Cheslin loop

Parking is available at the Sainte-Ode town hall car park, Rue Devant Sâle (Amberloup).

(S/E) From the car park, take the small road towards Lavacherie, pass a farm building and take the first road on the left.

(1) Take this path into the forest until you reach a T-junction.

(2) Turn right and join a small road, follow it for a few dozen metres.

(3) Turn left onto the path that enters the forest again. This is Rue de la Frépinette, which will take you to the entrance to Lavacherie, at a pretty square.

(4) Cross Rue de Saint-Hubert and turn left onto Rue de Bockaissart. Continue following the yellow rectangle signs, which turn north-west and follow a beautiful path to the Golet bivouac.

(5) Turn right onto the wide path overlooking the Baseille valley until you reach the Laneuville-au-Bois forest road.

(6) Take the small path that climbs to the right. After about 250 m, cross Rue aux Tailles and pass the house of the same name.

(7) Continue and climb up to the Cheslin viewpoint after a 90° left turn. There is a beautiful view of the Western Ourthe Valley and Lavacherie.

(8) Descend to the left along the wide grassy path that skirts the hill and join the N829.

(9) Cross the road carefully at Baseilles, arrive at the footbridge over the Ourthe and cross the river.

(10) After the footbridge, turn right onto the old tramway, which follows the bank of the Ourthe more or less until you reach Rue de Hiémont.

(11) Follow it straight ahead and continue along Rue de Bastogne until you reach the left-hand bend.

(12) At the bend, leave the road and take the path on the right into the countryside until you reach a side path at a T-junction.

(13) Turn right and follow the signs for Saint-Jacques de Compostelle until you reach the Grande Randonnée trail.

(14) Turn left, leaving the path to the bridge over the Western Ourthe on your right, and enter the Laval valley, a paradise for otters and beavers. Continue to the pond in the Orti Nature Reserve.

(15) Take the boardwalk to the right and cross the Laval stream. The trail widens and joins the old tramway, which leads to the Rue des Trois Ponts on the left.

(16) Follow this road to the left, cross the bridge over the Ourthe, then another smaller one. Go through a roundabout and turn left to return to the car park of the Sainte-Ode community centre (S/E).

You can enjoy a drink or a meal near the start/finish point at the Brasserie de l'Orti and the Pêcherie du Moulin des Trois Ponts.

A few kilometres away: Bastogne (WWIII war museum) and Saint-Hubert (basilica).