Hooidrevenpad
Lo-Reninge
2 min read
A short, peaceful walk near Reninge, with the River Yser, wet meadows and wide views across the Westhoek.
The walk
The Hooidrevenpad is a 5-kilometre loop starting in the centre of Reninge. You leave the village behind quite quickly and head towards the Reningse Broeken and the open landscape of the Yser Valley.
The route is flat and combines quiet country roads with a few unpaved sections. There are few major sights along the way. This is mainly a walk for the water, birds, open fields and sense of space.
Route map
Towards the Reningse Broeken
The walk starts near Sint-Rectrudis Church in the centre of Reninge. The church was destroyed during the First World War and rebuilt after the conflict.
It does not take long before the houses disappear behind you and the landscape opens up into fields and grassland.
The Reningse Broeken
The Reningse Broeken are low-lying meadows along the River Yser and form part of the wider IJzerbroeken.
When water levels rise, parts of the area can flood. This is especially noticeable in winter, when the wet grasslands attract large numbers of geese, ducks and other waterbirds.
Even outside the wetter months, water is never far away, with the river, ditches and damp meadows all part of the landscape.
Along the River Yser
The Yser stays close for much of the walk.
The scenery is simple, but very typical of this part of the Westhoek: flat fields, water and long views with very little blocking the horizon.
If you enjoy birdwatching, there are plenty of reasons to stop for a moment and look around.
Sun, wind and mud
There is very little shelter along the route. On warm days, you feel the sun quickly, while in cooler weather the wind can sweep straight across the fields.
After heavy rain, some of the unpaved sections can become quite muddy.
The walk itself is easy throughout. There is almost no climbing and, at 5 kilometres, the loop stays fairly short.
Want to walk a little further?
If you want to add some distance, you can also follow the Matthijs de Vishpad from Reninge.
That loop is also around 5 kilometres and explores another part of the countryside around the village. Combine the two and you end up with roughly 10 kilometres.
Photos from this walk
Jay’s tips
If you want a longer walk, combine the Hooidrevenpad with the Matthijs de Vishpad. The two loops are easy to link from Reninge. Bring enough water in warm weather. Shade is scarce along this route.
Good to know
Muddy after rain
Little shade
Church
Memorial or commemorative monument
According to the information board, dogs are not allowed on the Hooidrevenpad. After rain, some of the unpaved sections can also become very muddy.
My experience
I walked the Hooidrevenpad on a very warm day, and in such an open landscape you notice the heat straight away. Under the midday sun, the 5 kilometres were more than enough for me.
I still enjoyed the walk. What stood out most was the quiet, the water and the wide views across the Yser Valley.
Waymarking
Not waymarked
Route map available on site
Food and drink
Ready to set off?
Open the starting point in your GPS and enjoy the walk.
