The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the temperatures are carefully climbing back up. The ideal time to put on my hiking shoes again! This time I’m going to Lommel to test out a hiking route in the Lommel Sahara! Lommel … what? Yes, the only real desert in Belgium can be found in Lommel! Since the end of 2023, Lommel has also been part of Bosland National Park, one of the 4 National Parks in Belgium.
By the way, did you know that this is also the warmest place in Belgium? You will find a beautiful lake surrounded by sandy plains and coniferous trees that give just that little bit of cooling. I walked the 12 km long red walking route, but if this is too much for you, fortunately you also have a number of shorter alternatives. You could follow the 3.1 km blue children’s walking route or the 5.9 km long orange hike. Ready? Then I’ll take you along with me!
Practical Info:
- Distance: 12 km
- Duration: 3 hours
- Difficulty: easy
- Start: Parking De Soeverein (Sportveldenstraat 10)
- Road signage: red triangles
- Download GPX
This article was sponsored by Tourism Lommel. It contains my own experience of hiking in the Lommel Sahara.
Starting at Parking Soeverein
The start of the hike can be found at De Soeverein, a large sports complex in Lommel. Here you have enough parking to park your car for free. Although it can be difficult to find a spot in the busiest summer months. But don’t worry, recently a brand new car park was opened near the Poort van Bosland, an equally new work of art that forms the gateway to this piece of nature reserve.
The hiking area of the Lommel Sahara starts right opposite De Soeverein. You follow a dirt road path marked with a brown sign ‘Sahara’ to start the walk. From here you can also see the red triangles that form the guideline for the hike. Do you want to do one of the other hikes? Then you follow the path until you reach the forest. All other hiking trails start here.
Tip: Need a short toilet break before you start your hike? Then quickly walk into the cafeteria of the sports center. Here you will find public toilets.
The Lommel Sahara red walking route
Once we arrive at the forest consisting of conifers, the hike really starts. This is also a paradise for children, because they will find a lot of nice installations made from willow branches, a piece of art by Will Beckers, and a small playground. If you do the red trail, you will soon leave this piece of forest behind you to walk towards the Sahara itself. The forest gradually flows over into sandy soil and soon you trudge through the sand towards the lake of the Lommel Sahara.
Good to know: Due to the sandy soil, the walking route is not suitable for buggies. If you do want to come with the pushchair, you will have a lot of hard work.
Instead of walking straight to the lake, you turn left just before for a trip through the sandy landscape. Don’t worry, you will pass the lake again halfway through the walk. With the sun on my face, an occasional butterfly fluttering by and the chirping of the birds, this was the most idyllic part of the route for me.
A little later you arrive at a paved cycle route that takes you along for a while before you dive back into the heath and forests. This part you walk through coniferous forest that served as a shooting range until not so long ago. Ammunition was tested or detonated here. A number of strange abandoned constructions are still reminders of this. You will find a number of bunkers where they tested the impact of projectiles, a destruction pit where explosives were detonated and a strange-looking pyramid where anti-personnel mines were tested. These constructions are gradually being taken over by nature and therefore make many a heart beat faster. So was mine!
Once out of the forest, this time you really go to the lake of the Lommel Sahara. You walk along a piece of fenced heathland, which is not accessible to walkers to give the animals some rest, but does offer a beautiful view. In the distance, you can also spot The Giant of Bosland, an impressive watchtower that you will pass later.
When you arrive at the water’s edge, you can enjoy the perfect reflection of the clouds on the water’s surface when the weather is nice. You have to be careful because the lake is struggling with a type of blue-green algae that can be poisonous. So it is best not to touch the water and not to let your dog romp in the lake. A walk on the ‘beach’ or just enjoying the sun is possible!
You then hike further into the forest along the beach. Here you will also come across a lookout hut that offers you a beautiful view of the lake and its fauna and flora. Be sure to stop here to enjoy it. Not much further, you will eventually arrive at the lookout tower, The Giant of Bosland. This 30-metre-high tower gives you a breathtaking view of the surrounding Lommel Sahara. But if you are afraid of heights, it is best to think twice before climbing the 144 steps of the tower. At the top, you can sit for a while to enjoy. So don’t rush!
Once back down, you continue your way to the pedestrian bridge that leads you over the Bocholt-Herentals canal. Here you walk the last part of the route through a beautiful heath landscape and even more surrounding forests. Not much later you cross the canal again, after which you pass Café Den Engel. The ideal time to stop for a refreshing drink on their terrace just before the end of the hiking trail. Eventually, the red triangles lead you back to De Soeverein where you started the hike.
Tip: For a delicious lunch or satisfying snack, pop into Lommel itself and stop at Happy Seasons. I enjoyed a delicious warm tomato soup after this hike!
Good to know
- Dogs are more than welcome, but must remain on a lead.
- Doing the walk with a buggy is not recommended. The sandy soil makes it very tiring to push the buggy along.
- Swimming is not allowed in the lake. It is also best not to touch the water because there are dangerous blue-green algae present.
- The forest paths can be muddy. Sturdy walking shoes that can withstand some dirt are therefore recommended.
