Discover the forest, heathland and local history of Ruinen along a variety of routes. The Natuurpad Ruinen leads through Boswachterij Ruinen and across extensive heathland; you can also choose from walks of different lengths and with different waymarking.

Walking in and around Ruinen

The Natuurpad also crosses “woeste gronden”. If you’re looking for a waymarked route with a precise distance, try the Dwingelderveld walking route near Ruinen: it is 4.7 km long, family-friendly and takes you across the historic Ruiner Es and through the varied coniferous forest of the Anserdennen.

This route starts at the Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld and is marked with red arrows. The Kleine Pattiesroute is shorter, at 2.6 km, and runs through and around Ruinen. It is also waymarked, but is not paved all the way. Free parking for this route is available at the De Kaamp car park or at the Fietstransferium at Kloosterstraat 12.

Ruinen’s five Dorpsommetjes include walking routes ranging from about 2 to 10 km. The Kleine Pattiesroute and the 4.7 km Dwingelderveld route differ in more than length: one runs through and around the village, while the other crosses the Ruiner Es and passes through the Anserdennen. This lets you take both route length and scenery into account when choosing.

Another walking link, “Van Brink naar heide”, has been created in Ruinen. For cyclists, a connection between Ruinen and EuroParcs was completed in 2026.

Birdlife and the flock of sheep

At Vogelpark Ruinen, you can see Dutch meadow and wading birds in a natural habitat. These include black-tailed godwits, redshanks, curlews, oystercatchers, avocets and lapwings. There are also aviaries with foreign and exotic bird species.

Schaapskudde Ruinen is one of two flocks that graze in Dwingelderveld National Park, and comprises around 300 Drenthe Heath Sheep. At Schaapskooi Ruinen, visitors can watch the sheep set off or return each day.

History and wine

The Brink in Ruinen originally served as common farmland. Sheep were gathered there and then driven together to the heathland. The village’s history also goes back a long way: in 1139, Ruinen was a “Hoge Heerlyckheid”. That year, Otto van Runen received the rights from the Bishopric of Utrecht.

At Wijnhoeve Runa, winegrowing and the landscape come together: three vineyard plots with a total area of 1 ha sit in a 2.5 ha park-like setting. Solaris, Souvignier Gris, Muscaris and Cabernet Cantor grapes grow there. A vineyard visit and wine tasting are available on request; breadsticks and Brie are served afterwards. You can also add an activity focused on wine and a visit to the vineyard plots to your stay in Ruinen.

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

For the overview of the wider area: De Wolden.