Julienne Ponds

Park in the car park at the Étangs de la Julienne site.

(S/E) Head towards the site exit along the tarmac path for 250m. After the bend, head straight up to the left into the woods. The path turns back in the other direction, climbs, reaches a fence and takes a sharp bend, climbs a few dozen metres further, then runs horizontally before finally descending. Follow it to the left, climb slightly and join a wider path which you follow downhill, eventually returning to the tarmac road.

(1) Once on the tarmac, cross straight ahead, go over the Berwinne bridge and continue along the path which will soon run alongside the road below. At the end of the path, take the lane immediately to the right (cross on the corner) and follow it up to the woods.

(2) About fifty metres before a concrete bridge, head up into the woods on the left and turn left onto the path you come to. When you reach a more open area with tall trees, turn right, go down the small valley and back up again, then follow the path which curves to the right below a meadow. When you reach a junction at the foot of a large chestnut tree, go down to the right and cross the bridge mentioned earlier.
Continue along the path; it descends in a curve to the right before climbing back up and emerging alongside a meadow which you follow (beautiful view of the Meuse valley, the Albert Canal and the village of Hermalle-sous-Argenteau). The path then enters the woods again. You will reach a three-way junction.

(3) Keep to the right and gradually descend towards the valley floor. You will reach the stream (playground opposite).

(4) Do not cross it, but take the path (^GRP® 563) that runs alongside it to the exit of the site. Stay on this path to the end (the path becomes tarmac and then continues as a street, leading onto a road.

(5) Turn right onto the road, cross the bridge and take the small path on the right just behind a tall, wild hedge. Follow this path through unkempt woods and clearings until you reach a tarmac track, which you follow for about thirty metres.

(6) Turn right onto the path that cuts diagonally through a coniferous woodland and heads downhill.

(7) At the end of the woodland, follow the forest track downhill for a few metres and turn left into the meadow, skirting the edge of the woodland. At the end of the meadow, take the zigzag path and cross the next meadow, heading towards the gable end of the house situated halfway up the hillside, then pass another zigzag section (marked by a post painted with a white stripe).

(8) The path runs between two hedges. At the end of this, reach the tarmac road a little further up (Rue L'Oneux) and follow it to the end.

(9) Just before reaching the main road, take the narrow path that descends to the right between a meadow and the back of a property. Pass the chicane and descend to a gravel car park (car park for the restaurant La Vieille Vigne). Go round the building and continue along the road to the starting car park (S/E).

Trousers recommended, as the paths on the way back are sometimes lined with brambles and nettles.
A few damp patches are also worth mentioning.

Eating options at La Julienne:
- La Vieille Vigne: a good-quality restaurant
- Ô Bois de la Julienne: brasserie, tea room