Domaine des Bruyères and Hobdomont circular route

Park at Place des Nations, on the edge of Avenue Paola (N666).

(S/E) With your back to the road, go straight ahead towards the Vierge des Pauvres. Continue straight ahead to pass between the Chapelle du Message and the Église Saint-François.

(1) Go around the Hospitalité Notre-Dame on the right, then turn right to reach Rue de la Sapinière, opposite a car park. Take the street on the left, leaving the Church of the Virgin of the Poor on your left.

(2) When you reach the crossroads, make the first turn left then right to continue along Rue de la Sapinière, which continues almost opposite.

(3) Then cross the N62 with caution and take Chemin du Forestier opposite. Follow the road as it turns right at a right angle: Promenade 4, yellow and white markings. Go to the end of the row of houses.

(4) Turn right to continue along Promenade 4, then turn left onto the path: it's beautiful between the horse pastures! The path descends and reaches a fork.

(5) Continue straight ahead, descend and at the bottom, just before the stream, take the tree-lined path on the left for a nice climb. Continue straight ahead to the first houses in Adzeux, where you will find the tarmac road at Chemin de Giry.

(6) Take the road on the right. At the T-junction (junction 44), continue left, leaving Promenade 4 on your right. Descend and follow the tarmac road that turns right, along the Ruisseau de Giry. Continue for about 200 m.

(7) Turn left, taking a hairpin bend, onto the steeply ascending road, Rue Thier d'Adzeux: dwarves cheer you on. Continue straight ahead through the meadows in the Domaine des Bruyères forest. The landscape then resembles the Fagnes! You will reach a star-shaped crossroads.

(8) Pass a chain on your left and right, an open gate and Promenade 3, which descends. Continue straight ahead, veering slightly to the left.

(9) Carefully cross the N606 and descend opposite the Route du Grand Pierreux towards Hodbomont. At the bottom, after the small house on the left, you will reach a Y-junction.

(10) Keep left, then admire Hobdomont Castle on the right. Continue to the T-junction at the town entrance sign.

(11) Take the asphalt road on the left that goes uphill: magnificent view on the left. Pass house no. 46 on the left and continue on the rough road to enter the woods. Walk for about a hundred metres.

(12) Turn right onto a very narrow path, continue for a few dozen metres, then turn left onto a barely visible path that runs alongside a meadow. This is an old firebreak, which is in very poor condition. Look for a lookout post on the left, then continue through the forest: beech and fir trees, and very large puddles depending on the season! Reach a T-junction and follow the firebreak to the right, which joins the N62.

(13) Carefully follow it to the left for about a hundred metres, then cross over to rejoin a firebreak that branches off to the right between two fir trees, perpendicular to the road. Cross a passable path and continue straight ahead downhill into the old disused firebreak.

(14) At the bottom, at the T-junction, take the carriageway on the left that goes uphill, leave the woods and arrive at the Lodge-Ferme des Airifagnes, where you will find a road. Continue straight ahead until the bend, then leave the road and follow the dirt track that starts just opposite. Continue to the Route de Tancrémont (N666) after passing behind the old restaurant under renovation, L'Eau Vive.

(15) Turn left and walk along the road with great caution. When you reach the Château de Chaityfontaine on your right, turn left and follow Rue de l'Esplanade, which will take you back to the sanctuary. Take the road on the right after the Banneux-Notre-Dame spring to return to the car park (S/E).

Suggested stops for a picnic or a short break: between (3) and (4), around (8), between (10) and (11).

Note: before reaching (13), if the firebreak is blocked by large puddles, do not hesitate to cut left through the vegetation to reach the N62. But even if the ground is not too wet, the shortcut on the left has the advantage of avoiding walking along the roadside.

Alternative: after passing the Airifagnes lodge, between (14) and (15), you can cut left through the firebreak that crosses the Fagne de Banneux. Go straight through the woods until you reach the edge, facing a meadow. Then turn right to return directly to the sanctuary.

Auche.