De Lilse Bergen is secluded in an expansive forest, and the nearest village is Gierle. This is fortunate because Gierle is one of the most picturesque villages in the Kempen. This walk doesn’t follow the shortest route to the village but takes you first through the forest, past the mysterious Tree of the Eight Beatitudes. Beyond the E34 motorway, you walk through fields and meadows until you reach the village center of Gierle.

The center is protected, and it’s easy to see why. The church with its old walled cemetery, a cluster of chestnut trees, the old town hall with the ancient village pump, and several listed village houses are all extremely photogenic. In the courtyard of the old gin distillery next to the church, a summer bar is open during the warmer months. At other times, you can visit the old tavern "In den Eik", a place where travelers have been stopping to rest for as long as anyone can remember.