Eau Blanche (rivière) - Belgique walks

In the land of former clog-making workshops and sawmills, explore this region rich in historic sites and remarkable, unspoilt natural beauty. Set off to conquer the hills; your efforts will be rewarded with sumptuous landscapes and you’ll fall under the spell of the beautiful villages of Dourbes and Nismes.The Eau Blanche takes its name from the chalky silt it carries, whilst the Eau Noire flows directly from the woods and is therefore crystal-clear. The two streams converge to form the Viroin.

This route takes you up to the Croix de la Roche in Lomme, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of Nismes. This limestone peak topped with a cross offers a unique view of the Viroin valley. La Roche à Lomme is known beyond its borders for its great biological value. The rocky slope to the south-east is covered with Mediterranean-style flora, enhanced by the abundant presence of boxwood.

The Virelles Pond is a beautiful natural body of water in the Botte du Hainaut, unlike the nearby Eau d’Heure lakes, which were created by man in the 1970s. This long walk around Virelles Pond doesn’t actually take you right up to the water’s edge, as the pond has been designated a nature reserve and management of its surroundings has been entrusted to the Aquascope. There’s an entry fee to get close to the lake! That said, the route follows a short stretch of the RAVeL, plenty of footpaths and forest tracks, and a bit of tarmac, allowing you to discover, in turn, the onion-domed bell tower of Virelles Church, the Blaimont viaduct and its silent clock (a sundial erected in 2022), the northern part of La Ferrière, the Prés de Virelles nature reserve, the odd bit of work by our beaver friends, a very damp woodland area beyond the Prés de Virelles, and a path that gets particularly muddy in winter after the picnic area.

The large Chimay forest can be reached by first crossing some pretty countryside. And it's the same again for a kilometre as you leave the woods to the south-east of Seloignes. The end, from km 14, is back in the countryside.