Be sure to wear good walking shoes as the paths can be very wet and muddy in places, mainly in hollows, near farms or after forestry work. Fortunately, a few hard-surfaced sections with almost no traffic compensate somewhat for the effort required to cross the more difficult areas.
There are no shops or picnic tables along the route. The only bench you will find is near the church in Orgeo.
A pure nature circular in Biourge
This hike takes you on a journey of discovery through the rural and forested Ardennes east of Bertrix, completely off the beaten track.
Apart from the surroundings of the Herbeumont slate quarry and a few crossings of main roads and the Bertrix-Athus railway line, used mainly for freight transport, it is completely peaceful and surrounded by nature.
Don't miss the two castles in Biourge... go and admire them from the driveway of the first and through the porch of the second.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
–
-
Activity: Walking -
Distance: 13.17 mi -
Average duration: 7h 05 -
Difficulty: Difficult -
-
Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 1,175 ft -
Descent: - 1,194 ft -
-
Highest point: 1,519 ft -
Lowest point: 1,119 ft
-
Country:
Belgium
-
Area: Massif des Ardennes -
City:
Bertrix -
Start/End: N 49.841545° / E 5.325033° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,280 ft - Biourge
- 1 : mi 1.66 - alt. 1,516 ft - Crossroads
- 2 : mi 2.84 - alt. 1,388 ft - Place known as "Devant Outrouge"
- 3 : mi 3.33 - alt. 1,394 ft - Le Saupont (Bertrix)
- 4 : mi 4.23 - alt. 1,257 ft - La Vierre
- 5 : mi 6.91 - alt. 1,152 ft - Stream
- 6 : mi 8.48 - alt. 1,165 ft - N824
- 7 : mi 9.77 - alt. 1,368 ft - Railway line
- 8 : mi 10.43 - alt. 1,266 ft - Orgeo
- 9 : mi 12.01 - alt. 1,358 ft - Nevraumont
- 10 : mi 12.94 - alt. 1,250 ft - N845
- S/E : mi 13.17 - alt. 1,280 ft - Biourge
Notes
Worth a visit
Those who are interested can visit the "Au Cœur de l'Ardenne" museum at the Ardoisière de la Morépire, near the junction between the N824 and N884, a little off the route to the south-west of km 12.5.
Herbeumont and the ruins of its feudal castle are worth a short detour.
Other walks in the area
Chestrolaise circular loop starting from Petitvoir
Visorando Member
10.73 mi
+837 ft
-823 ft
5h 40
Moderate
Departure from Neufchâteau (Belgique) (Province de Luxembourg)
English farmers proclaim “No farmer, no food” ... and they’re probably quite right.This circular Chester loop shows just how important agriculture and forestry are to the region.Here there are few horses in the meadows but almost exclusively calves, cows and sheep grazing, with the occasional cereal crop here and there, all interspersed with woodlands consisting mainly of oak, beech and spruce!The Ardennes of yesteryear? Undoubtedly... but what a joy it is to still be able to enjoy it!Just outside Grandvoir, the Bois des Bois estate has recently been completely renovated and is a haven for nature-friendly tourism.Pure bliss!
The woods of Bertrix via the arboretum
4.85 mi
+331 ft
-315 ft
2h 30
Easy
Departure from Bertrix (Province de Luxembourg)
A short walk through Bertrix, passing a restored former water tower, with views of Bertrix and the arboretum.
From Bertrix to Cugnon and from Château des Fées to Point de Vue de La Mergire
9.78 mi
+1,227 ft
-1,220 ft
5h 35
Moderate
Departure from Bertrix (Province de Luxembourg)
Route on one of the slopes of the Semois, from Bertrix to Cugnon, from the Château des Fées to the Point de Vue de La Mergire, from the Moulin de Cugnon to the Old Cemetery of Mortehan, returning via the old Bertrix-Herbeumont railway line, now the RAVeL and Route des Pierres qui Parlent.
Starting from Lac de Neufchâteau
9.52 mi
+896 ft
-899 ft
5h 10
Moderate
Departure from Neufchâteau (Belgique) (Province de Luxembourg)
As you follow this circular route, discover the hidden gems of Neufchâteau and its villages: Keppler Mill, Étang de Bergh, Bois d'Ospau, the German mausoleum, the astronomical observatory, a replica of the Lourdes Grotto, the remains of an old slate quarry and, finally, the lake.
A walk towards the Arboretum and the Château des Fées
10.80 mi
+1,762 ft
-1,752 ft
6h 30
Difficult
Departure from Bertrix (Province de Luxembourg)
Set off to explore the Château des Fées, a rocky outcrop secured by a few low stone walls, as well as the Bertrix Arboretum, where you can discover numerous specimens of trees from all corners of the world.This beautiful, exclusively woodland walk, which is very quiet, should be considered difficult not only because of its cumulative elevation gain but also due to a few sections on steeply sloping paths or paths that are virtually non-existent on the ground. It’s not the Alps or the Vosges... just Wallonia on the Semois side!
From La Roche aux Corbeaux to the Saint-Bernard Hermitage
7.30 mi
+1,063 ft
-1,056 ft
4h 15
Moderate
Departure from Bertrix (Province de Luxembourg)
Passing by La Potale and the Chapel of Saint Barbara, patron saint of slate miners, set off to discover the remains of the Hermitage of Saint Bernard of Bertrix, starting from La Roche aux Corbeaux in Herbeumont. Along the way, look out for the various slate quarries known as La Côte de Champion, La Goutelle Husson and Linglé.
La Châtelaine
3.44 mi
+1,207 ft
-1,207 ft
2h 40
Easy
Departure from Herbeumont (Province de Luxembourg)
The great classic in Herbeumont. Circular starting from Herbeumont Castle (easy parking). Several passages along the Semois
Tombeau du Chevalier circular in Herbeumont
3.78 mi
+282 ft
-266 ft
2h 00
Easy
Departure from Herbeumont (Province de Luxembourg)
A lovely walk along the Semois on a wooded path with little elevation gain except for a short but steep climb at the end on a narrow path to return to the starting point.
For more walks, use our search engine .
The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.
