Circular Ourthe and Roche aux Faucons in Esneux

Parking is available at the entrance to Rue de l'Athénée, opposite the Tourist Information Centre, or further down the street, opposite the Athénée.

(S/E) From the Tourist Information Centre, head down Rue de l'Athénée and turn immediately left into Rue Devant Rosière. This street continues as a grassy farm track. After the sewage treatment plant, take the path on the right which joins the road.

(1) Cross the road and head straight on along the path which climbs gradually up the hillside, beneath the woods.
Shortly after leaving the woods, continue climbing to the right to reach the hamlet of Ham and turn left after the first house. This street continues as a farm track running alongside meadows. At the fork, keep to the right: this tree-lined path curves widely to the right and enters a wood before emerging onto a large sloping meadow (portico).

(2) Head down towards the farm, keeping slightly to the right towards the large oak trees to reach the exit portico, and continue along the path which soon leads onto a track. Take this to the left towards the farm and the Ourthe.
When you reach the river, turn right onto the concrete path and head towards the footbridge, which you cross, then take the tarmac road on the left towards the hamlet of Fêchereux.

(3) After passing the first houses in the hamlet (below the track) and just before the first house on the right (at No. 2), take the steep path on the right (^GR®) to begin the climb up the wooded slope. This path soon joins a slightly wider but heavily rutted path: continue the climb to the right.

(4) At the fork (near the summit), keep left twice. The path runs alongside a pasture and then crosses another path: continue straight on along the same path, which continues its course whilst remaining close to the edge of the woods. At the fork, take the upper path close to the edge of the woods: the two paths will, however, join up. At the junction of the two paths, head up to the right to rejoin the edge of the woods and follow a meadow (on the right).

(5) After the meadow, take the path on the left (signs for “Roche aux Faucons” and “Sentier des Crêtes”). As you proceed, the path becomes less visible: climb a few metres towards the rocks to find the trail again. Continue to the two successive viewpoints (information boards, bench).

(6) Continue along the path. Shortly after the second viewpoint, the path first turns left then right and runs alongside a meadow. After this, the path widens and enters the woods (ignore the path emerging from the right). At the end of the path, facing a meadow, turn right to continue on the GR^®.

(7) This path soon leads to a hamlet: before reaching it, take the path furthest to the left which runs alongside meadows and heads towards the woods. Once in the woods, continue straight on (^GR®), ignore the paths coming from the right and left and begin the descent down the slope (caution: slippery!). A little further down (on a slight incline), ignore the path coming from the right and keep to the left to continue the descent.

At the bottom of the path, turn left onto the tarmac road for a few dozen metres, then right onto the gravel path (with a grassy central strip).

(8) After the farm, take the narrow path on the left which follows the bank of the Ourthe for a kilometre to reach the first houses in Esneux.

(9) The path leads to the end of a small street. Turn right to reach the A-road and follow it to the left (take care) until you reach the Esneux bridge, which you cross to return to the car park (S/E).

The paths are dotted with exposed stones which can be very slippery when wet. You should also wear good walking shoes, as the terrain is rough!

La Roche aux Faucons (viewpoints) (6).
Château Le Fy, Esneux: the paths running alongside the castle grounds offer splendid views of the surrounding area and the Ourthe Valley. The castle is not open to visitors.
There are several cafés and restaurants in the centre of Esneux.