and sales are offered at the Zaandplatte. At Wijnhoeve Runa, winegrowing is combined with a visitor experience: the park-like landscape covers 2.5 hectares. Three vineyard plots cover a total of 1 hectare, where the four grape varieties Solaris, Souvignier Gris, Muscaris and Cabernet Cantor are grown. You can visit the vineyard or taste the wine on request. Breadsticks and Brie are served afterwards. Visits are by request, while the information on the area and grape varieties provides more detail about the local winegrowing.

The activities in Ruinen can be grouped into clear themes: walks with specified distances, birds and sheep, local history, and a wine visit by request. This lets you plan your hotel stay around the experiences that interest you.

Discover more destinations: Ansen, Linde, Echten, Drogteropslagen, Koekange, Veeningen, Ruinerwold, Zuidwolde.

For the regional travel overview: De Wolden.