Circular loop at the source of the Aisne

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The Tailles plateau rises to an altitude of around 650 metres, where fagnes, fanges, pools and peat bogs are home to the sources of many of the Ourthe’s tributaries. Two of the best-known streams are the Henri Moulin, which flows southwards and joins the Eastern Ourthe just before the Nisramont dam, and the Aisne, which flows northwards and joins the Ourthe at Bomal.
This walk explores the northern part of the Plateau des Tailles and the wetlands where the Aisne has its source.
The boardwalks installed in recent years at the bottom of the Fagne de Pouhon will save you from the wet feet that were a certainty in previous years!
While you’re unlikely to spot any beavers, a bit of careful observation is all it takes to discover their handiwork.

Details

n°99304766
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.00 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 715 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 715 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,136 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,594 ft
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Photos

At the foot of the Fagne de Pouhon

Description of the walk

The suggested route can easily be shortened in several ways.
One option to avoid the circular portion of the route is to take the grassy path straight ahead at (3) rather than turning left. Point (4) is then 650 m away instead of 2.45 km, saving 1.8 km.
A second, much more radical option is to turn right at (3) and continue more or less straight on to point (6). Here, the shortcut is 4.5 km.
The third option is to continue straight on at (8) and follow the long-distance hiking trail (GR® 15, red and white markings) to point (11), which offers a shortcut of 3.1 km.

A little bonus instead of the minor and major shortcuts suggested above:
At (9), a short walk of a few hundred metres there and back along the road takes you to the observation tower overlooking the Fagne de Pouhon and the Sources de l'Aisne.

(10) On a clear day, there is a beautiful view in the distance of the hills beyond the eastern Ourthe, Houffalize and the Bastogne–Sainte-Ode axis

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,041 ft - Car park N89
  2. 1 : mi 0.31 - alt. 2,031 ft - Path not mapped on OSM
  3. 2 : mi 0.81 - alt. 1,988 ft - Fagne de la Goutte
  4. 3 : mi 1.66 - alt. 1,919 ft - Start of the shortcuts
  5. 4 : mi 3.2 - alt. 1,854 ft - End of the first shortcut
  6. 5 : mi 4.64 - alt. 1,594 ft - Aisne (rivière) - Luxembourg - Affluent de l'Ourthe
  7. 6 : mi 5.44 - alt. 1,818 ft - End of the second shortcut
  8. 7 : mi 5.97 - alt. 1,854 ft - Aisne (rivière) - Luxembourg - Affluent de l'Ourthe
  9. 8 : mi 6.47 - alt. 2,034 ft - Start of the third shortcut
  10. 9 : mi 6.93 - alt. 2,041 ft - Observation tower at the sources of the Aisne - Aisne (rivière) - Luxembourg - Affluent de l'Ourthe
  11. 10 : mi 8.75 - alt. 2,054 ft - Viewpoint beyond the Eastern Ourthe
  12. 11 : mi 9.15 - alt. 2,054 ft - End of the third shortcut
  13. S/E : mi 10 - alt. 2,041 ft - Car park N89

Notes

Nothing, no benches, no picnic tables along the route... except at the observation tower (off the route)

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.