Hunebed G1, also known as De Steenbarg, lies southwest of Noordlaren village centre, near the border with the province of Drenthe and between the stream valleys of the Drentsche Aa and the Hunze. It can be reached via the sandy track “Weg langs het Hunebed”. For a stay combining walking and cultural history, Noordlaren offers several distinct themes: archaeological remains, historic buildings and routes of varying lengths. You can tailor your plans to your preferred focus and timeframe.

Walking routes for different timeframes

The “Noordlaarder es” walking route is about 6.5 kilometres long and takes approximately two hours. It starts and ends at the car park by Noordlaren harbour. You can extend it by taking a route through the Besloten Venen. As well as having a stated length, this route therefore offers an explicitly mentioned way to make your walk longer.

The walking route through the Noordlaarderbos is 5.8 kilometres long; its stated duration is 1 hour and 9 minutes. It is shorter than the Noordlaarder es, and the stated times also differ. These figures give you concrete measures for planning the length of your walk into your day. Another option is the Hunzedal and Hondsrug route, with variants of 7.5 or 12 kilometres. The Bartholomeuskerk Noordlaren is one of the route’s locations.

Archaeology and architectural history

Hunebed G1 is the only visible hunebed in the province of Groningen. The Noordlaarderbos also contains ancient burial mounds from the pre-medieval period, at least 2,500 years old. The walking route through the forest passes the Galgenberg, a distinctive hill where criminals were executed in the past. Noordlaren and the Noordlaarderbos thus offer evidence from different historical contexts.

The Korenschoof, a grain mill built in 1849, is part of the area’s architectural history. In 1973, it was designated a Rijksmonument together with the adjoining sheds. The mill is still regularly operated by a volunteer miller. The village’s farmhouses also represent different architectural styles and periods: Zuinigstraat is home to a farmhouse of the hall-house type with parts dating from the 17th century. In the centre, on Kerkstraat, stands an Oldambtster farmhouse dating from around 1850.

Landscape and cycling loop

In the Midlaren-Noordlaren area, the Hondsrug is barely 2.5 kilometres wide. This narrow width is precisely what makes the landscape there so varied. For trip planning, this landscape context complements the specific walking destinations: you can choose between archaeological sites, architectural history and paths through the Noordlaarderbos, without the walking options requiring the same distances or timeframes.

The Rondje Zuidlaardermeer cycling loop also offers different options after Noordlaren: you can return to the starting point by electric bicycle ferry or ride an additional loop around the Onnerpolder and Westerbroeksemadepolder. Check the ferry timetable in advance. There is an information board in Noordlaren on the “Levend verleden van Haren” cycle route. This means you can consider walking and cycling routes as different focuses for your stay.

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