Els takes you along on the walk “Het Meuleman” starting from Beuningen.

On a beautiful sunny day we set out for the walk to and through the Het Meuleman estate. The estate is owned by the Twente textile family Scholten and covers more than 300 hectares of forests, farmland, and heathland. The River Dinkel winds its way through the estate. Timber production provides a sustainable contribution to the financial resources for forest management.

The village of Beuningen is both the starting and finishing point of the walk, but even on the way there we already enjoy the beautiful autumn colours.

Maurits Path and Maurits Bridge

From Streekrestaurant Streekrestaurant ’t Sterrebos we quickly leave the village and follow the Maurits Path over a small wooden bridge. Approaching the Maurits Bridge, we notice a small sign on the ground near an orange-coloured tree. It turns out to be a quote by Herman Finkers, honorary citizen of Beuningen: “Humor also has its pleasant sides.”

At the Maurits Bridge stands a cannon, marking the spot where Prince Maurits crossed the River Dinkel with his troops in 1597.

De Riest

Across the bridge, the walk continues along the winding Dinkel in the nature area De Riest. We step briefly off the path into the yellow-brown carpet of leaves in the forest to take a photo of the river. There are also acacia trees with beautifully textured bark; the wood is said to be very strong and durable.

A little further on we discover a semicircle of branches in the forest with logs as seats—a creative little rest spot.

Mekkelhorst hamlet

The route continues over a small rise through a beautiful forest towards the hamlet of Mekkelhorst. To visit a well-kept roadside cross, we briefly leave the route. Across the road stands a photogenic old farmhouse.

Back on the route, we pass a newly planted walnut orchard. A leaflet explains that it contributes to sustainable production and lower CO₂ emissions. Anyone can donate a tree to help expand the orchard. A great initiative! Across the road we see a “for sale” sign at a beautiful estate, but unfortunately our financial means are far from sufficient.

It is a wonderfully sunny walking day, and the fields on both sides are still a striking bright green. We also notice cows wearing ankle bands… are these criminal cows on the run or on weekend leave? Although they look slightly guilty, it is likely related to milking robots or feeding systems.

Het Meuleman estate

After a path along the forest edge, Het Meuleman estate comes into view. Hidden in the forest is a beautiful green pond. Much of the estate is open to the public, except for vulnerable areas. The nature reserve borders the Lutterzand.

We briefly leave the route for a small detour near the site where a watermill once stood. The brown autumn ferns contrast beautifully with the blue sky.

We pass the beautiful farmhouse Riekeman and walk through an avenue of oak trees, followed by a path along a meadow. Fortunately, the nearby maize field has recently been harvested, allowing open views again. A large group of pigeons feeds on leftover maize cobs.

After a short stretch of road, we turn into Schoolweg; the Mary chapel is beautifully decorated. The skyline of Beuningen comes back into view, meaning the walk is almost over. Finally, we loop around the church and take a well-earned drink on the terrace of Streekrestaurant ’t Sterrebos, the end point of the walk.

Conclusion

A beautiful and varied walk through the countryside around Beuningen, with wonderful views throughout. The excellent weather on this late October day certainly played an important role.

Want to walk this route yourself? The route is available in the Tourist Info webshop in De Lutte–Losser via the walking route Meuleman, or in the Tourist Info shop in De Lutte.