The Hilly Route, or Heuvelroute, brings together the hills of southern Flanders in one long-distance cycling itinerary. Developed as part of Flanders’ Iconic Cycle Routes, it connects regions from Heuvelland and the Flemish Ardennes to Hageland, Haspengouw and Voeren. Expect a journey shaped by climbs, woodland and opportunities to explore local history along the way.
Across the hills of southern Flanders
The official Iconic Cycle Routes description presents the Heuvelroute as a demanding ride through a succession of distinct regions, including Heuvelland, the Flemish Ardennes, Hageland, Haspengouw and Voeren. Its appeal lies in linking those landscapes into a single journey, with forests and historic places providing reasons to pause between the climbs.
Visit Vlaamse Ardennen describes a west-to-east itinerary from Poperinge to Homburg. The route is part of a wider Flemish network of themed long-distance rides, and VISITFLANDERS notes that the Hilly Route has a connection to the cross-border or international EuroVelo network.
Woodland and cycling heritage in the Flemish Ardennes
The Flemish Ardennes section gives the route its climbing character. Visit Vlaamse Ardennen highlights the Taaienberg and the Muur van Geraardsbergen, alongside wooded places such as Kluisbos and Muziekbos. Approaching from Avelgem, the itinerary crosses the Scheldt into Kluisbergen and climbs towards Kluisberg and Kluisbos.
The route also visits Ronse, making the town a useful place to break up a journey through the region. Farther along, the local tourism guide describes riding beside the Dender before leaving the river near Geraardsbergen and continuing towards the Bosberg and Pajottenland.
Choosing a section and direction
You do not need to ride the entire itinerary to experience it. Visit Maasmechelen suggests choosing either a section or the full route and selecting your own starting point. That makes it possible to build a trip around a particular landscape or town, with time for a café stop or picnic along the way.
The Flemish iconic routes are signposted in both directions. According to Visit Tongeren-Borgloon, signs show the route name, colour and direction of travel, so riders can choose which way to follow the itinerary. The Hilly Route also passes through Tongeren-Borgloon, offering another place around which to organise a section.
For the most useful planning context, consult the official route description alongside local tourism guides for the area you intend to visit. The published sources give different overall distances, so it is sensible to check the current official itinerary when working out your own stages.