Circular loop around the springs of the Helle and the Hoëgne

This circular loop takes you on a tour of the plateau, starting by following part of the Fagne de la Polleur and the source of the stream of the same name, which forms the Hoëgne a little further down when it joins the Baraque stream.
Discover the site of Botrange, Belgium’s highest point (692 m), before crossing the road and walking around the Fagne Wallonne.
A few kilometres further on, the route reaches the Marie-Anne Libert bridge over the very young Helle. The walk follows the river downstream for nearly 4 km to the footbridge leading to Ternell or Hattlich. Here you’ll find the only picnic table on the route.
The walk then climbs slightly towards the Fagne des Deux Séries before branching off towards the summit of Noir Flohay and the ghostly landscape of its charred trees.
The return route to Baraque Michel joins the boardwalks of the GR®56 and passes by the Fontaine Périgny (a former artificial drain), one of the two sources of the Helle.

Do pop into the Auberge de la Baraque Michel for a drink, a snack or a full meal. The atmosphere there is really friendly!
Boardwalks: there were hardly any in the 1970s; a few were built during the 1980s and a few more in the 1990s; they suffered damage in the 2000s and 2010s; they were renovated in the early 2020s... There were far too few to cross without getting your feet wet 50 years ago... there are now far too many to really appreciate the amount of water that pools in these spongy soils!
Please note: access to this route is partially restricted in the event of a fire risk (red flags hoisted at the main access points).