Riel: Walking Trails, Heathland and Local History

Riel is a destination for travellers who would like to include walking trails, nature and local history in their travel plans. Two circular routes offer different highlights: one gives a specific distance and estimated duration, while the other connects several landscape features. A historic hamlet, a Neo-Gothic church and the Bels Lijntje cycle route also give the village its own points of interest.

Natural landscape south of Riel

The Regte Heide en Riels Laag nature area lies south of Riel in the municipality of Goirle and covers 540 hectares. It is designated as a Natura 2000 site. Its defining features are the distinctive transitions from heathland with bodies of water to the stream valleys of the Oude Leij and the Poppelsche Leij. The area includes dry and wet heathland, peaty hollows, acidic and weakly buffered waters, and deciduous and coniferous forests. This means the natural landscape encompasses a variety of forms: open heathland, wetter hollows, water and forest. If you would like to experience different natural environments during your stay, this diversity is a practical point of reference.

Walking trails with different highlights

The “Walk around Riel” circular route starts in the centre of Riel, is 7.5 kilometres long and takes about an hour and a half. After leaving the village centre, the trail follows the winding Leij and passes t Zandeind, Riel’s oldest hamlet. The distance and approximate duration provide a clear guide to how much time to allow for this walk.

“Riel & Hei” offers a different focus: the route connects the area around Riel with a walk along the Riels Laag and across the Regte Hei. Highlights include views and the Leij valley. If you are choosing between the trails, “Walk around Riel” gives a specific distance and approximate walking time; “Riel & Hei” focuses on the combination of heathland and Riels Laag, as well as the highlights mentioned. This lets you choose based on the kind of information that matters for your plans.

Hamlet and architectural history

As Riel’s oldest hamlet, t Zandeind is a point of interest along the “Walk around Riel” circular route. In the built-up cluster along Spie Zandeind-Goorweg, listed buildings with thatched roofs still stand; there are also views over the surrounding fields. The built-up cluster of t Zandeind is home to a small farm museum. These local features complement the walking trails with insights into the history of settlement and architecture.

The Sint Antonius Abtkerk is also a local point of cultural and historical interest. It is part of a church complex and is a Neo-Gothic cruciform church with a western entrance tower, designed by P.J. van Genk. The church complex, architectural style and named architect give local history a distinct architectural character.

Riel on the Bels Lijntje

Riel is connected to the Bels Lijntje through both its history and a cycle route. Historically, Riel had its own railway station and four signal boxes on the railway line. The Bels Lijntje cycle path runs from Tilburg to Turnhout and passes through Riel. If cycling fits your travel plans, the route offers another way to explore the village in addition to the walking trails, placing Riel along the route between the two cities.

When considering Riel as a destination for a hotel stay, you can weigh these different highlights against one another: the landscapes of the nature area, a walk with a specific distance and estimated duration, local history or a cycle route through Riel. This helps you choose a destination that matches the topics you are most interested in during your stay.

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