The Val de Berwinne from Henri-Chapelle

Start from the village square in Henri-Chapelle.

(S/E) From the square, head towards the back and take the lane on the right which runs past the church and the cemetery. At the end, first turn right then left and continue along the Chemin des Écoliers.

(1) At the gate, enter the school grounds and go round them on the left via the car parks to reach the road (Rue de Verviers). Walk down this road for 300 m, then take the grassy path (not the tarmac road!) which climbs up to the right between two hedges.

Follow this path uphill until you reach the N3, near a care home (Maison Belœil), and cross straight ahead onto Chemin du Moulin à Vent. This leads to a magnificent viewpoint over the Val de la Berwinne.

(2) At the viewpoint, begin the descent along the dirt track, then, 100 metres further on, turn left onto a narrow, steep path. This leads onto a dirt track and then a small tarmac road that runs along the side of the valley for about 2 km. Ignore the two roads on the right that lead back up to the plateau.

(3) After passing the first houses and about twenty metres before reaching the village street (hamlet of La Clouse), turn right up the concrete path, which leads to the main road (Rue du Cimetière Américain). Turn left towards the memorial.

(4) When you reach the memorial, don’t miss the impressive view over the Pays d’Aubel, as well as a quick visit to the cemetery. Then continue along the road for 300 m with caution (don’t hesitate to walk on the grass verge as traffic is heavy!) and take the dead-end path on the right (Vogelsang).

(5) Once you reach the tree canopy and just past the farm, head down to the left onto the rutted path bordered by a hedge (a rather uncomfortable descent!). Keep to the right at the first fork, 150 m further down, and continue between the woods and the meadow. The path continues as a wider track between two hedges. At the end of the path (a sunken crossroads), turn right. After about fifty metres, this short path also runs between two tall hedges, then continues as a narrow tarmac track at the entrance to a farm, runs alongside another farm and arrives at a T-junction, near a copse.

(6) Go round the copse on the right and continue along the grassy farm track just beyond the copse. This track makes a wide bend to the right, then winds through the meadows to join a larger track. Turn left onto this track to reach the road (Gulpen hamlet).

(7) Cross the road by making a quick left-right turn and take a path leading to an old farmhouse. After walking alongside it, head straight up the steep path under the tree canopy. Once at the top, turn right onto the forest track. Follow it until you reach a track suitable for vehicles at the edge of a golf course.

(8) At the junction, turn right onto the tarmac road (Rue Saint-Martin / Kinenweg) running alongside the golf course. Follow it to the end (large hardware store) and continue straight on into Rue de Hombourg, which leads back to the centre of Henri-Chapelle.

(9) At the end of the street, turn left into Rue d’Aubel (viewpoint) and left again (Village) until you reach the village square (S/E).

The route is not very muddy, even in wet weather. However, good walking shoes are required, as several paths are stony.

- American War Memorial (1940–45).
- Hôtel de la Couronne, on the N3, just before the square, offering refreshments and food at the end of the walk