From Cheslé to Hérou

A challenging walk in the Upper Ourthe region, along the wildest and most picturesque section of the valley. Discover an ancient Celtic fortress and the Hérou panorama, rated 2 stars by Michelin.

Details

n°156476

Creation:
22 Sep 2015

Last update:
02 Nov 2023

Last review:
15 Apr 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.11 km
Average duration: 3h 45
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 299 m
Descent: - 299 m
Highest point: 409 m
Lowest point: 256 m

Country: Belgium
Area: Massif des Ardennes
City: Houffalize
Start/End: N 50.155902° / E 5.663142°
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Description of the walk

Large car park on Rue du Hérou in Nadrin in front of the viewpoint (closed).

(S/E) Go up the street towards the football field.

(1) Turn left towards the tennis courts and mini golf course.

Signposted with white waves on orange rectangles

Take the path that continues straight ahead and descends between meadows and coniferous trees.

(2) At Au Vévi, turn right. Cross the stream and climb the steep slope. Continue along the path until you reach a crossroads.

(3) Turn right and at the next intersection, turn left. Pass through the place called Laide Covée. Continue to follow the signs, which alternate between a wide path and a narrow trail.

(4) When you reach a wide path, turn left. A little further on, just at the entrance to the forest, you will find benches made from tree trunks. Descend towards the stream (very steep descent) and wade across. Continue downhill until you reach a fork.

Green Cross signpost

(5) Take the path up to the right. You will come to a wide path, which you follow straight ahead. When you reach the sign for "Le Cheslé" archaeological site, turn left. At the fork, turn left for the viewpoints. Be careful, it is very steep! Otherwise, turn right to go directly to the ramparts.

(6) With your back to the ramparts, look for the sign for Cheslé and take the path on the right. There is another viewpoint further on.

(7) At the other ramparts, which show the different stages of construction, take the steps down to the Ourthe. At the water's edge, turn left and follow the river upstream. There are a few tricky passages and you will see traces of beavers.

(8) At a place called Vermoulin, cross the ford and continue straight ahead.

^GR® signposting

(9) At Les Ondes, take the wide path on the right. Follow the^GR® along the Ourthe.

(10) Follow the^GR® trail by turning onto the path on the left. There are two paths, but both lead to Cresse aux Chevaux.

(11) In front of the sign for the locality, turn right to reach the viewpoint overlooking the cliff. Then retrace your steps and rejoin the^GR® either via the ridge or the path a little lower down and continue straight ahead when the^GR® forks. Leave the woods and you will find the Les 5 Ourthes restaurant on your left. The car park (S/E) is further up.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 364 m - Belvédère car park
1 : km 0.98 - alt. 396 m - Football pitch
2 : km 1.75 - alt. 347 m - Place called "Au Vévi"
3 : km 2.17 - alt. 375 m - Intersection
4 : km 3.07 - alt. 404 m - Wide path
5 : km 3.48 - alt. 311 m - Fork in the path with change of signposting
6 : km 4.48 - alt. 332 m - The gate in the ramparts
7 : km 5.08 - alt. 323 m - Ramparts - Stairs towards the - Ourthe (rivière) - Belgique
8 : km 6.53 - alt. 258 m - Place called "Vermoulin"
9 : km 7.47 - alt. 275 m - Place called "Les Ondes"
10 : km 9.01 - alt. 262 m - GR signposts on your left
11 : km 9.33 - alt. 286 m - Place called "Cresse aux chevaux"
S/E : km 10.11 - alt. 364 m - Belvédère car park

Notes

A few fords with no bridges or footbridges.
Good hiking boots are recommended as the undergrowth is very damp and rocky in places with tricky sections along the Ourthe between (7) and (8)
This is a difficult walk due to its steep ascents and descents, especially in the first 3 kilometres.
Benches at (4) and (6)
There is no drinking water along the route, but you can quench your thirst at the Les 5 Ourthes restaurant at the finish.

Worth a visit

During
Le Cheslé: Celtic oppidum and reconstruction of the ramparts.
The banks of the Ourthe and traces of beavers.
Cresse aux Chevaux: rocky ridge blocking the course of the Ourthe for 1,400 metres. A series of rocks forming an almost vertical wall with vertiginous drops.

Near
La Roche en Ardenne: its castle and animal park.
Houffalize.
Achouffe and its beer.
La Baraque Fraiture: Belgium's second highest point, skiing in winter.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 34 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.9 / 5

Marche&roule

15 Apr 2024 at 13:23 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route in dry weather. I missed the climb up the GR at point 10 and ended up scrambling up the slope at the end to reach the end of the rocky barrier at the summit. (My wife didn't like it.) Otherwise, it was a great hike in a wilderness that has remained unchanged since time immemorial.

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ArinaTomberg

18 Jul 2023 at 13:16 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk! The views of the Ourthe valley are magnificent. Despite some fairly challenging ascents and descents, I would say that it is of moderate to difficult difficulty.

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lazzerini

06 Mar 2022 at 17:42 3600

Actually, I forgot to change the (10)

Write to the tourist office too, it might help.

As for the difficulty level, you should know that Visorando rated this hike as average because they take into account the mileage and elevation gain, and I've already increased it to difficult...

Enjoy, because the week is looking very sunny, even if the temperatures won't be very high... in the Ardennes.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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Randos de Jean-lou et Domino

06 Mar 2022 at 15:50 3600

Hello,
First of all, thank you for your reply. I also wanted to tell you that we have done quite a few of your hikes, which are great. You can see the photos and comments at: https://www.facebook.com/Domino.JeanLou/.
Regarding the description, it's based on our impressions from two days ago. You mention fallen trees at the crossing points, point 10. There are no markings for the path that climbs back up to the ridge at point 10, and we couldn't find it, unlike other hikers who turned back to take another vaguely marked path with blue signs. We made it up, sometimes with my knees on the ground ;-( and especially thanks to Jean-Lou, who is always there to help me in difficult situations ;-)
We really enjoyed the start of this hike, which we found to be of moderate difficulty up to the Ourthe. Obviously, the floods and storms have changed the route quite a bit. Thank you for contacting the tourist office.
We're a bit worn out today, but ready for more hikes in the coming days :-)
Have a lovely afternoon
Domino

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lazzerini

06 Mar 2022 at 15:02 3600

Hello Randos de Jean-lou and Domino,
thanks for the info about the colour of the start markers. I'll correct the description.
In my description, I no longer mention uprooted trees as landmarks, as a hiker informed me a year ago that they were no longer there. Do you have an older paper description?
In addition, each part of the loop is marked with signposts, which I think makes it easier to stay on the right path.

In my practical information, I clearly state that the hike is difficult due to its steep ascents and descents (this should be read in general terms) ...and I add, especially in the first 3 km: which, for me, are more difficult due to the rapid alternation of ascents and descents, but it is true that, after your account, the last few kilometres must have been challenging.

Regarding your request for a rope, I would suggest you contact the tourist office to suggest this and at the same time warn them about the fallen trees across the path. It is a signposted walk, so they should clear the trees from the path if they are notified.

Good luck with your future hikes!

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Randos de Jean-lou et Domino

06 Mar 2022 at 12:53 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. At the beginning, there were no markings on a blue background, but on an orange background, we realised at a place called Vivi that the white markings on a blue background were covered with orange stickers.
This hike proved very difficult after the rock on the banks of the Ourthe (why not put a rope like the one on our hike to Trô Maret and Moûpa at the canyon?), as several trees had fallen and completely blocked the path. We had to climb over these trees, the slope was very steep and very slippery, and my husband slipped several times. It was very dangerous at this point, and luckily we had the help of other hikers to get back down, otherwise we would have had to slide down on our backsides. These hikers turned back. Then we couldn't find the path back up to the ridges and again we had to climb a very steep slope. It wasn't just difficult hiking, it was very difficult. We had done Nisramont, 18 km, and I had found that tough, but I really didn't enjoy the last few kilometres here.We met several people doing the same hike, either lost or turning back because the slope was too steep. I even found it dangerous. On the other hand, the landscapes are sublime, including those from the ridges. The sign indicating to climb up to two fallen trees is vague because there are many, many fallen trees.We covered 12.8 km. I disagree with your practical information. You say that the walk is difficult, especially the first 3 km, but it's actually along the Ourthe and especially the climb to the ridge that is difficult, so it's more the last 3 km than the first 3.

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ferlat olivier

01 Mar 2022 at 09:36 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 1998
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very good, we do it all four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—as a family
we have to do it again in April 2022

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Stefano76

29 Nov 2021 at 13:03 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, completed more quickly than indicated, even though I'm not particularly athletic
Some fairly technical sections, especially when wet.
Beautiful views and not too crowded, except at the end during the final climb, when the buses were full of climbers...

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Dominique Stas

06 Sep 2021 at 09:22 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful, varied, technical, and cultural: excellent!
The road book is detailed and reliable. You don't even need a map
I recommend following the GR trail on the HEROU ridge, which is very spectacular
rather than following the parallel road below, where you can't see anything of this magnificent site.

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stephanelevasseur

13 Aug 2021 at 10:03 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb sporty walk/short hike with a nice elevation gain. The variety of landscapes is impressive and the views are definitely worth the climb (as is the ancient oppidum). Probably our favourite walk of the week in April 2021. As mentioned by other walkers, following the GPS track on the final climb to the herou will give your cardio a workout, but it's doable.

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Didier Meertens

09 Jul 2021 at 16:53 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Superb hike.
Trails, woods, rocks, everything you need for a great time.
Beautiful views.
Highly recommended

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Kuno.aus.Belgica

26 Apr 2021 at 11:08 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty walk. Only at the beginning is it a little more difficult, especially in wet weather, as the path is not paved.
The circuit is too short for a full day.

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Didier Meertens

26 Apr 2021 at 11:00 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Superb hike with beautiful views.
Quite challenging

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Moreau isa

12 Apr 2021 at 18:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and varied hike, although it is true that there are some steep sections...
I think we took a wrong turn at the start and followed the yellow line. To the right of the football pitch where we parked, we quickly found the blue line.So, as we hadn't seen the Herou rock during our hike, on our way back we drove to the Belvedere car park, which we had missed at the start, and walked back a few steps to discover the beautiful rocks... then we climbed down the chain attached to the rock to reach the Ourthe... fantastic!

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lazzerini

08 Mar 2021 at 19:03 3600

@ Christian Simons,

thanks for the information about the place called Les Ondes