Hamois walks

Straddling the municipalities of Hamois and Havelange, the magnificent Bois de Porcheresse is mainly populated by deciduous trees that display their most beautiful colours in autumn. The hike alternates between country lanes and forest paths.

A circular route through the Leignon countryside, passing through the Pachis Nature Reserve, the village and then the Bois de la Croix.

A simple but very beautiful region that conceals treasures in the valley of flavours. The Hamois region is a treasure trove of architectural, natural and historical riches: castles, mills and barns, with traces of the past along the Bocq, which has its source in the heart of the village of Scy. But above all, it is a little paradise where it is good to stop for a while. Partly corresponds to the Red Rectangle trail, in the opposite direction at the start and abandoned at the end.

This beautiful walk in the Namur Condroz region takes you to the source of the Bocq river, which flows like a fountain through the surrounding wall of the Château de Scy estate. Although the estate is private, you can see the rear façade, the park and the magnificent tree-lined avenue.

In May, the driveway to Château de Ramezée is even more beautiful than usual thanks to the impressive array of colours provided by the numerous majestic rhododendrons in bloom.It is a magical place that you will never tire of!

This walk takes place in the Bocq valley between Spontin and Purnode. It takes you through woods and countryside to the villages of Durnal and Dorinne. Views of the river, the forest and the hills, now increasingly 'decorated' with wind turbines.

Set off to discover the few "visible" castles during a hike that is mainly through forest in the beautiful valleys of the Namur Condroz.

Impromptu walk in the Havelange region of the Condroz.Easy, no significant elevation changes.Easy access and parking in front of Miécret church.Very easy access for bicycles, but mountain bikes are recommended.

Gesves, a charming village in the Namur Condroz region, is said to take its name from "Gengeavia", which means "running water". Numerous streams criss-cross its territory before flowing into the Samson. The walk starts at the municipal administration building, winds its way through a few quiet streets and then joins the Bois de Gesves. After descending into the Samson valley, you reach the site of the old Bizonzon sandstone quarries, which were abandoned more than half a century ago.

Part of the Sentiers d'Art (Art Trails) is included in this hike. You will have the opportunity to discover four works of art in a natural setting: the Triskele, the Sans refuge, the Eau d'ici and the Chaise brûlée.

This walk follows a discreet valley where water and forest have shaped the landscape for centuries. Each place evokes an ancient history, often linked to the passage and work of man. Sorinne-la-Longue is a village that stretches out like an ancient road, already frequented in Roman times. The Faya wood, whose name comes from the beech tree, offers a cool and calm atmosphere. Bethléem is a place steeped in symbolism, formerly associated with refuge and passage. At the Inzéfonds quarries, blue stone has left its mark on the local architecture and landscape. In the Gesves wood and the Chaumont valley, the forest becomes denser and more enveloping. The Samson stream structures the valley. Around it, the Bizonzon and neighbouring streams are home to a discreet and varied fauna. It is therefore a peaceful walk between water, stone and wood, ideal for slowing down and observing.

"La Fête de Mai in Gesves is a wonderful artistic and human adventure in a rural setting. In 2001, nature and art lovers came up with a bold project: to invite artists from all over the world to create works of art in natural materials in the countryside. The May Festival is now 25 years old! In 25 years, our landscape has been enriched, in Gesves alone, by 136 works of land art. Some have returned to nature, while others still stand proudly for the enjoyment of hikers."Quote from Christian Beelaert, president of Vagabond'art asbl. All these works of art are linked by hiking trails that are accessible all year round.

Circular loop along the Samson with a few places where dogs can play in the water. Beware of bacteria present in several waterways at the moment: August 2020. You will be able to see some works of art during the hike.

This route at the intersection of Gesves, Haut-Bois and Faulx-les-Tombes will take you close to the Gesves provincial breeding and riding school, whose facilities can host international events.

A pleasant, quiet and secluded setting. The route, which is often through woodland, is ideal for observing wildlife and remarkable trees, including an old oak and a sequoia. There are several interesting viewpoints. This is a variation of a local walk called 'du Chêne au Gibet' (from the oak tree to the gallows). The route also follows part ofthe GR®575. In the beautiful region marking the boundary between the Condroz and the Famenne, you can enjoy a superb forest walk with beautiful views.

Easy, with only two small steep hills. 74% of the route is on paths. Outward journey through the woods, return journey mainly through fields. Picnic possible at km 15 at the Samson cheese dairy in Gesves (081 583 666), possibility to bring your own meal (provided you purchase a drink) or order a cheese and/or charcuterie platter. Along the way, you can discover some of the sculptures on the Gesves art trail.

Parking at the start. Descent towards Bauche in the shade. At Bauche, follow Chansin then climb back up towards Durnal at the crossroads near the barriers. The climb is long but the surface is more pleasant and flatter than on the descent.

After approximately 960 metres, the slope is steep, then reasonably uphill for about 2.3 kilometres.From there, it is all downhill until the last 200 metres.Very steep descent at around 4 kilometres, with a chain provided as a handrail.Start and finish at the same place. Car park 30 metres away.

Starting from the village of Maillen, set off to discover Crupet, one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia. Visit its Saint Antoine cave and admire its Carondelet keep. Return via the village of Ivoy and its 13th-century church.

Starting from Bois d'Ohey, the route leads to the Struvaux stream and its many "little bridges", then through the woods to the hamlet of Strud and back via Haltinne, on a more open route. The trails are embellished with a few works of art; moreover, (re)discovering Haltinne Castle is always a pleasure!

Between the white farmhouse and the red farmhouse, take a narrow country road to discover an old mineral water production site that was the village's main industry for 60 years until 1971. Then head back up towards the hamlet of Mont-Sainte-Marie, whose origins date back tothe 12th century.

A hike in the Condroz region, starting from the small village of Foy-Notre-Dame on a rolling plateau with pleasant trails, including the Chemin des Pèlerins with its shrines.

This circular starting from Jallet first passes by the work of art entitled 'Renversement' (Overturning), which has been overturned and lying on the side of the path for quite some time, a simple reminder that all human action has certain limits.Then, turning towards Goesnes and taking the Tige du Sart aux Roches, the route crosses the countryside towards Jamagne in the direction of the Triffoy Nature Reserve before climbing and then descending towards Vyle, its church and its castle, which has been converted into a residence.After Vyle Castle, the walk takes a long detour along the memory trail, that of the Secret Army and the Bagatelle parachute drop zone, between Pailhe and Goesnes, during the Second World War.On the way back, the route passes in front of the Château-Ferme de Tahier before returning to the Chêne à l'Image, the forest and its Trivouac and finally the magnificent Château d'Hodoumont.

A beautiful nature outing: that's the essence of this walk.

Set off to explore the countryside and forests between Faulx-les-Tombes and Gesves.

Walk through woods and countryside around Arville Castle

This walk alternates between forests and countryside in the 'Fête de Mai' area of the Namur Condroz. The route allows you to discover some of the works of art created over time since the beginning of the 21st century. You can admire the works 'Mange-Bois', 'Cathédrale de Lumière', 'Je suis furieux', 'Parle Papote Chhhuuuuut', 'Cairn de Feu' and 'Serpon-Dragent'.

Marked horse riding trail no. 1 with orange arc-shaped markers This nearly 22 km ride starts in the hamlet of Groynne and takes you on a discovery of the woods around Coutisse and Andenne. You begin your journey in the countryside, on a section of the GR®575.

This circular walk alternates between countryside and forest, starting from one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia and leading to the hamlet of Mont-Sainte-Marie and the remains of a Romanesque watchtower dating from the 11th-12th centuries, as well as the Gothic choir of a 16th-century parish church. On the way back, the route passes the farms of Basseilles and Bialy, as well as some works of art from the Fête de Mai festival.

A lovely walk around the village of Mozet. Starting from the church, the first part of the route is along streets, then it alternates between fields and woods on a fairly easy route.

Starting from the beautiful Château de Vêves, set off to explore the meanders of the Lesse and visit the magnificent villages of Furfooz and Celles (selected as among the most beautiful villages in Wallonia).

Marked walking route no. 3 It is marked with a green rectangle. This 10 km hike starts right next to the picturesque Moulin de Kevret and takes you on a journey of discovery through the countryside and woods around the village of Coutisse.

Starting from Modave Castle, this walk takes you through the southern part of the Modave nature reserve and the Hoyoux valley. You will also discover the hamlet of Tibiémont, the Val ford, the site of the former Survillers castle and its beautiful viewpoint. A beautiful forest path (the wooded lane) will take you gently back to the castle. This walk is recognised by the Wallonia Tourist Board (Belgium).

This walk, probably a classic in the region, starts at Modave Castle (visits in season) and follows the Hoyoux valley, sometimes very close to the river, sometimes much further away, to the outskirts of the village of Avins.

Marked walking route no. 9 with the red rectangle as a marker This walk takes you on a discovery of Thon-Samson, ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia. You start in Rue de Thon, which is home to many unmissable local heritage monuments: the former presbytery, the Thon castle farm and the Church of Saint-Remy.

Between Gendron, Furfooz and Chaleux, this hike plunges into the heart of the Lesse valley, between limestone cliffs, deep forests and villages steeped in history. The river has carved out spectacular rocks such as the Roche du Curé and the Aiguilles de Chaleux, offering superb views. The route passes through unspoilt woods, rich in flora and fauna, and runs alongside the Lesse and the Forges stream, a reminder of the local industrial past. Perched castles, including Walzin and Vêves, and the Roman remains of Furfooz complete this landscape where nature and heritage complement each other.

Marked horse riding trail no. 2 with orange arc-shaped markers This trail takes you on a journey of discovery through the magnificent countryside around Bonneville, Thon-Samson and Maizeret. Please note that the paths are often stony, so bring horse shoes if your horses are not shod.

Set off to explore the lower Samson.Starting from the Moulin de Villenval, the walk climbs past an old quarry towards Thon, then reaches the Château-Ferme de Thon through the countryside, passing by the place known as 'au Trou Perdu'.At the Notre-Dame de Bon Secours Chapel, the route turns towards Goyet: castle, Saint-Antoine centre and artwork at the bottom of the park.After a steep climb, the walk crosses the Bois Wiame before returning to the starting point.

A very beautiful walk in the Hoyoux valley, alternating between wooded sections, open landscapes with beautiful views and charming sites.

From the village centre, the route first heads towards the church and its distinctive bell tower, then on to the castle via a beautiful tree-lined avenue.After a short tour of the castle grounds, head for the nature reserve overlooking the Hoyoux valley and the Vivaqua facilities upstream of the pumping station. This valley was once home to the village of Petit-Modave.The route follows the course of the Hoyoux (from quite a distance) through the woods to the beautifully restored old farmhouse of Tibiémont.A little further on, you will discover the hamlet of Val Tibiémont, located on either side of the Hoyoux. The ford, which can be quite impressive in flood conditions, is fortunately equipped with a small permanent footbridge. Please note that there is no railing, just a rather narrow slab laid on a few stone or concrete bases.At Clavier Station, the route follows the RAVeL, sometimes in open countryside, sometimes in the woods, to the old Modave-Village stop.

Starting from Gendron-Celles station, this is a beautiful hike, mostly along the water's edge, mainly on paths and trails, with a few sections on roads when crossing villages. On the first part, mainly between points (3) and (4), ladders and steps allow you to stay as close as possible to the Lesse, and the second part, between points (4) and (10), offers a different way to discover the Lesse, which has remained very wild, and breathtaking views. This route is a combination of various local routes andGR® trails that run along the lower Lesse. The circular can easily be split up to reduce the distance or avoid certain difficulties; see the practical information. An excellent walk to prepare for more technical hikes. Please note: with regard to accessibility, please read the practical information carefully before setting off.

Walk no. 8 with the green rectangle marker This walk of just over 3.5 km starts at the small Maizeret cemetery and takes you on a journey of discovery through the countryside between the municipalities of Andenne and Gesves. You start the walk by going down the main street to the hamlet of Villenval. You then cross the fields to reach the Bois Wiame. You will pass close to the beautiful Bois Wiame farm, which houses the Le Paradis des Lièvres accommodation. Continue towards Girembois before arriving at El'Core, which offers magnificent views of the Condroz plateaus. You will end your walk by passing through a small hollow and returning to the Maizeret cemetery. Don't hesitate to walk up the main street to admire the pretty little Saint-Martin de Maizeret church in the village square. You will also discover a water pump restored by the local Les Cloupias committee, a book box and a small playground.

While Houyet and the surrounding area are well known for the Lesse and kayaking (in season) on this iconic Walloon river, the charm of the surrounding countryside and forests also make it an excellent place for hiking. This circular route takes you around Hour, one of the villages in the area, and offers beautiful panoramic views of the entire region from the heights.

Set off to explore this circular forest and countryside route starting from Houyet. Follow the Lesse river and then climb up to the heights to discover Celles, a village in the Namur Condroz region, and its collegiate church. Return via the Bois du Mauvais Mont and the Golf du Château Royal d'Ardenne.

While the situation is probably clear to locals, day visitors will be completely lost.Vierset-Barse is a former municipality formed by the village of Vierset, located on the heights, and the hamlet of Barse, located below on the right bank of the Hoyoux. Today, it is part of Modave.The starting point, the old Barse railway station, on the other hand, is on the left bank and located in the current hamlet of Ereffe (municipality of Marchin).