Waterfall, carpet of moss and an unusual sculpture at the Gorge le Loup

Park in the car park at La Clairière du Verbamont campsite or below the campsite on the stony path.

(S/E) Walk down towards the arboretum below the campsite, taking the stony path on your left. At the end of the path, turn right to walk down the hill, following the white signposts (small plastic arrows). You’ll reach the Forge Neuve valley with the pond opposite.

(1) Cross the path and go over the small bridge. Carry on to the tarmac road, then turn right and pass the crossroads at Droiteval, La Grange au Bois and La Hutte.

(2) At the small car park where there is an electrical transformer, go through the barrier and take the road leading into the forest. Leave Notre-Dame du Doux Nid on your right and follow the stream called the Houdrie, which runs below you on your right. Continue to the point where the stream splits into two.

(3) Cross the stream and take the path on the right. Take care – this is a damp area. Then follow the Gorge le Loup stream. Cross it and take the path on the right. Walk past a carved stone, the ‘Homme Sauvage’, with a beautiful waterfall below it.

(4) Head down the tiny forest path on the right to the stream: this junction is marked by pointed stones (see photo). Cross the stream and follow the path, now with the stream on your left. You’ll spot piles of stones here and there, built by passers-by.

Walk past a large overhanging rock which serves as a picnic spot (green blanket in the background). Continue along the narrow path; at the junction, cross the stream, follow the path alongside it, then cross it one last time.

Immediately afterwards, follow the path between the small spruce trees and leave the valley, heading towards the stony track. Join the Tranchée de la Gorge le Loup.

(5) Turn right onto it and you’ll soon come to a forest track.

(6) Turn left at a 90° angle and continue in a straight line to the Champ de la Houdrie meadow. After a left-hand bend, you’ll come to a path junction with a small wooden signpost marked ‘Route Boerderig’, although the writing is facing the other way.

(7) Head off to the right and follow the path downhill to a tarmac road. You’ll cross fields and pass through a few fence crossings (wooden fence steps), until you reach a spot where you’ll find information in Dutch; from here, head up the hill through the woods towards the road (higher up).

(8) Follow the road to the right for about a hundred metres, then turn left onto the Tranchée Alfred Irroy and continue along the stone path. Take a left-hand bend and, immediately afterwards, you’ll come to a crossroads of footpaths.

(9) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside plots 653 and 654: you’ll see both numbers marked on the trees. Continue along this path until you reach a steep descent towards La Hutte. Then take the tarmac road on the left, negotiate the right-hand bend as you cross the Ourche, then pass in front of the chapel and carry on to the entrance to the arboretum.

Turn right into the arboretum (see the sign explaining its history) and continue along the track running parallel to the tarmac road. Walk past some majestic trees, including one of the tallest sequoias in France, and carry on to the Sequoia sempervirens. Then leave the arboretum and head up to the tarmac road above. Carry on to the car park at the Clairière du Verbamont eco-campsite (S/E).

Sturdy (waterproof) walking shoes. You’ll be crossing the stream several times.

The ponds at Forge Neuve.
Notre-Dame du Doux Nid in the forest.
Carved stones.
A cave.
The Verbamont clearing, eco-campsite
De Natuurlijke Tijd, nature education centre
The Hutte Arboretum – Verbamont, with magnificent sequoias.