Discovering the Lettenberg

A long stretch along the slopes of Mont Kemmel to discover the Lettenberg, a small hill near Kemmel (perhaps the result of the union between Mont Rouge and Mont Kemmel?). The rest of the route is fairly standard, but passes through areas that are often very damp. And as always in this area, the elevation gain is quite significant. Avoid this walk in early August, during the Dranouter Festival.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 21.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 359 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 361 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 150 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 36 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Place de Loker (church, cemetery)

(S/E) Join the Grand'Route (N375) and follow it to the left. At the fork, take the road on the right towards Bailleul and, at the junction, turn into the small street on the left (Galooiestraat) to reach the N322 and marker 56.

(1) Cross it and take the path opposite towards marker 11. Shortly after a house and just before crossing the stream, you’ll come to a choice.

(2) Take the path on the right (this is the chosen route. For the alternative route, see the practical information). The “path” slopes to the left, crosses the stream, then turns left into the grass. The path opposite is marked by wooden posts, but it is difficult to follow as it is encroached upon by crops (it is often easier to go through the field on the right where a good path has often formed). Join a small road and head right to reach post 8, just before the second farm.

(3) Take the superb grassy path on the left. This turns right, crosses a stream and climbs (a damp section that has recently been improved) to reach a T-junction (marker 9 and hammocks on the right). Turn left and follow the path (boardwalk in the wet sections) to a wide track (marker 61 and café on the right).

(4) Continue left then right (stairs) towards marker 63, following the fence. Ignore a path on the right (hiking marker), and continue (still heading towards 63) until you reach a small road at marker 63.

(5) Follow the small road on the left towards marker 74. Just before a large house on the left, you’ll reach a hiking marker (unnumbered) and turn right towards marker 74. A lovely uphill path (steady gradient but difficult in wet weather) leads to the Mont Kemmel Ossuary (marker 74, benches).

(6) At the junction, continue straight ahead (the GR® heads off to the right) to enter the woods towards marker 83 (staircase on the right).

(7) Take the path on the left downhill and join a small road (marker 98). Follow it to the left and reach a fork (marker 75). Then turn right onto the tarmac and continue downhill until you cross a small stream (Kemmelbeek). About a hundred metres further on, you will find a path branching off to the right (marker 96: steps).

(8) Follow the path and enter the woods. When you reach a fork, turn right and then immediately left (there is a lovely pond on the left). Continue up the path to reach the summit of Lettenberg (marker 97).

(9) At the junction, take the path furthest to the right and head down to a metal gate. Just before the gate, turn left and take the path that climbs up to the right to the summit of Lettenberg. This circular route can be avoided.

(9) Then turn right to reach a small road. Do not join it, but take the path on the right (markers 71 and 76) which runs alongside it and leads back to the metal barrier (marker 70).

(10) Now cross the small road (Lokerstraat) to take the road opposite, which climbs slightly. Reach a junction at marker 81.

(11) Turn right, then immediately left (small flight of steps). Follow the path through the woods carefully until you reach a small road. Cross it and turn left onto the path running alongside it. Follow this path until you reach a flight of steps. Go down the steps and take the path opposite. Walk past a pond and head towards Warand Castle, then marker 80.

(12) At the fork, continue to the right (sculptures: see photos) until you reach marker 8.

(13) Take the path on the right and reach a fork.

(14) Take the path at a right angle to the left, then immediately at a right angle to the right. 100 metres further on, at the fork, take the path on the left to reach the N331 and take it on the right (cycle path). Atthe first junction , cross it (take care) and follow the small road opposite for about fifty metres to marker 9.

(15) Turn right to reach marker 87. Then turn onto the road on the right and rejoin the N331. Cross it to follow the path opposite and reach a small road.

(16) Follow it for about 100 metres to the right to reach marker 89. Leave the road and enter the woods on the right. The path leaves the woods, crosses a slightly damp area and reaches a T-junction at marker 2, below the restaurant.

(17) Turn left, pass a picnic table and reach a gate at marker 72. Cross the small road and take the path opposite towards marker 65. You will soon reach a large pasture on the left. There is no longer a gate, but the path leading down through it is clearly visible.

(18) Cross the pasture diagonally (there is a lovely farmhouse on the left) and reach a wide path. Follow it for a few metres to the right and you will find a gate on the left.

(19) Go through it and follow the path across the fields. Just before another metal gate, turn right and walk alongside a copse for about a hundred metres.

(20) At the end of the copse, turn right to pass two turnstiles (puddles, risk of mud). Continue towards a third turnstile, a little further up on the right, and cross a copse. On emerging, continue along the edge on the right (often very wet). The path turns sharply left and reaches a fork.

(21) Take the path opposite, which zigzags through the fields (risk of mud, grazing sheep) before reaching a small road. Follow it for about fifty metres to the left until you reach marker 97.

(22) Take the road on the right towards the vineyard (Wiingoed Monteberg) along a long, scenic path, with some facilities (though it can be very wet at times), which zigzags through the fields and then runs alongside the Lindebeek before reaching a road (marker 96).

(23) Take the path on the left that runs alongside it (gate). A little further on, join the road and follow it to the left towards Dranouter. A good hundred metres further on, turn left to enter the housing estate (works in March 2026). Ignore the small street on the right, and continue a few metres to house no. 7.

(24) Turn right onto a path between the houses. Follow this path as it crosses the estate to reach a lovely playground before coming to the road. Follow the road to the left, pass the church and reach the N322 (marker 6).

(25) Turn right onto it towards Loker (Dikkebusstraat). Just after the restaurant ’t Folk, turn left into Victoriastraat to reach a T-junction (marker 5). Turn right towards marker 69. Pass a pigsty and reach marker 69 at the edge of the woods. Go through the gate on the left towards marker 68. This is a very beautiful path that follows the southern edge of the woodland. At marker 68, veer left and continue to follow the southern edge towards marker 66 (risk of mud). Reach marker 98 (see practical information).

(26) Head left (very wet pasture). Pass through a gate, walk alongside a large pond and continue down a gentle slope. After crossing the Douve and passing a few pools, reach a small road at marker 99 (opposite the bagpiper).

(27) Follow the small road to the right. At marker 3 (pub on the left), continue straight on and reach a fork (house and marker 2).

(28) Leave the tarmac and follow the dirt track to the right to join a road (N375).

(29) Cross it (take care!) and follow it to the right for about 300 metres. Walk past the Behaegel Estate and take thefirst path on the left. Ignore the first two paths on the left (markers 42 and 95) and take thethird (marker 43). From there, you can opt for a quick return by heading along the tarmac towards marker 44.

(30) Turn left and you’ll immediately find marker 93. Continue to the right until you reach a small road. Follow it on the left, staying firmly on the path. Just past an observation tower, look for an exit to the small road on the right. Follow it a few metres to the left and you’ll find a path on the right (bench and deckchair).

(31) Take this steeply ascending path (stairs). At the top: mill on the left, large car park on the right; follow the small road to the right as far as marker 37 (if it is open, you can go through the car park; the exit is always accessible).

(32) Take the wide path on the right which, going downhill, leads to a small road (marker 46). Follow it for about fifty metres to the left, then turn right (marker 45) into Galooiestraat. Reach a junction (marker 44).

(33) Take the road on the left to join the Grand' Route de Loker. Turn right to reach the church and the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 87 m - Place de Loker (church, cemetery)
  2. 1 : km 0.95 - alt. 75 m - Junction with the N 322: marker 56
  3. 2 : km 1.76 - alt. 50 m - Crossroads just before the stream
  4. 3 : km 2.59 - alt. 60 m - Marker 8
  5. 4 : km 3.57 - alt. 71 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.14 - alt. 109 m - Marker 63
  7. 6 : km 4.98 - alt. 124 m - Ossuary: marker 74
  8. 7 : km 5.33 - alt. 150 m - Marker 83
  9. 8 : km 6.6 - alt. 67 m - Marker 96: steps
  10. 9 : km 7.18 - alt. 92 m - Crossroads Marker 97: Lettenberg
  11. 10 : km 7.75 - alt. 87 m - Marker 70
  12. 11 : km 8.03 - alt. 99 m - Marker 81
  13. 12 : km 8.85 - alt. 68 m - Marker 80
  14. 13 : km 8.97 - alt. 68 m - Marker 8
  15. 14 : km 9.29 - alt. 70 m - Fork
  16. 15 : km 9.81 - alt. 76 m - Marker 9
  17. 16 : km 10.58 - alt. 46 m - Junction with a small road
  18. 17 : km 11.44 - alt. 92 m - Marker 2, below the restaurant
  19. 18 : km 11.65 - alt. 94 m - Pasture
  20. 19 : km 11.83 - alt. 81 m - Barrier
  21. 20 : km 12.31 - alt. 54 m - End of the copse
  22. 21 : km 12.67 - alt. 74 m - Fork
  23. 22 : km 13.3 - alt. 63 m - Marker 97
  24. 23 : km 14.69 - alt. 43 m - Marker 96
  25. 24 : km 15.22 - alt. 52 m - Path on the right between the houses
  26. 25 : km 15.67 - alt. 60 m - Dranouter, marker 6
  27. 26 : km 17.08 - alt. 50 m - Marker 98
  28. 27 : km 17.65 - alt. 42 m - Junction with small road: marker 99
  29. 28 : km 18.24 - alt. 53 m - Fork: marker 2
  30. 29 : km 18.78 - alt. 55 m - Junction with the N 375
  31. 30 : km 19.9 - alt. 91 m - Marker 43
  32. 31 : km 20.29 - alt. 112 m - Uphill path (bench, deckchair)
  33. 32 : km 20.72 - alt. 134 m - Marker 37
  34. 33 : km 21.62 - alt. 85 m - Crossroads: marker 44
  35. S/E : km 21.98 - alt. 87 m - Place de Loker (church, cemetery)

Notes

This walk can become very difficult in bad weather: make sure you’re well equipped!

Food and drink available in Dranouter (km 15): there are plenty of pubs.

It is often better to head into the pasture just before marker 98, as this avoids some of the damp.

An alternative route is available at (2): continue straight ahead to reach a small road (marker 11). Follow it to the right to reach a crossroads (marker 60). Then turn right to reach marker 8 just before the second farm.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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