The best running trails around Glabbeek

The Rozendaalbeek Valley, often mentioned in the same breath as Paddepoel (Velpe Valley), is a small valley formed by a tributary of the Velpe River, named—you guessed it—Rozendaalbeek. At the edge of the valley, on top of the slope, you'll find Natuur.huis De Gors, a nature center run by Natuurpunt Velpe-Mene, where there are often activities (including training courses). The valley itself is approximately 70 hectares and lies between Sint-Maarten and Sint-Pieter (both Vissenaken). The Rozendaalbeek is a tiny stream that rises just outside Tienen on the northwest side in two amphitheater-shaped slopes. After just a few hundred meters, the two separate branches meet and together form the Roosdaalbeek, which is listed on military maps as the "Vlietende beek" (Flying Brook). It still meanders naturally here and there through the wet meadows. Ancient pollard willows once lined its entire length, but many of these characteristic landscape features have since disappeared. The stream flows through an increasingly widening valley to the Velpe. More at https://www.velpe-mene.be/tienen/rozendaalbeekvallei.htm Flora tip: in spring, broad-leaved orchis (a native orchid species) and in autumn, a paradise for waxcaps, those oh-so-special and beautiful mushrooms. Take a look at https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurinfo/paddenstoelen-families/paddenstoelenfamilie-wasplaten for these "orchids among the mushrooms." In this wetland nature reserve, you're never far from village centers and the highway, but be sure to take a look. Greet the Galloway people and don't forget the well of Saint Hymelinus of Vissenaken. His reliquary can be found in the parish church of Saint Martin, near De Gors and a path leading to the valley.

I have no idea why it's there. You're on a public road, a short distance from the entrance to the nature reserve, which only begins past the church and the Natuurpunt (Nature Point) house. There's a parking lot at the church.

Beautiful view of Hageland...

Our Lady of Sorrows (Lat.: Mater Dolorosa) is a title for Mary in the context of Marian devotion and it is a theme in visual art. Here Mary is depicted in mourning, saddened by her son Jesus who died on the cross, for whom she cared for her entire life. (Wikipedia)

In the Paddepoel you will find a unique combination of species such as blue button, caraway, tormentil, cat's thorn, pale sedge, wild bertram and umbrella hawkweed. In early spring, hundreds of wood anemones bloom, a very rare phenomenon in grasslands. The fact that the wood anemones bloom there shows that it is a very old and undisturbed grassland. Thanks to 25 years of targeted management, several rare species have increased significantly. There are thousands of caraway, one of the largest Flemish populations. Yellow-green sedge first emerged in 2013 and is doing well. The Paddepoel is home to grasslands with lots of knotweed, sweet grass, large hawkweed and golden oat. In addition, there is a marsh marigold grassland with lots of field rush, two-row sedge and rough bedstraw. Broad-leaved orchis is expected here soon. Natuurpunt has also dug and restored a number of ponds in the Paddepoel. Salamanders feel very comfortable there. The alpine newt and small newt already live in the oldest part of the Paddepoel, but we hope that the endangered crested newt will also discover the pools.

The Paddepoel is partly located in Bunsbeek (Glabbeek) and partly in Vissenaken (Tienen). The area is situated in the middle course of the Velpe valley, between the Daalgemse mill in Vissenaken and the Rotelmolen of Pamelen. That part of the Velpe valley is a large, varied and contiguous area. It consists of marsh, hedges and woods, moist grasslands in the valley and drier grasslands on the valley flank. The more variation in the landscape, the more different plants and animals. The Velpe still meanders strongly in Paddepoel and the Rozendaalbeek valley. The banks are not artificially reinforced and regularly crumble. The river can still flow freely there. It is a paradise for kingfishers, teals and meadow damselflies. Source: https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebieden/paddepoel-velpevallei-en-rozendaalbeekvallei

This small, white-painted brick chapel was built around 1937 in gratitude for the healing of the cows. According to the owner, the original inscription was: "Mother of 7 Sorrows B.V.O.". Inside, in a small niche, is a Pieta, a statue of Mary with the dead Jesus. Source and more information at https://www.kerkglabbeek.be/halte28

Small chapel right in front of a field path on a farm.