The pleasure gardens at the edge of the city were financed by wealthy citizens of Bruges in the 19th century. They employed people to design and build landscaped gardens around their castles and planted trees that are still there till this day. The Castle route between Bruges and Torhout takes you through these grounds that were inaccessible to the public for a long time, such as Merkemveld and the woods in Tillegem. Nature reserve Vloethemveld has a completely different history and housed a British POW camp after WWII.
Originally a cycling route, but also great for running.
Source: https://www.visitwestvlaanderen.be/en/kastelen-cycle-route
