Fouron-le-Comte and the Altenbroek reserve from Gravenvoeren

Boomstraat 30/32 car park in Fouron-le-Comte. Alternative car park: opposite the church, 12 Pley)

(S/E) Exit the car park and walk down Rue de l'Arbre (Boomstraat) to the crossroads, then turn into Rue du Sacristain (Kosterstraat) opposite, slightly to the right. At the end of Kosterstraat, turn left onto Rue du Mont (Konijnsberg). At the end of this street, turn right towards the cemetery (Kerkhofstraat).

(1) Walk along the path beside the cemetery and take the few steps that lead to a narrow lane. Turn right onto the path that continues along this lane. At the first fork (cross), keep left. At the second fork (cross), keep left again and cross the next path to take the grassy path opposite, which runs alongside an orchard and continues as a path between the orchard and a hedge.

(2) This path then runs between meadows (on the left) and woods (on the right). It soon joins another path, then another coming from the left. Continue straight ahead in the same direction. This long path, often hollow, curves sharply to the right and, shortly after a small hill, leads to a wider path. Take it to the right for about 50 metres.

(3) Take the path on the left between the meadows. This widens as it crosses the Belgian-Dutch border (gravel), then becomes a concrete section.

(4) Shortly after passing a meadow lined with large beech trees, turn right onto the path leading up to the plateau (the lower part of this path is roughly concreted and has a few bends, running alongside pastures). At the top, the path turns right to run along the top of the pasture, then left to continue straight between the fields and end at an asphalt road (Snauenberg) marking the border between Belgium and the Netherlands.

(5) Take this road to the right for 150 m, then take the path on the left down to the edge of a wood (nature reserve access/information board). After the small gate, keep left and continue downhill through the wood to a concrete road. Continue downhill to the right on this road for 200 m.

(6) Take the path on the left which leads back, runs alongside the ponds and leads to an imposing farm (now a hotel-restaurant, Landgoed Altenbroek). Pass between the farm and the outbuildings, continue along the path at the bottom left, and go through the small gate to continue along the sunken path that starts to climb. At the intersection, turn right and continue climbing (ignore the path that branches off to the right halfway up the hill) until you reach a straight concrete path (Schoppermerheide) at the top.

(7) At this crossroads, go through the gate and continue straight ahead to begin a long descent through the woods.

(8) At the edge of the woods, just after the farm buildings, turn right onto the farm track running alongside the pastures (on the left) and the foot of the wooded slope (on the right). It narrows to a path and is soon joined by a stream (the Voer), which you should follow. At the intersection with the end of a street (Ketten sign), continue along the path running alongside the stream and leading to a group of houses. At the intersection (Meulenberg), turn right.

(9) Take the path to the right of No. 9. This sunken path under the canopy leads to a small tarmac road which you follow to the right for about 100 metres, then take a farm track on the left running alongside the meadows. After 150 metres, on the left, a chicane provides access to a meadow which you descend to the bottom (turnstile halfway down the slope, then a barrier and a few steps at the end of the descent) to reach a small bridge over a stream (Noorbeek).

(10) Follow this stream to the left for 200 metres, then go up to the right along the fence to reach the road. Go through the gate, cross the road and go through the next gate to enter a pasture. Turn left, head for the next gate and continue to the end of the pasture. At the end, climb up to the right, following the fence, to reach a gate giving access to a path overlooking the valley and the village of Fouron-le-Comte. Follow it until you come to a stony path (Koeksweg).

(11) Turn left and begin the descent towards the village until you reach the church, taking Koeksweg, Kinkenberg and Pley streets in succession.

(12) Turn right, pass in front of the church, then turn left into Boomstraat to reach the car park at Boomstraat 28/30 in Fouron-le-Comte (S/E).

Boomstraat car park: electric vehicle charging station and bicycle pump/keys.
Various cafés and terraces: Rue Pley (near the church).