Postelseweg, Turnhoutseweg, Kuitenrode and Neterselsedijk Loop

This is a long, low-relief Kempen (Campine) loop on quiet country lanes, farm tracks, and long straight dike-roads, linking the sandy heath-and-pine landscapes around Eersel/Lage Mierde/Netersel. Expect a steady, rhythmic day rather than “big” climbs: around 48 km (29.8 mi) with essentially 0 m (0 ft) of meaningful elevation gain—any rises are gentle micro-undulations, bridge ramps, and road crowns.

A practical start point that matches the Postelseweg/Carterheide access is Parkeerplaats Cartierheide, Postelseweg 88, 5521 RD Eersel (North Brabant, NL). (routeyou.com)
From there, the loop’s road names make sense as you stitch together Postelseweg → Turnhoutseweg → (area of) Kuitenrode/Kuilenrode → Neterselsedijk through open Kempen countryside.

Getting to the start (car + public transport)

By car - Navigate to Parkeerplaats Cartierheide (Postelseweg 88, 5521 RD Eersel); it’s a well-known access point for the Cartierheide area and has straightforward roadside parking. (routeyou.com)
- Regional approach is typically via the A67 (Eindhoven–Belgian border corridor) or A58 (Breda–Tilburg–Eindhoven corridor), then local roads toward Eersel. (en.wikipedia.org)

By public transport - The most workable strategy is: train to Eindhoven or Tilburg, then bus toward Eersel, and a short local connection (or taxi) to Postelseweg/Cartierheide. Eersel itself has no train station, so plan for a bus leg and check day-of schedules in your journey planner. - If you want the simplest logistics for a 48 km day, arriving by car (or arranging a taxi from the nearest major station) reduces time pressure.

What the terrain feels like underfoot

You’re in the Kempen: sandy soils, pine plantations, heath remnants, and agricultural blocks. Even when you’re on paved roads, the “feel” is rural—long sightlines, wind exposure, and frequent straight segments.

• Surface mix: mostly asphalt lane and cycleway, with intermittent compacted farm track and sandy/gravelly connectors (especially where routes skirt heath/forest edges).
• Steepness: effectively flat; the challenge is distance, not climbing.
• Wind & weather: with open fields and dike-roads, wind can be the biggest energy drain. In wet periods, sandy shoulders can soften and farm-track sections can hold puddles.

Route flow and key legs (approximate)

Distances below are meant to help you pace and plan; your exact splits will vary depending on the precise connectors used between the named roads.

• 0–10 km (0–6.2 mi): Postelseweg out of Eersel

  • You leave the Eersel edge and quickly get that Kempen mosaic: pine belts, heathland edges, and scattered farms. Postelseweg is also a common access corridor for the Cartierheide landscape area near the Belgian border. (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Watch for fast-moving local traffic on straighter stretches; use the verge/cycle path where available.

• 10–24 km (6.2–14.9 mi): Turnhoutseweg and the long rural middle

  • Turnhoutseweg typically signals you’re tracking the historic direction of Turnhout (Belgium) through borderland countryside—expect long, efficient walking with limited shade in places.
  • This is where you’ll want to settle into a sustainable pace: easy terrain can tempt you to go too fast early.

• **24–34 km (14.9–21.1 mi): Kuitenrode / Kuilenrode area