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Park in the car park of the Villers-la-Ville football ground, Rue Émile Léger,
(S/E). Retrace your steps a little to take the path (reserved for pedestrians, horses and bicycles – blue rectangular sign) that continues along Rue Émile Léger. This path is paved for the entire first part of the route (up to Les Quatre Chênes).
Further on, turn left and then right onto the tree-lined path that leads to open countryside
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(1) At the first fork, continue straight ahead towards Quatre Chênes.
(2) At the next fork, keep to the right and take the path between the trees. You will come out at a place called Les Quatre Chênes: a four-way crossroads with an oak tree at each corner, a bench and a litter bin.
(3) Turn left onto a wide dirt track with potholes, which continues as a tarmac road.
(4) Continue straight ahead, cross the road at the next crossroads and follow Chemin de la Houlette.
After passing a few houses on your right (a little further than No. 87), you will arrive at the Ferme de Bérines buildings.
(5) Take the road on the right that starts roughly opposite the shed on the left. This path will lead you into the woods.
Follow the signs marked with a rectangle divided vertically into three sections and coloured red, white and red.
After a while, you will come to a bend to the right and follow the Ry d'Hez stream and a series of ponds. This is where you can see the work of beavers: trees that have been felled because they have been gnawed by beavers, as well as the construction of dams made of branches.
(6) As you return to civilisation (caravans and buildings on your left), cross a path. On the left, this path leads to a concrete bridge over the river. Go up to the right opposite this path (very steep slope). Continue along this path until you find yourself in open countryside. Then turn right further on (do not take the path at the edge of the woods, but the next one).
(7) As you walk along a meadow with wooden fences (on your right), you will see, in the distance ahead of you, slightly to the right, the wind turbines of Marbais and the Château d'Eau de Sart-Dames-Avelines and a lane. You will come to a crossroads (bench, rubbish bin, lane). Take the left-hand path (not the tree-lined avenue, but the road before it) and you will find yourself back on the Chemin des Quatre Chênes, but in the opposite direction.
(4) Back on the Chemin des Quatre Chênes that you took on the way there, in the dirt section, take the dirt track on your right, which further on runs alongside a wood. It is marked (rectangle divided vertically into three coloured sections: green-white-green). Follow it.
(8) When you reach a path blocked by barbed wire, turn left at a right angle. Walk along a meadow fenced with wooden posts and continue to the next T-junction. Turn right.
(9) At the end, there is another T-junction; turn left (there is a turnstile on the right). You will leave the marked trail. This last section takes you to a village street that leads to Rue de Sart (beware of traffic!). Take this road to the left. After two turns (first to the right, then to the left), go downhill.
(10) Look for No. 54 (house on your right) and take the road on the left that goes uphill almost opposite No. 54. This road continues as a narrow path (rectangular blue road sign) reserved for slow-moving traffic.
When you reach the paved surface, turn right and you will return to your starting point towards the football pitch car park (S/E).
But we didn't see any signs of beavers!... We'll have to do it again in other seasons!
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