Herk-de-Stad walks

Welcome to the Demer valley, where water, reeds and meadows form a living landscape, shaped by time and floods. Around the village of Schulen, the Gulkerveld is a reminder of the former floodplain, once feared, now a refuge for birds and botanists.With its 700 hectares, the Schulensbroek nature reserve is one of the largest wetlands in Flanders. Herons, greylag geese, lapwings and bitterns share the ponds and meadows.The Halbekerdijk, an old dyke, bears witness to the struggle against the waters, while the drier Vijversheide contrasts with its pine and birch trees. The Schulensmeer, created to regulate the floods of the Demer, has become a paradise for aquatic wildlife.Area: +700 ha, origin: floodplain, special features: artificial lake turned reserve, migratory birds, wetland flora.Here, the water tells the story of the landscape and the passage of time. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

Schulen Lake and the adjacent marshes are part of the Wijers region , which is home to 1,001 ponds. It is a paradise not only for birds, but also for birdwatchers and walkers. Of course, bird populations vary depending on the season, but you will almost always see egrets, ducks, cormorants, coots, herons, geese and sometimes even the odd kingfisher. Goats and sheep are helping to rehabilitate some of the banks. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

Between Hasselt and the Demer valley lies a world of water and mist, shaped by floods and time. Herkenrode Abbey, founded in the 12th century, marks the starting point: a Cistercian landmark, it recalls the ancient link between spirituality and nature.In Stokrooie, the landscape becomes wetter before reaching the Albert Canal, dug in the 20th century, a marriage between industry and ecology.The Wijvenheide nature reserve reveals its peaceful ponds, where herons, kingfishers and ospreys thrive. The Kleine Vijver, Witven and Grote Platwijer are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, between reed beds and floodplains.The Zonderikbeek and Vrankenschans meander through peat bogs and fields, witnesses to a time when the Demer shaped local life.The walk ends at the Bosvijver and the Vossen Kuil, where the silence of the water mingles with the breath of the wind. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

Pear, apple and cherry trees, as well as vines, strawberry plants and redcurrant bushes, ensure the wealth and reputation of this part of Limburg's Hesbaye region for its fruit. There are orchards galore to admire in spring when they are in bloom and later in the season when they are producing fruit. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

Roughly halfway between Leuven and Diest, south of Aarschot, Horst Castle stands proudly on the edge of its pond and wooded estate.This hike offers a long loop through woods and countryside around this vestige of the past.

The Keiheuvel walk is a spectacular stretch of sand reminiscent of the Sahara, with peaceful spots, fresh forest air and a sea of purple heather. After a few steps, a vast panorama of sandy plains, ponds and dune meadows lined with fragrant pine trees opens up. Despite their desert-like appearance, the dunes are full of life, home to larks, nightjars and a multitude of insects. After a detour along the canal to Beverlo, the walk reaches De Most. The low, wet valley contrasts with the high, dry Keiheuvel. The wetlands are home to rare plants and animals. De Most, a former hunting ground and resistance refuge, is now a haven of peace. The combination of these two environments makes Keiheuvel-De Most unique.

In the mysterious area of the numerous springs of the Geer, encounter the ghosts of the Lord of Herzée in the Chevées, the nuns in the former Carmelite convent, the prior of the convent in his farmhouse, and let yourself be seduced by the quiet charm of the two Lens.

A peaceful walk, both rural and countryside, along the banks and immediate surroundings of the Mehaigne and its tributary, the Soile, between the villages of Avin and Meeffe, passing through Ambresin. The most pleasant section is undoubtedly the one that runs alongside the Mehaigne (known asthe"Sentier de la Mouhagne"), but the country lanes, lined with tall hedges that provide ideal shade along the route, also have their charm.

A bucolic walk steeped in history, following in the footsteps of Marlborough.

The villages of Bossut and Gottechain were merged in 1811 to form the municipality of Bossut-Gottechain. The 1977 municipal reform incorporated both into the entity of Grez-Doiceau.With this little page of Belgian history turned, the walk starts from the square in Bossut and takes you on a route that is more rural in Wallonia and more wooded in Flanders (Meerdaalbos), another Belgian story as the route straddles the two neighbouring provinces of Brabant.

Between Walloon Brabant and Meerdael Forest, this walk combines nature, history and legends. The Nethen, a discreet river, winds its way between meadows and woods before joining the Dyle. Its banks are home to trout, kingfishers and dragonflies.In the Meerdael Forest and at Les 12 Bonniers, oak and beech trees dominate a world of mosses, mushrooms and discreet animals. The Ferme de la Houlotte recalls the rural life of yesteryear, while the tawny owl watches over the grounds.The medieval mound of Nethen and the castle of Florival bear witness to the valley's feudal past. Further on, the Nethen sandpit and the Grande Marbaise reveal an ancient seascape, now a refuge for rare flora and sand lizards. In Florival and at the Pécrot pond, reeds and orchids create a peaceful scene. Between rivers, forests and memories of times gone by, Nethen invites you to explore and contemplate. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

The centuries-old cultivation of countless cherry, pear and apple trees has earned Oupeye the title of Walloon Commune of Fruit Growing.Although the few hectares of vineyards are more recent, the wine produced in Heure-le-Romain is gradually improving in quality and regularly wins awards.

The Fort des Voiles, also known as Ferme Rose for obvious reasons, was successively used as a glass furnace, a flour mill and a fish farm (trout).The name Fort des Voiles is thought to come from a distortion of "for à voires", which in Walloon means "glass furnace".In the 17th century, the glass industry required a lot of wood, which would explain its geographical location.The fish farm was created a little further down, along the Ruisseau du Glabais stream, and operated from 1950 until around 2000, when the presence of beavers and a sewage treatment plant, located upstream of the stream and inadequately protected against flooding, forced the owners to cease operations for health reasons.The current buildings date from the 1920s. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app

The feudal castle of Moha is one of the region's jewels. It is located at the top of a rocky spur on the heights of the Mehaigne, on the edge of the limestone quarries (both old and still in operation), and was apparently built in several phases between the 11th and 14th centuries. Archaeological excavations have revealed a much older presence. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

This is a somewhat challenging hike through the woods on either side of the Fond d'Ohxe valley in the Saint-Lambert National Forest.Starting from the ruins of the Church of Notre-Dame in Ombret, the circuit skirts the hamlet of Les Communes before climbing into the woods, then descending shortly afterwards into the Fond d'Ohxe and climbing back up the other side through the Bois des Dames and Bourgogne woods. The return journey is again through the woods, on the opposite side, offering some beautiful views of the Meuse valley at the end of the walk.

A very beautiful walk on the outskirts of Liège, mainly through woods. It passes through the Streupas moor, joins the Ourthe and runs parallel to it as far as Colonster Castle, before returning through the Sart Tilman woods.

This lovely circular walk starts from the Adeps centre in Sart Tilman and passes by Colonster Castle. This hike takes place mainly in the woods on small paths that are impassable with a pushchair.

Loop in the woods of Sart-Timan, starting in Boncelles. It crosses the Sart-Tilman Golf Course and the university grounds.

Entirely on the right bank of the Ourthe, this hike will take you to the hamlets of Méry, Hautgné, Hayen and Cortil on the heights of Tilff, as well as the vast Bois des Manants forest, both on the way there and on the way back.

Starting from the well-known long-distance hiking trail (signposted route to Santiago de Compostela), this route revisits the wonderful site of the circular Ourthe, passing by the old water pump towards the village of Ham. The idea behind this route is to limit the "concrete" sections to what is strictly necessary.

This walk is located in the south and in the most wooded part of Gembloux. Beautiful scenery.

Without entering them, discover five villages in the Gembloux area. This well-maintained route of around 15 km gives pride of place to paths and trails. In addition, 20% of the route is along roads with often flat and passable verges. In spring, the undergrowth is ablaze with flowers. On the hills, take a look around you: the landscapes will surprise you.

This short walk in the Bois Grand-Père takes you on a discovery of the hilly part of the Orneau valley to the south-west of the Grand-Manil district. There are no particular difficulties, except for a little mud on the path in the woods and between the Ferme de Bedauwe and the Orneau.The perfect family walk, alternating between trails, paved paths, countryside and forest.

A peaceful nature walk in the countryside above the Ourthe, spread across the municipalities of Sprimont and Esneux.The few forest passages make for a pleasant outing with varied landscapes. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.