The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Polygonebos

Beautiful park for walking, with beautiful trees. Most paths are wheelchair accessible, which is nice in a forest.

Two corrections: Contrary to what the original name of this highlight stated, you are not in the Begelen domain (which is located in Gullegem, about 25 km from here), but in the Palingbeek domain. And, contrary to what another user here stated, this was not previously a mining area (in the sense of a mining area), but an area scarred by mines and bombs during the First World War.

Stairs... stroller not so obvious

Beautiful nature, lots of explanation about the region along various information boards.

An interesting anecdote about Polygon Wood Cemetery concerns the only German soldier buried there, Hans Bogner. His headstone was once broken in two and later repaired. This is remarkable because it is quite rare for headstones to spontaneously break, suggesting that there is a special story behind this damage. There is also the story of Second Lieutenant John Lowe, a Royal Engineer buried in the cemetery. He was awarded both the Military Cross and the Military Medal, indicating that he showed exceptional courage and leadership during the fighting.

Polygon Wood Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery located in Zonnebeke. It was originally established in August 1917 as a frontline cemetery and contains the graves of 108 soldiers, 19 of whom are unknown. Most of the buried soldiers are from New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with one German soldier. The cemetery is located in the historic Polygon Wood, which was the scene of fierce fighting during the First World War. The cemetery's design, by Charles Holden, includes a Cross of Sacrifice and a walled entrance.

The Polygon Forest, also known as Polygon Wood, is a historically and ecologically valuable forest area in Zonnebeke. The forest is located on the Central West Flemish ridge and is an important breeding ground for birds of prey such as sparrowhawks, kestrels and buzzards. The Polygon Forest also houses important war memorials, including the Buttes New British Cemetery and the smaller Polygon Wood Cemetery. These cemeteries are a tribute to the soldiers who died during the First World War. An interesting anecdote concerns the Scott Post and the New Zealand Bunkers, which can still be found in the forest. These bunkers were built by the Germans and later occupied by the Australian divisions in 1917.

Eight memorial gardens were created, each in the shape of a poppy, a symbol of the war. Each garden was designed to commemorate the unique contribution and sacrifice of each country during the Battle of Passchendaele, using symbolic vegetation, modern art and poetry. The following countries were involved: Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, USA.