Our region, with B&B De Notelaar right in the middle, is very rich in signposted cycle routes. Below is an overview of some official cycle routes. From B&B De Notelaar there is a huge choice of both flat and more challenging routes.
On arrival we are happy to tell you more about the cycle routes and help you choose the one that best suits your wishes. Nothing stops you planning your own route using the cycle junction network, or choosing from the many cycle loops in our region.
We can also hire electric bikes for you, including electric mountain bikes, suited to leisurely cycling in the Scheldt valley or in the hills. Sporty cyclists can explore the Flemish Ardennes by mountain bike or road bike. You receive an emergency number and get help on the spot in case of a breakdown. Your own bike can be stored indoors in our multi-purpose room, where a first-aid kit and bike repair kit are available.
Below is a selection of what is on offer. With a hired bike you can also follow the GPS on your handlebars. We can also give you customised routes with descriptions of local sights.
| Recreational cycle loops: | |
| Watermill route (100 m away) | The Watermill route takes you past the picturesque places where watermills stand. |
| Tour of Flanders cycle route - Blue loop (100 m away) | The Tour of Flanders cycle route - Blue Loop was designed by the Tour of Flanders Centre for leisure cycling in the region. The blue loop is 80 km long. |
| AVS Zwalm route (100 m away) | The AVS Zwalm route is 50 km long and consists of 2 loops of 25 km that can be combined as you like. Both loops pass B&B De Notelaar. The northern loop is flatter than the southern one. The route takes you along small roads through every village of Zwalm. A lovely cycle route for a whole day of leisurely fun. |
| Scheldt Valley route 2 (1.5 km away) | Scheldt Valley route 2 is the 32 km second part of 3 Scheldt Valley routes. This part runs from Gavere to Oudenaarde, mostly along the traffic-free towpaths beside the Scheldt. The winding meanders of the former Scheldt lie like silent witnesses on both sides of the river. These meander areas have grown into valuable nature reserves, wonderfully peaceful for cycling and perfect for beautiful nature walks. 2 km from B&B De Notelaar you will find the Kaaihoeve, the provincial nature education centre, from which themed nature walks set off. |
| Davitamon Classic (100 m away) | Davitamon Classic |
| Environment route (4 km away) | The Environment route runs through the villages west of Nederzwalm. |
| From Ghent to Geraardsbergen (2 km away) | This cycle route takes you from Ghent to Geraardsbergen along quiet roads. You will find B&B De Notelaar roughly halfway, just where the flat Scheldt valley gives way to the more challenging hills of the Flemish Ardennes. |
| Cycling in the Scheldt and Zwalm valleys (2 km away) | If you like discovering nature by bike, the brochure 'Cycling in the Scheldt and Zwalm valleys' takes you on a 33 km ride where you learn about the flora, fauna and landscape of the Scheldt and Zwalm valleys. This cycle route is published by the provincial nature education centre De Kaaihoeve. |
| Cycle networks (junctions): | |
| Flemish Ardennes 67 (200 m away) | The Flemish Ardennes cycle network runs past B&B De Notelaar, 200 m from junction 67 and 500 m from junctions 56 and 67. So you can put together your own route from junction to junction. The junction map is on sale on site. |
| Junction route variations | If you prefer to follow predefined routes along the junctions, we are happy to help you choose. We have written short descriptions of the routes and the sights you will pass along the way. We also provide the cycling magazine "Stap Af", which publishes a new route with description every three months. |
| Junctions on your mobile | You can let yourself be guided by cycle routes automatically suggested by text message. You can start your ride from the cycle access point in Zwalm, 4 km from B&B De Notelaar. Enter the number of kilometres and your preferred starting direction, and you receive a route by text. (Sending and receiving a text costs 0.50 €.) |
| Cycling guide (100 m away) | The "Fietsgids Oost-Vlaanderen" (East Flanders cycling guide) brings together the 15 most beautiful junction loops in one booklet. These junction routes pass our B&B: - Watermills hidden in little valleys (Nederzwalm): 100 m away: 33.5 km loop. - Up and down through a landscape with lots of water (Oudenaarde-Nederzwalm): 100 m away: 34.8 km loop. - Between woods and Scheldt meadows (Merelbeke - Meilegem) : 3 km away: 43.2 km loop - To the Scheldt from the Leie region (Nazareth - Nederzwalm) : 1 km away: 49.4 km loop |
| Long-distance routes: | |
| LF30 Scheldt Delta route (2 km away) |
The national cycle route LF30 passes 2 km from B&B De Notelaar, along the traffic-free Scheldt towpaths. Make a pit stop with us! The route links the Delta region of Zeeland via the Brouwersdam and Hulst with the Scheldt in Ghent. From there it follows the river to Bossuit. The section between Perkpolder and Sint-Jansteen will be revised now that the ferry across the Scheldt has been discontinued. SLF is rearranging the sections in the area between the Scheldt and the border. The LF 30 enters Flanders at Overslag. South of Wachtebeke you cycle around the provincial domain of Puyenbroek. Through the open farmland, just past Laarne, the route joins the LF 5 Flanders Cycle Route into the centre of Ghent. It then follows the banks of the Scheldt via Oudenaarde to its end point at the Bossuit canal. On the last stretch, near the Kluisberg, the LF 30 runs together with the LF 6 Flanders Cycle Route. The LF 30 is one of four cross-connections - LF 2, LF 30, LF 35 and LF 38 - that cross the Flanders Cycle Route. The sections of these routes are described together in the topo guide “Landelijke Fietsroutes” published by Toerisme Vlaanderen and the NGI. The route is signposted in both directions with rectangular Toerisme Vlaanderen signs. LF routes are marked with yellow and blue paint stripes. |
| GR 122 Zeeland - Champagne-Ardenne (500 m away) |
The long-distance path GR 122 passes 500 m from B&B De Notelaar and takes you along small field paths. Make a pit stop with us! The GR 122 takes you from Hulst, close to the Western Scheldt, through the Scheldeland to Tournai. In the first part you walk from Hulst to Lokeren, right through the Waasland with its rounded fields. Further on you reach the Flower Region. In Laarne the path crosses the GR 128, and in Melle we pass the Scheldt again. The GR 122 then takes you through the Land of Rhode and on to the Zwalm region, where windmills and watermills bear witness to the past. The majestic Brakel forest tells of waste barons and green activists trying to stop the dumping. The Music Forest also passes under your feet. Via Ronse and Klijpe we approach Kluisbergen. The Kluisbos is beautiful but suffers from tourist crowds. The GR 122 now veers west towards the Scheldt. Via small villages you reach Mont Saint-Aubert and descend to Tournai. |
| GR 129 Across Belgium (10 km away) |
The GR 129 takes you from Bruges to Dinant. Bruges - Oudenaarde - Ronse - Mons - Maredsous - Dinant. |
| GR Flemish Ardennes (6 km away) |
The newest regional GR, Flemish Ardennes, was introduced in 2009 in cooperation with Leader Vlaanderen. Over 157 km this GR lets you enjoy all the beauty the Flemish Ardennes have to offer in one go. Whether you are passing through, staying for a weekend or exploring our region for a day, behind every bend, hill or slope there is a different view, a new discovery, and real satisfaction at the end. The regional GR Flemish Ardennes uses sections of the GR 5A, GR 122 and GR 129. The connections between the GRs are marked in yellow and red paint. Several loop walks are described, each connecting back to the GR Flemish Ardennes. |
| GR 5A Walking Tour of Flanders (10 km away) |
De Panne - Ronse - Antwerp - Bruges - De Panne. |
| Other cycling links | |
| www.fietsroute.org | All the cycle routes are carefully described on this website, where maps can usually be downloaded too. We also sell maps for many cycle routes. |
| www.crvv.org | The Tour of Flanders Centre has designed several cycle routes for you. |
| www.groteroutepaden.be | On the GR paths website you will find even more route descriptions. |
| www.fietsnet.be | An experiment that aims to bring together all signposted cycle routes, plus more cycling links. Simply select the junctions and it draws a route for you. You can then print the junctions on a strip to stick on your bike frame. |
| www.knooppunt.be | Themed routes and cycling calendar based on junctions. |
| Cycle routes Zwalm | The cycling links of the municipality of Zwalm. |
| www.vlaanderen-fietsland.be | Information about cycling in our region. See B&B De Notelaar on Vlaanderen Fietsland! |