A few details:
(1) Anyone bothered by the proximity to the motorway will no doubt prefer to take the tarmac path heading north and go directly to point (4).
(5) A second shortcut allows you to reach the point (7) directly by turning off to the right. Be careful, however, not to miss the path to the left and not to go too far along the main track.
Running through woodland on both the northern and southern sides, this long walk on the heights of the eastern Ourthe is predominantly rural and offers lovely views of the surrounding countryside as well as, in the distance, the villages of the Gouvy area.
Details
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 13.55 mi
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Average duration: 7h 15
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Difficulty: Difficult
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Back to start: Yes
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Ascent: + 1,152 ft
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Descent: - 1,165 ft
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Highest point: 1,637 ft
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Lowest point: 1,161 ft
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Country: Belgium
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Area: Massif des Ardennes
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City: Houffalize
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Start/End: N 50.160057° / E 5.816172°
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,398 ft - Sommerain Church
- 1 : mi 0.09 - alt. 1,417 ft - Start of the first shortcut
- 2 : mi 0.8 - alt. 1,322 ft - Sommerain Stream
- 3 : mi 2.29 - alt. 1,388 ft - Small footbridge
- 4 : mi 2.8 - alt. 1,503 ft - End of the first shortcut
- 5 : mi 3.34 - alt. 1,624 ft - Start of the second shortcut
- 6 : mi 3.57 - alt. 1,608 ft - War memorial on the road
- 7 : mi 5.03 - alt. 1,598 ft - End of the second shortcut
- 8 : mi 6.09 - alt. 1,496 ft - N827
- 9 : mi 7.71 - alt. 1,421 ft - Bench
- 10 : mi 8.5 - alt. 1,237 ft - Bistain Rock
- 11 : mi 10.75 - alt. 1,178 ft - Footbridges over the Ourthe and the Tavigny stream - Ourthe orientale (rivière) - Affluent de l'Ourthe
- 12 : mi 10.81 - alt. 1,204 ft - Path closed and start of the diversion - Ourthe orientale (rivière) - Affluent de l'Ourthe
- 13 : mi 12.5 - alt. 1,240 ft - End of diversion
- 14 : mi 13.48 - alt. 1,385 ft - Bench
- S/E : mi 13.55 - alt. 1,398 ft - Sommerain Church
Notes
The most direct route – the one that runs alongside the River Ourthe and then the Ruisseau de Sommerain between (12) and (13) – appears to be off-limits in both places (private property, no trespassing, wildlife sanctuary, etc. – as per the Forestry Code). The only option for walkers is therefore to head back up to the Croix de Berbusette on the hills above Brisy!
We came across just two measly benches: at (9) and at (14). The picnic tables set up at the entrance to the Moulin de Bistain campsite (10) will probably not survive the sale (2026) of this campsite and its future redevelopment.
Other walks in the area
The Eastern Ourthe between Taverneux and Cetturu
Circular Ardennes route between Brisy, Taverneux, Alhoumont and Cetturu
In the heart of one of our Ardennes forests around Montleban
Cherain - Rettigny et la vallée de l' Ourthe
Walk around Houffalize
Achouffe and the Martin Moulin Stream
Nature getaway in Sterpigny
Sterpigny – Rodt Sankt-Vith
For more walks, use our search engine .
The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.