The 8.2-kilometre Compagnonsbossen circular route is a SUP and canoe route through the Compagnonsbossen and along the canals around Ravenswoud. Historic RAAF walking and cycling routes explore the history of four villages; artworks and monuments add further local highlights. To help plan your trip, consider a specific question: would you like to focus mainly on a water route, nature trails, or local history and art?
Raised bog and varied landscapes
The Fochteloërveen is one of the last raised bog areas in Western Europe and is protected as a Natura 2000 site. The area is home to De Zeven, an 18-metre-high observation tower offering views over the raised bog. Walking and cycling trails also cross the Fochteloërveen. The tower and trails offer two different ways to experience the same landscape: from the tower, you can look out over the area, while the trails lead through it.
The Uitkijktorenroute passes through a different landscape of woodland and farmland and is marked with green arrows. Compared with the raised bog, the woodland and farmland give this route its own character; the markers are a practical feature that helps with navigation. When choosing between the trails described, you can take both the landscape and the route markings into account.
History along the routes
The RAAF walking and cycling routes focus on the history of four villages. Information boards explain objects of historical interest and cover the period of peat extraction. The routes thus connect village history with specific themes along the way, rather than simply describing a journey through the landscape. The historical information is an integral part of both the walking and cycling routes.
This makes a difference when choosing what to focus on: the Uitkijktorenroute is described in terms of woodland, farmland and green arrows, while the RAAF routes focus on the histories of four villages, historic objects and peat extraction. This lets you make nature or history a deliberate part of your travel plans.
Art and built heritage in Ravenswoud
The iron bascule bridge over the Eerste Wijk is the only Rijksmonument in Ravenswoud. Another monument is the former Meester-Lok School: it has municipal monument status and is now used as a residence. The two buildings therefore have different monument designations; the former school’s current use is also part of its description.
Artworks also provide tangible points of reference for the local history. The artwork De Veengravers, created in 1979, honours Ravenswoud’s original inhabitants. At the head of the Eerste Kruiswijk canal stands “De Pauw,” a stainless steel sculpture by Austrian artist Hein Mader. Details about each artwork, its material, artist and location help distinguish the two: De Veengravers is associated with a specific year and dedication, while De Pauw is identified by its material and position by the canal.
Discover more destinations: Oosterwolde, Appelscha, Oldeberkoop, Elsloo, Haule, Donkerbroek, Nijeberkoop, Langedijke.
For the broader travel overview: Ooststellingwerf.
