Estate lands, castles and forts - 5x relaxing in Utrecht

Part 2 of the Kromme Rijnpad. Now from Rhijnauwen to Nieuw-Amelisweerd and back. Beautiful route under the smoke of the Uithof through cultivated forest and along the rippling Kromme Rijn where possible.

Today we had a lovely walk along the Kromme Rijn river near Utrecht. Parking at the sports fields was great, but it was a good thing we weren't too late because of the football match, as the Utrecht stadium is nearby. We soon entered the woods, passed the Amelisweert estate, Rhijnauwen Castle, and Fort Rijnauwen. There are nice restaurants and cafes at the country houses, with lovely terraces. We walked a long stretch along the towpath along the Kromme Rijn, where there's a beautiful walking path with plenty of benches. Along the way, we saw three kingfishers perched on a branch; unfortunately, we could only photograph them with my iPhone, so the shots weren't completely sharp. Fort Rijnauwen can only be visited with a guided tour through the Dutch Forestry Commission, so we skipped that. It was a very varied route, with forests, meadows, water, and country houses. At the end of the route, we came across a sequoia tree, the age of which is uncertain, but it seems to have been planted around 1900.

Despite the drizzling weather, Jacco and I decided to go a hike. The area, sandwiched between highways, Utrecht and Bunnik, is surprisingly beautiful. The Kromme Rijn river meanders here through the beautiful countryside. Along the river you'll find beautiful country and old farm houses. There are several places where you can have lunch and coffee. I guess that it can be busy here on sunny days. I hope this beautiful piece of nature will be saved for the future...

A nice warm Mother's Day brought many hikers and water sports enthusiasts to Amelisweerd. It was really quiet only in a few places.