La Mer de Sable, the Fontaine Bouillante and the Blaton-Ath Canal

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An easy walk accessible to all at Mer de Sable, in the undivided forest of Stambruges, to discover the Fontaine Bouillante and return along the Blaton-Ath canal on the towpath.

Details

n°3499600
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.32 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 52 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 44 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 90 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 58 m
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Photos

Drawbridge at Ecacheries
Fontaine Bouillante
Alley
The boiling fountain

Description of the walk

Park on Rue du Grippet.

(S/E) Take the path leading to the Mer de Sable Nature Reserve. At the barrier, turn left and walk back to see the Chapelle de l'Arconpuits chapel and the famous nail tree.
Return to the barrier to rejoin the main route.

(1) Just after the barrier, take the first path on your right, which leads to the Mer de Sable after 50 metres. Turn left and follow the lane to the Y-junction. Turn left, go through the barrier and continue to an asphalt path (Rue du Calvaire).

(2) Turn right and then immediately left (there is a picnic area on your left). Continue along a completely straight section to reach another concrete road (Rue du Happart).

(3) Cross it, taking care to watch out for cars. Continue straight ahead, crossing another cobbled road. Go through the barrier and after about 400 metres, you will reach a star-shaped crossroads.

(4) Take the road on the right (beech tree avenue), pass through the Bois du Quéniau, and arrive at another star-shaped crossroads.

(5) Turn left onto the main gravel driveway. Follow it and pass the forest ranger's house. Then take the first path on the left after a slight bend. Follow the path. After about 800 metres, you will reach the Fontaine Bouillante.

(6) Continue for about 800 metres until you reach a crossroads, turn right towards the barrier and leave the woods. Continue straight ahead until you reach the crossroads and turn left into Rue de Chièvres. At the end of the street, on your right, follow the Blaton-Ath Canal to the drawbridge.

(7) Cross the bridge (you are now in Ecacheries), turn immediately left to follow the canal. Follow the towpath for about 3 km. When you reach a bridge, take the concrete path on your right that goes up towards the bridge to join Rue du Calvaire.

(8) Cross the canal and take a first turn right then left at the end of the bridge. Follow Rue du Calvaire, passing the ice cream parlour.

(9) Take the first path on your right and follow it for about 1 km to return to your starting point.

(1) Continue straight ahead to the car park on Rue du Grippets (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 80 m - Car park on Rue du Grippets
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 85 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.33 - alt. 84 m - Picnic area
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 84 m - Rue du Happart
  5. 4 : km 2.73 - alt. 76 m - 1st star-shaped crossroads
  6. 5 : km 3.47 - alt. 78 m - 2nd star-shaped crossroads
  7. 6 : km 4.43 - alt. 78 m - Fontaine Bouillante
  8. 7 : km 5.85 - alt. 58 m - The drawbridge (Ecacheries) - Canal Blathon-Ath - Belgique
  9. 8 : km 8.75 - alt. 60 m - Bridge - Rue du Calvaire
  10. 9 : km 9.19 - alt. 88 m - Bois du Carnoi crossroads
  11. S/E : km 10.32 - alt. 80 m - Car park on Rue du Grippets

Notes

(7) To avoid monotony, it is also possible to turn left at the end of Rue de Chièvres and return to the woods via the other bank of the canal (a less accessible, wild, wooded and hilly path, often used by mountain bikes). This alternative is not part of the route described. (With a map and GPS, you can easily reach the canal bridge to rejoin the original path. ((8))

Worth a visit

Between (S/E) and (1): Chapel and nail tree
(6) A fountain that flows continuously is the source of many legends. In the forest of Stambruges, the Fontaine Bouillante (Boiling Fountain) has a beautiful story to tell: that of a princess and her carriage who were swallowed up by the water and whose crew are desperately trying to resurface.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
ArinaTomberg
ArinaTomberg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A delightful walk in Belgian Hainaut, combining the Stambruges forest and the Ath-Blaton canal. Halfway through, you will find ancient beech forests and legends of the Fontaine Bouillante, and halfway through, a peaceful towpath with green reflections, under heather and Scots pines. An invigorating contrast of gnarled shadows and tranquil water.

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Annecho
Annecho

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well-marked trail, no difficulty in following the route.
Completely wooded, so always in the shade, easy walking trail, pleasant surroundings.
Highly recommended!

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gerendo
gerendo

A lovely walk. We avoided the rather monotonous towpath and returned via the forest without any difficulty
(if you like winding paths)

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berniche
berniche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, mainly through the forest.
We didn't meet many other hikers because the weather was quite cool. As for wildlife, we saw a kingfisher and a few ducks along the canal. A lovely walk to do again in warmer weather.

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gerendo
gerendo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant walk in the forest

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jacques tembuyser
jacques tembuyser

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant route

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Dubois Thérèse
Dubois Thérèse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, magnificent under the autumn sun. A little tip: take the path that runs more or less alongside the canal on the left in the woods; it's splendid, but be careful not to stray too far from the canal at the end so you can rejoin the route at the bridge. Thank you for this wonderful experience.

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gerendo
gerendo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely outing in the forest, especially in this hot weather

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florent59
florent59

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

good hike, enjoyable, worth repeating

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Nonoxs
Nonoxs

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk in a place we didn't know. The route is really family-friendly and not difficult. Very safe and easy to follow (the paths are very wide in some places, with gravel, so...)
You get to enjoy nature without it being too wild. And given the size of the place, even when it's busy, there's still a peaceful atmosphere.

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JCFOU
JCFOU

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk with our grandchildren. Almost entirely in the forest, so well sheltered from the wind.
Well signposted. We will be back soon for another route.

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sdenis90
sdenis90

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

What a disappointment! We were expecting a big dune... In fact, it looks more like an old racecourse. And since the sand was covered with snow (we think, since we didn't see it), we just took a walk in the woods. The vegetation is varied and at times reminiscent of the south. Unfortunately, it was very crowded.
The only interesting thing was that we saw some small migratory birds (Farlouse pipits?)
We avoided the canal because we don't really like long straight lines. Otherwise, the walk is easily adaptable (there are lots of paths to the left and right)

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Alain7060
Alain7060

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk in a very pleasant wood. Perhaps best avoided during the holidays if you want some peace and quiet: there are car parks, barbecue areas, a children's playground, etc., which are bound to attract crowds at weekends and on bank holidays.

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Arianelagolden
Arianelagolden
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk surrounded by autumn colours, a very romantic canal and a beautiful forest.
Two small comments:
1. It is also possible to follow the GR 121 trail markers from the start to the canal (an extra 1 km).
2. At point 7, the 2 km on the towpath are actually closer to 3 km.

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DelvauxV
DelvauxV

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk.
Suitable for pushchairs... Given the weather, the paths were passable.
We enjoyed the beautiful autumn colours both in the woods and along the canal.
We highly recommend it!

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