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Bocageland without Borders in the Voer region
The rolling Bocage countryside — hedgerows, sunken lanes, streams and orchards — is developing into an accessible nature destination.
Yes, please >
The Voer region forms the Flemish heart of a cross-border landscape park between Aachen, Liège and Maastricht: a rolling patchwork of hedgerows, ancient woods, fast-flowing streams and standard-tree orchards. A region rapidly developing into an accessible destination, with charming accommodation serving as a base. A real experience for the whole family.
The place
The Boundless Bocage Landscape is a true gem: a patchwork of hedgerows, wooded edges, sunken lanes and ditches, interspersed with church villages, standard-tree orchards, ancient woods and heritage sites such as castles and half-timbered houses. It stretches across borders through the Voer region, the Land of Herve and the Dutch Heuvelland.
The Voer region has all the ingredients to become an accessible nature destination — and a great deal of work is being done to achieve this. Through a methodical approach, hospitable local business owners and a handful of feasible adjustments, the landscape is being made accessible without disrupting it.
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The accommodation
Ferme de l'Etang — a farm with the A+ label
This beautifully restored farmhouse, comprising three holiday accommodation units, is situated in Remersdaal, in the heart of the Voer region. The De Cour Apartment, situated in the former calf barn, has been awarded the highest accessibility rating (A+): a large bathroom with a rain shower, two fully electrically adjustable high-low beds, underfloor heating, an open-plan kitchen and comfortable (reclining) armchairs. You can drive right up to the front door, and in fine weather you can enjoy your own terrace. For many guests, the height-adjustable beds eliminate the need for a mobile hoist — well-designed furniture that makes all the difference.
La Strijk Holiday Cottages — luxury and nature in Aubel
Just across the language border, in the area around Aubel, lies this former farmhouse with two luxury gîtes. The accessible La Chapelle is an intimate, charming retreat for two, set amongst the meadows with views of horses and just a few kilometres from the Voeren woods. Owner Jean-Pierre Stassen offers a top-of-the-range experience, including a private sauna — an ideal base from which to explore the region.
Delicious dining on the go
Brasserie Blanckthys In 's-Gravenvoeren, at a charming hotel on the Kinkenberg, is a lovely place to start and finish the walk. And in Teuven, Restaurant Café Modern, housed in a former village school, serves seasonal fine dining featuring local produce and boasts a spacious terrace — suitable for larger groups too.
The activities
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Walking through the rolling countryside
This 10 km walking route offers a wonderful variety of scenery: streams, sunken lanes, woods, meadows, fields and vineyards, making for a truly enjoyable experience. The hilly terrain requires assistance on the steepest sections (a Swiss-Trac is helpful), and an interactive map with status codes — green, yellow, red — shows in advance how accessible each section is, depending on the weather and season. That way, you know exactly what to expect.
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Farmers’ Golf at Green Valley
On Rue Varn in Teuven, there is Green Valley Farm Golf in a lovely spot in the Bocage region — easily accessible for wheelchair users, and with on-site accommodation (Bocage Natur).
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Micro-adventures: orchard and woodland
Two places with exceptional potential. An orchard takes you on a journey through the life cycle of fruit all year round — blossom, ripening, harvest — with scents and flavours that also appeal to blind and visually impaired visitors, space to potter about and a mini tree trail accessible from a wheelchair. And an accessible playground in the woods, where winding paths turn the changes in elevation into an asset, so that as many children as possible can play there independently.
Is there accessible nature in your area too?
Do you work for a tourist board, local authority or regional organisation, and would you like to make nature accessible in your area too? Our centre of expertise can help you get started.