Circular starting from Val Dieu

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Short hike starting from Val Dieu, passing by the interesting viewpoint of the Knuppelstock bunker and the meadows of the Aubel region, Herve plateau.

Details

n°5815422
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.79 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 119 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 120 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 255 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 142 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Orientation table
Loop starting from Val Dieu
WWII Bunker
Orientation table

Description of the walk

Park in one of the car parks at Val Dieu Abbey.

(S/E) Leave the abbey towards the junction of the Aubel road and the Berwinne road (N650), turn right and follow this main road for about 100 metres until you reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn right and follow the small road uphill. Continue straight ahead until you reach a farm.

(2) Turn left and continue straight ahead uphill through the small wood. You will come to another small road in an area with a public barbecue.
Turn right and after 100 metres turn right again to go down a path, following the sign for "table d'orientation" (orientation table). Enter the meadow on the right and go to the orientation table at the Knuppelstock WWII Bunker viewpoint.

(3) Then join the path, descend to the right, take the footbridge on your left and climb back up to the road through the orchard. Take the road to the right and continue towards the crossroads decorated with an altar and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Cross the road and take the footbridge that leads straight down into the meadows. After crossing three more footbridges, you will arrive at a small road that leads to the large Graedt farm.

(4) Cross this road and enter the meadow opposite via another footbridge. Head slightly to the left and follow the track up to the top eastern corner of these meadows, right next to a house. Leave the meadow via another footbridge that takes you to a sunken path on the Chemin du Diable. Go down this path, cross the Bel river over a new small bridge and then cross the Val Dieu road straight ahead, taking care. Opposite, following a small stream, join a small road and take it to the left. This will take you to the small Saint-Roch de Kreft chapel.

(5) Then retrace your steps for a few metres and take the footbridge on the left to enter the meadow. Cross the meadow and the next field (staying close to the edges), cross the Gaet road and continue through the meadows, going from footbridge to footbridge. At the end of the meadows, turn right onto a small path and you will reach the Val Dieu road.

(6) Cross it and follow it on the left, continuing along the small path that runs alongside it on the right between ecological meadows and an educational pond. This will take you to the car park of Val Dieu Abbey (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 143 m - Parking at the - Abbaye du Val-Dieu (Aubel)
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 144 m - Route N650
  3. 2 : km 1.27 - alt. 205 m - Farm at the edge of the woods
  4. 3 : km 2.21 - alt. 249 m - WWII Bunker
  5. 4 : km 3.11 - alt. 192 m - Graedt Farm
  6. 5 : km 4.29 - alt. 196 m - Chapelle Saint-Roch (Kreft)
  7. 6 : km 5.92 - alt. 169 m - Val Dieu Road
  8. S/E : km 6.79 - alt. 143 m - Car park at Val-Dieu Abbey. After the - Berwinne (rivière) - Belgique

Notes

Refreshments available at the abbey (restaurant and snack bar)
2 public barbecues along the route, before (3) and (5)

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 27710259

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely little walk, almost entirely off-road, through meadows. In wet weather, the path becomes muddy. The gates across the meadows are sometimes difficult to spot, but with a little care you can always find them. A pleasant break with a good beer in Val-Dieu. Thank you for this beautiful route!

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User 21837319

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely ride through the meadows of Aubel, with very few roads and beautiful rolling landscapes in the Pays de Herve. In summer, cows and calves graze in the meadows along the route.

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kousteau
kousteau

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice view of the valley.

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Domi1705
Domi1705

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but be aware that the start is quite steep.
We had a great time.

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Cours_Toujours
Cours_Toujours

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in magnificent natural surroundings. Superb views, beautiful green valleys, charming villages and hamlets.
Very pleasant to enjoy nature to the fullest; most of the route is off-road. A succession of meadows, copses and small paths. A little extra historical and cultural information is provided by the orientation table at the Knuppelstock Bunker viewpoint. No major difficulties. The first climb is a little steep but nothing discouraging. In wet weather, boots are recommended for crossing waterlogged meadows, walking along a stream or following a path temporarily used by rainwater; a few slippery sections require caution. We only encountered a trio of cows, which were even more curious than we were and kindly moved out of the way so as not to block our path. The end of the walk runs alongside a Natagora educational orchard for lovers of apple, pear and cherry trees, among others, in our beautiful region.
Most of the explanations along the walk are clear. A few inaccuracies could be corrected by the author of the walk, but nothing critical. The app and GPS tracking provide all the convenience you could need. The numerous stile crossings across the meadows could prove restrictive for those who are not so sure-footed, especially during the summer when all the gates are closed. Val-Dieu Abbey is an interesting and enjoyable place to stop and explore from all angles. We thoroughly enjoyed this pleasant walk in the Aubel region and would recommend it.

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Jeannot W
Jeannot W

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A bit long for our weak legs, as the average age is 73 and many of us have health issues.
Would it be possible to take shortcuts to shorten the walks for some of us rather than having to find our own way, especially in the countryside and on the trails?

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Christianne
Christianne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route that is both easy and challenging. The tavern at the abbey is a welcome reward at the end.

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fzutterman
fzutterman

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. A few uncertainties regarding the route, e.g. not entirely clear in the meadows (trails sometimes diverging in different directions, difficult to find the next signpost). However, there was a significant issue with downloading the PDF file. Initially, it would not load. After several attempts, it downloaded, but with a completely black map. Please inform the website administrators.

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Milviacudin
Milviacudin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike in the beautiful Aubel countryside, through fields and beautiful landscapes.

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mmr
mmr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk in a magnificent region.
The meadows that you cross one after the other very easily reveal a vast, hilly and green landscape to walkers.
Walking among peaceful cows is very charming. Fortunately, no angry bulls blocked our path!
The explanations along the walk are very clear.

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Christian Collin
Christian Collin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with exceptional scenery.
A word of warning: you will cross numerous meadows populated by cows, so if you are afraid of them, it is best to do this hike in the middle of winter when the cattle are in their barns....

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