Hell's Highway 180 km

The more traditional Hell's Highway route - 180 km

This 180 km route starts in Leopoldsburg (Bourg-Léopold, Belgium) where Horrocks' XXX Corps was stationed, and ends on the Airboneplein in Arnhem. The route is carefully designed to pass along some of the main points of interest of Operation Market Garden. From the city centre of Leopoldsburg, it takes the rider to the border crossing at Lommel, and then on to Valkenswaard, Eindhoven, Son, Sint-Oedenrode, Veghel, Zeeland, Grave, Nijmegen, Driel, with a final westerly approach over the dykes of the Nederrijn towards Arnhem. If you have to choose one of the variations on this website, see this as the 'cover-all-bases-option'.

In effect, the first 100 km are the same as the HH 195 route. So... if still feeling strong at Zeeland, and pending wind directions (for the approach over the dykes to Arnhem), you can reroute to the longer route.

Market Garden Hell's Highway Joe's Bridge

Joe's Bridge in Lommel @ 30.8 km.

Border crossing into the Netherlands @ 34.1 km.

Route details

Route length: 180 kilometres / 112 miles

Elevation gain: 399 metres

Grading: A moderate cyclist should be able to enjoy this route. However, the average speed is slowed down due to landmark visits. Expect a minimum of 8 hours on the saddle, excluding breaks. Including lunch and stops, this can take up to 12 hours.

Downloads

In the vicinity of Eindhoven.

Market Garden Hell's Highway Freedom Museum Groesbeek

Freedom Museum in Groesbeek @ 136.5 km.

Route markers & cues

Below is an indication of the main points of interest you will find exactly along the route. The indicated km is a fairly accurate indication, but can vary a little. Especially if you deviate from the route. That is why most POI's also are also hyperlinked and state a town name. There are many POI's on this route. Stopping at each one will probably make the trip take too long. Therefore, you will have to be a little selective. The ones marked with a ★ are recommended. This website was made with Google Sites; external hyperlinks are checked for malware destinations by Google and therefore might take a fraction longer to load.

020.5 > German Military Cemetery, Lommel

030.8 > Joe’s Bridge, Lommel |SoundCloud Audio ▶️ ★

034.1 > BE/NL Border, Lommel | SoundCloud Audio ▶️

039.1 > Liberation Memorial Borkel en Schaft | SoundCloud Audio ▶️

039.6 > Valkenswaard War Cemetery, Valkenswaard

042.9 > Victorie Brug; The first of many Market Garden bridges.
The Irish Guards 1st Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment, reached it on September 17, 1944 at 16.30.

044.6 > LRM#105, Valkenswaard | SoundCloud Audio ▶️

050.7 > LRM#106, Aalst-Waalre |SoundCloud Audio ▶️

056.0 > Eindhoven | SoundCloud Audio ▶️ The Sept 19, 1944 bombing
056.0 > Eindhoven | SoundCloud Audio ▶️ A paratrooper in Eindhoven
056.0 > Eindhoven | SoundCloud Audio ▶️ A tragic mistake
056.0 > Eindhoven | SoundCloud Audio ▶️ Snipers & guns