Discover Elp: Village History and Nature

Elp combines a long history of settlement with a varied natural landscape. The village is an esch village that dates back to the Middle Ages; forests, heathland and the Elperstroom valley feature in descriptions of several walking routes. For planning a stay, various points of reference can therefore help guide you: architectural history, archaeological finds, and routes with stated distances or walking times.

Village History and Architecture

The De Zandhof country house was built in 1907 for the artist and author Louis A. Roessingh. Architecture also forms part of the village landscape along Hogebrinksweg, where several 18th-century farmhouses stand. Two houses can be distinguished by their described architectural features. The farmhouse at Hogebrinksweg 1 has a rear extension, an underschoer and an attached wooden outbuilding whose roof is connected to that of the main building. The house at Hogebrinksweg 3 also has a rear extension, as well as a roof section thatched with heath and a detached outbuilding.

Another historical layer dates back to the Late Bronze Age: in the 1960s, a settlement from this period was discovered near Elp at a prehistoric burial mound. The “Barbizon van het Noorden” route was created in collaboration with the Drents Museum. Along with the architectural history, these connections offer insight into various historical themes associated with Elp and its surroundings.

Elperstroom, Heathland and Natural Areas

East of Elp lies the Elperstroom nature reserve, in a characteristic esch village landscape. The area was designated a Natura 2000 site in 2013 and covers a total of 351 hectares. Relatively calcareous seepage water has given rise to calcareous fens and blue moor-grass meadows there. Plants found in these habitats include flea sedge, blonde sedge and early marsh orchid.

The Elper Westerveld heathland lies between the esch village of Elp and the small stream valley of Westerbroeken. Three cattle grids have been installed there. Hart van Drenthe offers a larger geographical perspective: this nature reserve lies around the Drenthe villages of Hooghalen, Grolloo, Elp and Schoonloo. It comprises 5,000 hectares of connected natural areas, with forests, marshy pools, extensive heathland and the sources of stream valleys. By comparison, Elperstroom’s stated area of 351 hectares represents a more narrowly defined natural area within this varied landscape.

Choose Walking Routes by Distance and Landscape

The Wolvenspoor walking route passes through dark forests and heathland, over wooden bridges across marshy pools and through the Elperstroom valley. Allow about two hours to walk the route. The “Rondom Elp” route, by contrast, offers two distance options: 6.5 kilometres and 9.5 kilometres. It passes over old arable fields and along the Elperstroom valley, which is part of a Natura 2000 site. The starting point is on Zwiggelterweg, at Spankampen. As local trail conditions may change, check them before setting out.

Another option is the 15-kilometre Knapzakroute K5 in Elp. It passes over old arable fields, through new nature areas and through forests with marshy pools. The specific details can help you compare the routes: an approximate walking time is given for Wolvenspoor, “Rondom Elp” has two distance options, and the Knapzakroute K5 has a total length. If choosing by distance, both “Rondom Elp” options are shorter than the 15-kilometre K5; if you are considering the landscape, the routes described differ in their combination of arable fields, heathland, forests, marshy pools and the Elperstroom valley.

Discover more destinations: Wijster, Drijber, Hoogersmilde, Westerbork, Witteveen, Balinge, Ruinerwold, Mantinge

For the broader travel overview: Midden-Drenthe.