The Roannay Valley starting from Francorchamps

A circular route almost entirely through woodland along the River Roannay. This route combines two walks: Le Roannay, Yellow Cross and Hé Stienne Red Rectangles.

Details

34221530
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 313 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 318 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 500 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 309 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the entrance to Francorchamps; there are plenty of parking spaces along the N62.

(S/E) At the small bridge next to the agricultural machinery shop, take the path marked with Yellow Crosses. Follow the river down to a picnic area.

(1) Turn left onto the path to follow the River Roannay and reach a small road.

(2) Turn left onto this road and follow the Red Rectangle markings. Follow this road uphill to a farm.

(3) Turn right and cross the village of Neuville. Then turn left and take the path on the right to walk alongside the meadows. You will reach a crossroads of tracks.

(4) Continue straight ahead to the end of the track and rejoin the road. Turn left to reach, before the village of Ruy, the junction with a forest track.

(5) Turn right here to look out over the river. Climb up to reach a crossroads of paths.

(6) Turn left, continue uphill and reach a viewpoint overlooking the village of Neuville.

(7) Continue downhill and, at the junction, follow the Yellow Cross markings.

(8) Follow these markings to the left, but be careful as they are very faint. Turn left twice to follow the Yellow Crosses. Continue uphill until you reach a four-way junction.

(9) Turn right to finish the climb.

(10) Turn right and head downhill to reach the junction by the picnic area.

(1) Retrace your steps along the route you took on the way there to return to the Francorchamps car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 474 m - Francorchamps. Towards the - Roannay (ruisseau) - Belgique - Affluent de l'Amblève
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 452 m - Picnic area
  3. 2 : km 2.59 - alt. 371 m - Narrow road
  4. 3 : km 3.02 - alt. 401 m - Farm at the entrance to Neuville
  5. 4 : km 4.06 - alt. 429 m - Forest track
  6. 5 : km 5.49 - alt. 317 m - Return via the footpath
  7. 6 : km 6.7 - alt. 348 m - Trail junction
  8. 7 : km 7.72 - alt. 419 m - View of Neuville
  9. 8 : km 8.34 - alt. 377 m - Change in signposting
  10. 9 : km 9.37 - alt. 476 m - Crossroads
  11. 10 : km 10.16 - alt. 500 m - High point
  12. S/E : km 12.23 - alt. 474 m - Francorchamps

Notes

The route is almost exclusively on paths that are not accessible to people with reduced mobility or pushchairs.
No water points on the route.
(1) Covered picnic area with barbecue at the start (or end) of the route.
Pizzerias, restaurants and cafés in the village of Francorchamps.
You can start from Neuville or Ruy, but the stretch between Francorchamps and (1) is very pretty.
A few muddy sections in wet weather.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
mamie  Ginette
mamie Ginette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We only did half of the hike because we didn't have much time, i.e. 6 or 7 km.
A very beautiful route: a small path along a small stream and back via a wide path climbing through the woods.

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ArinaTomberg
ArinaTomberg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A charming walk. The proposed parking area is currently under construction, which makes parking a little difficult. But I agree with the author of the route: it is essential to start the walk exactly as indicated. The short stretch of path between the town street and point 1 is simply magical. In just a few steps, you leave the urban noise behind and enter a shady, almost enchanted forest. Even though you can still hear the sounds of the town in the distance, the murmur of the stream eventually drowns out everything else. Only the roar of the racing cars on the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit disturbs the atmosphere, as it can be heard almost everywhere along the way. But at the same time, this noise reminds us that we are indeed in Belgium, and not in Scandinavia, as one might think when seeing these dark forests of moss-covered spruce trees.

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Willems Grâce-Hollogne
Willems Grâce-Hollogne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, even though yesterday it was generally very humid. But rain gear wouldn't have been the solution, it was too hot.

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