Take it easy in The Netherlands

The Netherlands’ national parks are fascinating – as I was quick to discover. Not only are they sweeping expanses of serene beauty, but they’re also rich in culture and very moving history. A big bonus is that three of the parks are within an easy day’s drive of the Rotterdam ferry terminal to where I’d crossed from Hull.

I’d reached the first of the parks, in the eastern region of Drenthe, by the late afternoon. Camping Zwanemeer is just outside the small town of Gieten on the edge of the Drentsche Aa National Park.

The site is typical of the Netherlands, because of its access to dedicated and well-maintained cycleways right from the entrance, which join a network of routes fanning out across the area. The paths appear equally accessible to mobility scooters, the only restriction being the battery’s range.

So, with warm and sunny weather next morning, I was riding into a landscape of heather, wild flowers and expansive views to spend the day criss-crossing the tranquil heathland via villages and woodlands and barely seeing another soul. Butterflies were in abundance and there were still