Netherlands > Gasteren – Rolde – Schoonloo

A relatively shorter day today. Only 27 kilometers were planned. After a very extensive breakfast, we said goodbye to Els, picked up our backpacks, and set off for the third day of walking. Soon after leaving Gasteren, we walked onto the heathland of the Ballooërveld. By not paying close attention for a moment, we took a wrong path, but it still ran parallel to the original route. The sandy road—part of the military training area—was quite tough to walk. The narrow walking path through the heath, on the other hand, was much easier. On the other side of the route, our path rejoined the original Pieterpad route, and we continued along it. In Rolde, we briefly left the route to do some shopping in the supermarket for the coming days. Rolde is a charming town, and it’s actually strange that the official route doesn’t go through the center. The official Pieterpad route is actually a less interesting path around Rolde. After leaving Rolde, we visited the two large Hunebeds.

Netherlands - Hunebed D17 Rolde

Back on the route, we walked along the old railway track. Ahead of us, several other hikers were also on the Pieterpad. At the Lange Veen, in the middle of the forest, we came across a beautiful picnic table—a perfect spot for lunch. After lunch, we continued along forest paths toward Schoonloo. Along the way, we passed several lovely areas. The heath around the Meindersveen was especially beautiful and enjoyable to walk through. Around four o’clock, we walked past Café Hegeman in Schoonloo. Here, we ordered a beer and inquired about dinner options later that evening. Since it was Saturday, dinner had to be reserved. We were advised to eat around half past six, which we thought was a good time. The guesthouse was located just beyond the center. In the farmhouse, a guest accommodation had been set up at the back, where we had our own space with a small living room/kitchenette, shower, and bedroom. After dinner, we watched television while enjoying a glass of wine.