Circular route to Spa via the Col des Maquisards and Winamplanche

(S/E) Spa railway station, bus stop and free car park.
Take the stairs on Rue du Beaurieu; at the bottom, turn right and cross Avenue de la Reine-Astrid.
Opposite, go under the archway of the Villa-Royale, cross the park on your left past the horse museum, then go round the old CPAS building to come out onto Rue Hanster. Turn left for a few metres before turning left onto the Promenade des Français.

(1) At the first fork, keep left; further on, at the second fork, turn right onto the path that climbs for a few hundred metres.

(2) Turn right onto a small path that winds upwards, then go behind the gazebo (pavilion) until you reach a main path; turn left onto it.
Follow this path to the sign for the Renard viewpoint.

(3) After the view over the village of Marteau, retrace your steps for about 70 m and head down the main path to the right. See alternative route in ‘Practical Information’.
Continue to Avenue Reine Astrid (N62).

(4) Go under the bridge and take the path immediately on the right, then Rue Marteau which runs alongside the N62. Turn right for a few metres then cross over to go between the houses towards the path that climbs. Follow the^GR® markings to the junction with Chemin de Rohaimont.

(5) Take Chemin de Rohaimont on the left, follow the^GR® markings and then the Extratrail signs to Col des Maquisards, where you can take a break on one of the benches. An ideal spot to enjoy a sunset over the valley.

(6) Follow the Extratrail signs to the left to head back down.

(7) At the junction, ignore the Extratrail signs heading left, turn right before the house and follow the path straight on to the junction with Rue du Haftay.

(8) Cross straight ahead and at the second path, turn left towards Rue sur le Thier.
When you reach a hamlet, turn right for about 150 metres, then left onto a path that descends to Rue de Haftay.

(9) Follow the road for a few metres to your right. At the crossroads, take Rue de Winamplanche Clos-du-Martelier to the right for a few dozen metres, then turn left onto Clos-des-Marteliers. Follow the^GR® signposts to Route-de-l'Ermitry.

(10) Take this road to the left for about 150 metres, then turn right onto a wide, uphill path.
At the top, you will rejoin Route-de-l'Ermitry; turn left and follow the^GR® markers^.
After several junctions, shortly after crossing Avenue André Guillaume, the path turns left to reach the first ford and follows the Ruisseau de la Géronstère for several hundred metres.

(11) Leave the^GR®. At this point, depending on the season, there are several options for crossing the ford and following the small path that climbs up to a gazebo (pavilion) where there is a lovely view.

(12) Take the path on the right that goes downhill and follow it straight on to the Promenade de Walque. Continue along the Route de Barisart. Follow it to the left for about 300 metres.

(13) At the red house, take the path on your left, then the steps leading to Rue de Baychamps; turn right here, then right again onto Avenue du Professeur Henrijean

(14) In a long left-hand bend in the avenue, take a small path between the fences just after a fire hydrant. Follow this path then go down the stairs, leaving Rue de la Chapelle on your left to take Rue Collin Leloup for a few metres until you reach the stairs on Rue du Thier.

(15) Take the steps on Rue du Thier to the left, then Rue de la Chapelle to the right until you reach the station (S/E).

Alternative route between (3) and (4): For the more athletic, there is a path, just to the left when facing the gazebo, which cuts across all the bends of the original route. This section is quite steep.

• The Rue sur le Thier is a dirt track.
• At the station, you’ll find a brasserie and a chip shop.

What to bring:

• Walking boots.
• Walking poles for those who use them.
• Gaiters in winter.
• Tick removal kit.