Utrecht Path part 03

2025-08-23 17:00

Hiked 18.9 kilometres from Cothen to Leersum.

Heading towards Rhijnestein Castle and passing the old village green of Cothen, the route winds through fruit trees. The Kromme Rijn continues on a beautiful loop through historic Dorestad and the well-preserved Duurstede Castle. Leersum is reached via the willow groves and Broekhuizen estate.

Hike report

A road approaching the village of Cothen with the church spire visible above the trees, a bridge railing on the right, and a clear blue sky A metal footbridge leading to a shaded tree-lined path along a green meadow in warm morning sunlight A sun-dappled tree-lined lane with long shadows cast across a dirt path, creating a tunnel of green foliage A medieval brick gatehouse with a stepped gable and arched entrance, likely part of Rhijnestein Castle, bathed in golden evening light An elegant house on the bank of a calm waterway surrounded by large trees, with reflections in the water and warm sunlight filtering through the canopy A small brick village church with arched windows and a modest bell tower, set on a gravel square with trees on either side A narrow dirt path between trees and a fenced cornfield, with dappled sunlight and blue sky above A narrow overgrown path between a house with a campervan and a fenced orchard, with dramatic backlit clouds A wide cornfield being irrigated by a sprinkler in the distance, with dramatic dappled clouds and golden late-summer light A narrow dirt path between a hedgerow and a fenced hay field, with birch trees and a moody cloudy sky A paved path alongside a canal with a wooden bench, an information sign, and trees and shrubs under an overcast sky Modern white houses along a canal with a wooden rowing boat moored at a small jetty, reflected in the calm water A quiet residential street with a lamppost bearing trail markers, blooming hydrangea bushes, and neat Dutch houses A brick-paved path along a canal in Wijk bij Duurstede with a large Gothic church tower rising above the rooftops A traditional Dutch windmill beside a brick path, with houses and dried grass in the foreground under a cloudy sky A brick archway gate looking through to a narrow cobbled street with traditional Dutch houses and parked bicycles A small harbour with moored boats and motor yachts, a brick quayside, and dramatic clouds reflected in the water The round brick tower of Duurstede Castle with a pointed slate roof, rising from a moat surrounded by lush green trees Another view of the Duurstede Castle tower framed by conifer branches, with its reflection perfectly mirrored in the still moat water A white neoclassical pavilion with columns and a balcony glimpsed through trees across a pond, with a duck swimming in the foreground Duurstede Castle seen from across the moat, showing both the round brick tower and a ruined square tower, reflected in the water A tree-lined brick lane with old walls on both sides leading into the distance, dappled with shade from chestnut trees The tall brick Gothic church tower of Wijk bij Duurstede seen from below, with a clock face and ornate brickwork details The front facade of the Gothic church tower with its entrance portal, clock, and coat of arms, framed by surrounding buildings A tree-lined country road with a separate cycle path running parallel, green meadows on either side, and dramatic cumulus clouds An overgrown narrow path through dense young birch and shrub woodland under a blue sky with white clouds A traditional Dutch farmhouse with a distinctive pyramidal roof, green shutters, and a flower garden along the roadside A sunlit dirt path through deciduous woodland with dappled light filtering through oak and beech trees A tractor loaded with green-wrapped silage bales parked beside a narrow country road, with a green meadow and woodland behind A narrow ditch with a small sluice running alongside a country road, with overhanging trees and a house in the background A view through oak tree trunks over a small stream to a bright green meadow backed by dense woodland under a cloudy sky A shaded dirt track through a mature oak woodland, stretching into the green distance A very narrow footpath through dense undergrowth and tall trees, barely visible ahead in the lush summer greenery A wide gravel path through a mixed woodland with pine and deciduous trees, sunlit patches on the ground A curving sandy path through open parkland with dried golden grass, a solitary copper beech tree, and birches in the distance under a blue sky with white clouds A large fallen tree trunk in a golden grass meadow with a stately manor house visible in the distance among tall trees, part of the Broekhuizen estate A very narrow overgrown path almost swallowed by dense green vegetation and brambles in a woodland setting A leaf-strewn dirt path through dense deciduous woodland with light filtering through the green canopy ahead A narrow path forming a green tunnel through dense overhanging branches and foliage, with dappled light at the end An overgrown narrow footpath through thick bushes and trees with sunlight filtering through the dense canopy The restaurant Darthuizen with a terrace under blue parasols, red geraniums in flower boxes, and a sign advertising hapjes, lunch, and diner