Around the Samson Valley, starting from Bonneville

A very lovely walk offering some beautiful panoramic views of the valleys surrounding the River Samson. Starting from the small village of Bonneville, you walk along the upper slope of the Meuse towards the hamlet of Samson, then descend to the level of the stream of the same name, before climbing again towards the village of Maizeret and returning to the Samson via the ridges overlooking the village of Goyet.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.93 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 791 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 794 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 715 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 282 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park opposite Saint-Firmin’s Church and the castle, Rue du Centre in Bonneville.

(S/E) With your back to the church, cross the square and take the grassy path running behind the gardens. At the end, turn left then right onto the main street.

(1) At the Fork in the road immediately ahead, turn right onto Rue de Bruyère. This street continues as Rue du Chauffour and then as a farm track; follow it right to the end.

(2) Then turn right, then right again to join the Route des Trois Frères, which you should follow to the left.

(3) At the fork in the road, keep right onto Rue de Gaurre. This road overlooks the Meuse hillside and offers a few views of the valley through the trees. When you reach the bottom of the street, opposite No. 13, turn left onto Rue Mosseroux.

(4) Continue down the hill, taking the hairpin bend into Rue de Thon. Halfway down the slope, once you’ve left the hamlet, turn onto the forest track to the left and then immediately right: there’s a view of an old quarry beyond the junction. Join the N942 (Rue de Gramptinne) at a bend.

(5) Walk up the road to the left for 300 m, cross it and, after the car park, turn right onto the road leading to Maizeret: signposted. This road runs alongside and then crosses the River Samson. Shortly afterwards, turn right onto the path climbing the hillside (a shortcut to avoid the long hairpin bend), to rejoin the road to Maizeret. Follow it up to the village entrance, taking the narrow gap behind the wooden safety rail if you wish.

(6) At the cemetery, turn left onto the farm track which goes round the cemetery and then winds its way through meadows and fields to reach the ridge of the opposite slope. The path briefly crosses a copse before emerging at the corner of a large building (Girembois farm). Walk alongside it, turning left. The path leads out into the fields and heads towards the large Bois Wiame farm, now a rural lodge.

(7) Ignore the path on the right and head straight on along the lane leading to the farm (*). Go past the farm and continue straight on towards the pasture (*). Go through the gate (with a chicane on the right) and cross the pasture until you reach a sunken path running downhill, with a wood on the left and a meadow on the right. At the end of the woodland and the meadow, take the farm track on the right towards the woodland.

(8) Enter the woodland; at the Fork in the road, ignore the path leading down to the left and keep to the right onto the path running along the gently ascending slope. At the top, the path opens out onto a meadow and begins its descent towards the village of Goyet: view of the castle. The path leads onto Rue Bois-Là-Haut and then past a large building (care home): head down to the left towards Le Samson. At the bottom of the street, cross a river.

(9) Follow the N942 to the left, then immediately turn right up the Try de Goyet to climb the Samson hillside. At the top, the road continues as a stony track and passes through a copse (ignore the forest track on the right) before emerging into the fields.

(10) At the fork in the road (barrier), keep left.

(11) At the Notre-Dame du Bon Secours Chapel, carry on straight ahead to emerge shortly afterwards onto Rue de la Bouteille, then Rue Sainte-Anne in the village of Bonneville. Turn right after No. 69 onto the dead-end street (signposted), which soon becomes a farm track.

(12) At the end of the track, turn left into Rue Sterpisse towards the village centre: the street runs alongside the side wing of the château and leads out opposite the church. Turn left to reach the nearby car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 594 ft - Car park - Église Saint-Firmin (Bonneville)
  2. 1 : mi 0.2 - alt. 620 ft - Rue de Bruyère
  3. 2 : mi 0.71 - alt. 581 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.19 - alt. 548 ft - Fork
  5. 4 : mi 1.82 - alt. 397 ft - Rue de Thon
  6. 5 : mi 2.19 - alt. 289 ft - N942 road
  7. 6 : mi 3.18 - alt. 512 ft - Maiseret Cemetery
  8. 7 : mi 4.15 - alt. 682 ft - Walk towards the farm
  9. 8 : mi 4.74 - alt. 548 ft - Fork
  10. 9 : mi 5.54 - alt. 367 ft - Goyet - Samson (Rivière) - Belgique - Affluent de la Meuse
  11. 10 : mi 6.19 - alt. 551 ft - Fork in the road – Barrier
  12. 11 : mi 6.82 - alt. 594 ft - Chapelle Notre-Dame du Bon Secours (Thon)
  13. 12 : mi 7.74 - alt. 604 ft - Rue Sterpisse
  14. S/E : mi 7.93 - alt. 594 ft - Car park - Église Saint-Firmin (Bonneville)

Notes

Despite any signs to the contrary (which are mainly intended for vehicles), pedestrians are permitted to use this route and it is open to the public!

Picnic table at Goyet (9).

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
jacques.nys
jacques.nys

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walking route through the countryside around Bonneville, Thon-Samson and Maizeret, overlooking the Meuse, which is almost never visible.
The architectural gems include Bonneville Castle, the church and its cemetery, Dhuy Farm (currently being renovated), the Domaine de Villenval (a former mill and castle), the Ferme du Bois de Wiame (Le Paradis des Lièvres lodge), as well as Goyet Castle and the Foyer Saint-Antoine. Admire the work of art in the grounds of the latter, right next to the grotto. There are also a few chapels and wayside shrines to enjoy.
It’s very easy to follow the GPS route using the Visorando app.
Description OK … but I only read it afterwards: I hardly ever use the route description and prefer a good GPS track.
I can confirm that the entire route is on public paths and tracks, most of which form part of the marked walking routes organised by the local authorities of Andenne and Gesves, or sections of long-distance walking trails. The ‘private’ and/or ‘no entry’ signs are intended for vehicles only.
It’s a shame the route doesn’t stray far from the tarmac until around the 5 km mark, at the entrance to Maizeret.
Thank you, ManuRavel, for suggesting this walk!

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Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your reply

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ManuRavel
ManuRavel

Hello, that’s right, this route wasn’t designed for cycling. Halfway along, in particular, there are chicanes that prevent you from getting through on a bike or any other vehicle.
Sorry about that.

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Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias
• Edited:

Hello,
Is it possible to cycle this route on a mountain bike without having to turn back or take a detour at any point because a section is impassable by bike?
Thank you.

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Guy Dekoster
Guy Dekoster

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with easy paths and not much road

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