Belgium · BE

Hohes Venn Railbike

Hohes Venn Railbike lets you pedal a four-wheeled railbike (a draisine) along a disused railway line straight through the High Fens, Belgium's highest and wildest natural park. From the Leykaul base, the old Vennbahn track runs 7 km toward Sourbrodt across forests, moorland and peat bogs, and the round trip of about 14 km takes roughly two hours. You ride out one way, turn the railbike around at the turnaround point, and coast back through landscapes most people only ever see from a walking boardwalk. Each railbike carries up to four adults (or two adults and up to three young children): two people pedal while the rest sit back in reclining seats, and the roles can be swapped at any point along the line. It is a relaxed, family-friendly way to experience the fens — there is no strict age limit, just the simple rule that anyone big enough to reach the pedals can take a turn at the front. When the ride is over, the base itself is part of the fun: a 1950s railway wagon has been converted into a waffle stall, with a terrace where you can watch the other railbikes glide in and out. After the effort, the experience winds down with a freshly made Belgian waffle, an ice cream or a drink before you head home.