In the Gaume Natural Park

A few parking spaces on the traffic island at the start of Rue du Champ des Oies.

Light blue rectangle G.B. markings.

(S/E) Go up Rue du Champ des Oies and, at the fork, turn left onto Rue de l'Ermitage. The road becomes a dirt track. Follow the Way of the Cross and you will arrive at the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Refuge, formerly known as the Ermitage. Ignore the path on your left and continue straight ahead until you reach a fork.

(1) Continue to the left. Shortly before the exit of the woods, turn left onto the forest path, the entrance to which is divided in two by a tree. The markings end here.

No markings

Walk about 80 m to a fork.

(2) Turn left. Join a forest track and continue to the right. Stay on the track and, at the wide track, turn left. Walk to the road. Cross the N82 with caution.

(3) At the picnic area, take the forest path furthest to the left. The path turns right further on and leads to the Ravel. Turn right and then immediately left.

(4) Cross the stone bridge over Le Ton. Go uphill and turn right at the intersection. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. Join the Ravel and continue straight ahead until you reach the road.

(5) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead. At the path on your left, marked with a fluorescent orange asterisk on the tree trunk, turn and go uphill. At the crossroads, go straight ahead. Go downhill and cross the Brandifer stream. Go uphill, cross a small wetland and return to another forest path.

(6) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the path on your left a little further on. At the fork, turn left and then right. Keep left and descend to Trou du Pérou and its waterfall. Then retrace your steps to the intersection and turn right. Descend to Étang du Fourneau David. At the intersection, make a sharp right turn.

^GR® trail markers

(7) At the fork just after this, continue to the left. Back on the forest path, continue straight ahead. At the fork, keep left and ignore the two paths on your left. Stay on the most marked path and, further on, ignore the path that turns sharply left. Continue straight ahead until you reach an intersection. Markings end.

No markings

(8) Go straight ahead on the less marked path and walk to the road. Cross carefully and take the forest path opposite. At the wide forest path, turn left. At the crossroads, turn right. At the fork, turn left and go downhill. The path turns right and leads to a wide path.

^GR® trail markers

Turn left, the path turns left. Follow the Rouge Eau stream on your right. The river passes under the path. Directly on your right, look for the Source Pétrifiante and its information panel. You now have the Rouge Eau on your left. Continue to the chalet. Change of markings.

Light blue rectangle G.B. markings

(9) Turn left. Pass the entrance to the chalet and climb the steep path. Further up, a path returns to your left. Then take a forest path and continue straight ahead to the large crossroads.

(10) With the Croix Célestin on your right, continue straight ahead. At the fork (not shown on maps), take the path on the left, which is steep. Return to a wide path and keep to your left. At the crossroads, which is not very visible, continue straight ahead. Further on, a path rejoins on your left. The path becomes steep, descends and leads to a crossroads.

(11) Continue to the right. Ignore the path on your right and exit the woods. Pass in front of the farm and, at the road, turn left. Enter the town of Saint-Léger. A road will appear on your right. Continue along Rue du Château. Stay on the main road, ignoring the road on your left. Walk to the intersection.

(12) Follow the main road turning right, still Rue du Château. Pass in front of the Maison Communale. Continue, the street turning left and running alongside the church. Walk on the left-hand pavement until you reach the N82. Cross it carefully and take Rue Marache opposite, the street passing under the house. Walk down to the intersection.

(13) Keep to your right. Cross the bridge over Le Ton and continue to the left. On your right, you will see the old wash house. Continue to the crossroads with the roundabout and go straight ahead. Turn right into Rue du Champ d'Oies and return to your car park (S/E).

No difficulties on this route. May be muddy depending on the weather.

Benches: Rue de l'Ermitage, at the Chapel, after (2), at Ravel after (3), after (5), at Source Pétrifiante before (9), at (10).

Picnic table at (3).

High table at Trou du Pérou after (6)!!! No chairs or benches.

No water on the course without filtration.

From October to December, keep in mind the hunting season dates.

Chapelle Notre-Dame du Refuge de Saint Léger: the existence of the Wachet hermitage is already mentioned in the 16th century. The first hermit mentioned is Claude de Habaru. The chapel itself dates from the 17th century.

Trou du Pérou: located in the middle of pine trees, this place has a steep landscape where the Fourneau stream has carved out a gorge, complete with a waterfall. In its upper part, the stream flows over a slab of black sandstone that has not been worn away by the water, unlike the layer of sandstone below. A waterfall has therefore formed, accentuating erosion downstream. The origin of the name seems mysterious, but it is likely to be a transcription error of the name "Trou du Perdu" (Lost Hole).

Étang du Fourneau David: the existence of this furnace was already mentioned in 1602. Its owners were none other than those of Pont d'Oye or Les Epioux. Its activities ceased in 1829.

Source Pétrifiante: in Gaume, limestone tufa formations can be seen in many places. These are known as "travertines" in scientific terms, "crons" in naturalist jargon and "crônières" in the local dialect.
The phenomenon is caused by the runoff of water rich in calcium bicarbonate along slopes where calcicolous vegetation proliferates to the point of suffocation on a substrate formed by a mucilaginous mass. This contributes to the rapid crystallisation of calcium carbonate, which soon forms masses that evolve towards fossilisation. The stone that forms these masses is light and resistant, and was commonly used in the construction of houses in the Gaume region.

Célestin Cross: dedicated to the Hissette family. Célestin Hissette died suddenly at this spot.