The plan was to go into town, have a walk round following the canal/river and then a visit the centre.
The walk started from the campsite, Camping Memling. On leaving the site we turned left and walked along Veltemweg to the end. Then turned right and immediately left onto Maalse Steenweg, towards the canal, this part of the walk looks like it is a long way but in fact only half a mile.
At the ringroad and canal we turned to the right and crossed the road to the canal crossing kruispoortbrug. The canal is the Ringvaart, part of the Gent to Oostende canal, from the bridge is a very good view of Kruispoort or Cross city gate and also another bridge over the canal.
Over the canal we turned right towards Kruispoort following the canal, from there we stuck to the canal path, passing the windmills along the way.
After the last of the windmills at the next canal crossing, we stopped off for a while, to watch the road lift to let a pleasure cruiser pass through. I was a good excuse for a rest as well.
Here at the crossing, was a T junction on the canal, we followed the branch to the left, again following the canal along Potterierei.
We spent the majority of the walk just enjoying the views along the canal and it is much quieter and calmer away from the bars and shops of the centre.
Next there was a nice old lifting bridge, I was in my element with all these bridges over the canals. We crossed over here and continued to follow the canal on the opposite side.
At the next main canal junction, we turned to the right, onto Spiegelrei, well we had to as there is no bridge to cross there. The canal ends at the old harbour and Jan Van Eyck square. From the we took Academiestraat, onto Vlamingstraat and wandered past all the shops along there.
This took us into the market square where we stopped off for a bite to eat and also took some time in the shops getting a few presents like Belgian chocolates. You can always find the market square just lookout for The Belfry Tower (Belfort). We had a wander round an art exhibition just off the main square, very modern and I liked it a lot, not sure what Dot thought though. There always seems to be something different going on in the centre of Brugge.
We left the square at the opposite corner to where we arrived down the side of the Belfry on Wollestraat (where you can get the No 11 bus back to the site if you want). We took a proper break along this street and popped into a couple of bars (you do not have to do this but I do not see any reason why you wouldn't).
At the end of Wollestraat we crossed over the canal and turned left onto Rozenhoedkaai where we stopped again in the bar facing the canal, Cafe 't Klein Venetië.
There are very good views set here and it is a sun trap. We would have had something to eat but they had stopped serving, so we just had the beers and decided we would head back to the van to cook.
Out of the bar it was left back onto Rozenhoedkaai and just kept going straight, I think the name of the street changes a couple of times along the way, then over the next bridge keep straight then right onto Langestraat.
Then continue straight all the way back to Kruispoort, close to where we first crossed the canal and main road. Go through the gate cross over the canal and main road at the crossing, then back onto Maalse Steenweg the N9, which is about 50 meters to your right as you cross.
Then is is a reverse of the earlier walk but so as not to miss Veltemweg, (the road the site) it is a right then left, at the second set of traffic lights or opposite McDonalds.
Brugge Walk Two
Ghent Walk
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