From Vielsalm station to Trois-Ponts station

Start: Vielsalm station, Rue de la Station, 6690 Vielsalm.

As you can reach the starting point by train (from Liège or Luxembourg), by bus or by car, the description begins on the paved esplanade of Rue de la Station, opposite the station.

(S) Go round the station on the left, then go down and through the tunnel under the tracks. At the tunnel exit, on platform 2, continue along the concrete path which leads onto a road. Follow it to the left. Avoid the bridge over the railway tracks and continue straight ahead on the tarmac for 230 metres, following the yellow and red markings of a GRP®.

(1) Take a sharp right to begin the climb up Chemin du Bonalfa, on the Coreux slope, following the Yellow Diamond trail marker and the GRP®. Pass a path climbing up to the left and continue the climb to a junction.

(2) Leave the GRP® and continue straight on following the Yellow Diamond markings. At the next junction, keep going straight on until you reach a wide forest track. Follow it to the left. Pass a wide path on the right and begin a steep climb (with sweeping views to the right) until just before the summit and another junction.

(3) A few metres before the summit and this junction, leave the wide track and head down the path on the right, following the signposting for the link to the Blue Diamond PL. Opposite, you’ll see the new-generation ‘windmills’, the Lierneux-Reharmont wind turbines. At the bottom of the descent, follow the wide dirt track to the left. Pass by a memorial stone of the Confrérie des Disciples de Faustine and, just after, at the Y-junction, take the path on the right downwards to emerge, after 350 metres, onto the tarmac of a cycle and footpath.

(4) Follow it to the left but, after 125 metres, leave it to head down to the right onto a wide gravel track that winds through the countryside to the village of Goronne, following the markings for a mountain bike route and the link to the Blue Diamond.

(5) At the hamlet of Goronne (alt. 425 m; bench), continue leftwards on the tarmac, following the Blue Diamond route. Pass a small triangular clearing (bench and stone cross) then a street on the left to cross the village, passing over the Ruisseau de Goronne. Shortly afterwards, at the Y-junction, go up the street on the right and emerge at a crossroads with the N822, near the church.

(6) Cross over and continue straight ahead following the Blue Diamond trail and a Red Mountain Bike route. Cross over the Rencheux Stream. At the next Y-junction (Christ under a canopy), continue along the road on the right until you reach the house at no. 243.

(7) Leave the tarmac and turn right onto a grassy path (bench) which first runs alongside a meadow before entering the woodland. At the bottom of the descent, cross the Ruisseau de Rencheux via a wooden footbridge, then head left, following the stream for 150 metres, until you reach a junction.

(8) Head straight up a wide, beautiful forest track towards Farnières and pass through three junctions in succession, continuing straight on at each one until you reach the top. On the descent, at the first junction you come to, leave this wide, stony track which curves to the right and continue straight on along a dirt track, still heading towards Farnières. At the next junction, continue straight on, following the Blue Diamond PL and red mountain bike signs, until you reach the end of this track (blocked by two large stones), where you’ll emerge onto a wide dirt track next to a metal gate.

(9) Turn left, following the mountain bike route only. Pass by a chapel, temporarily leaving the mountain bike route. A few dozen metres further on, turn slightly left to pass through the monumental entrance gate to the Domaine de Farnières. Follow the tarmac path to the open space in front of the château (numerous picnic tables). Go round the château to the left to reach a small road and follow it down to the right to the last buildings.

(10) At the last building, leave the tarmac and turn left onto the Red 2 mountain bike route, a wide forest track that soon begins to climb. At the first junction, continue straight ahead. Pass a grassy path on the right, then go past a small SWDE water collection building. At the second junction, continue straight ahead again. At the next Y-junction, continue along the path on the right; then, at the following Y-junction, this time continue the climb along the path on the left. Pass a path on the left and, at the top, a second one, to continue with the Red 2 mountain bike trail and the Green Disc PL for a good hundred metres.

(11) Reach a fork at the start of the bend leading uphill to the left. Take the path on the right, leaving the markings behind. Follow the grassy path down to a T-junction, opposite the gate of a private property. Head down to the right. After just over 300 metres, you’ll come out onto a wide dirt track.

(12) Take a very sharp left to head back up this track. At the first fork, turn a quarter of a turn to the right, between a patch of spruce trees and a patch of oak trees. However, after 400 metres, as the path begins to descend, climb up to the left. During the ascent, pass a path on the left, then cross a junction. Reach a T-junction. Follow the stony track to the right for 400 metres to a crossroads where the left-hand branch is grassy.

(13) Turn right. Descend the wide gravel path, ignoring several side paths. As you emerge from the woodland, continue descending to the right, on the tarmac.

(14) At the junction with another road, rejoin the Red 2 mountain bike route. Follow it uphill to the left towards Dairomont and Saint-Jacques but, after a few metres, leave the tarmac by turning right. Ride along a meadow before entering the woodland again, emerging after 800 m onto a small road.

(15) Follow it to the right. At the first houses in Rochelinval, at the Y-junction, ignore all markings and head down to the left. After a few dozen metres, take a path down to the left, following the Way of St James markings and the Green Disc and small White Rectangle on a Yellow Rectangle. At the bottom of the descent (bench), fords a stream then climbs up the other side along a meadow to emerge, after a steep climb, at a place called Panorama (alt. 350 m).

(16) Continue in the same direction, still following the small White Rectangle on a Yellow Rectangle sign. Walk for a long time along the hillside; below, you can see the railway line, the Salm river and the N68. Pass a path on the left, then shortly afterwards a path on the right, and begin a steep climb. At the top, pass a path leading down to the right, then reach the hamlet of Croix des Hottlîs (alt. 395 m).

(17) A few metres further on, at the Y-junction, take the path on the right, leaving the Chemin de Saint-Jacques. At the crossroads, continue down the slope, following, amongst other things, the markings for the Extratrail Green route. After a long descent, reach the first houses of Trois-Ponts.

(18) At the fork, continue straight on along the path on the left, following only the Extratrail, until you reach a road. Follow it to the left to join the N68, opposite the Trois-Ponts swimming pool.

(19) Follow it to the left. At the steps leading up to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Poor, cross the main road at the pedestrian crossing and continue along it to the left. Shortly after house no. 116, leave the main road and take the cycle and footbridge on the right over the Salm. At the end of the footbridge, turn slightly left to follow the path overlooking the river, marked with the yellow and red signs of a GRP®. After a short climb, you will come out onto a road. Follow it down to the left to reach Trois-Ponts station (E).

There are plenty of benches along the route and picnic tables at the Domaine de Farnières.

SNCB line 42 (one train every hour on weekdays; every two hours at weekends).
TEC stop Vielsalm Route de la Gare – lines 14, 18/3, 18/4, 18/6, 89, 142, 144, 146, 147, 149 and 401.

Notes.
The arrival point is at Trois-Ponts station, Place de la Gare, 4980 Trois-Ponts.
This information may be useful as it could serve as a starting point for those travelling to Vielsalm by bus or train.

Throughout the description, you will see ‘PL’ followed by a geometric shape and a colour, such as ‘PL Blue Rectangle’.
This refers to the signposting for the Blue Rectangle Local Walk.

(9) The Domaine de Farnières is a unique place, nestled in the heart of the Ardennes forest, in the Salm valley. Set in magnificent natural surroundings, it welcomes young people and families seeking to recharge their batteries and reconnect with nature.
The wide range of accommodation and catering options means there is something for everyone (schools, youth groups, families, friends, hiking groups, etc.).
The site promotes diversity and welcomes everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. It enables everyone to experience citizenship through a variety of activities that encourage interaction, sharing and solidarity.