Les Bons Villers walks

Les Bons Villers, Villers-Perwin, Villers-la-Ville... these three Villers, among the many others in Wallonia, share the border between Hainaut and Walloon Brabant on a plain called Chassart, named after the prosperous factories built inthe 19th centuryby the Chassart family just a few miles away.Countryside, countryside and more countryside: that's what you'll find on this refreshing ride.

An easy route around the villages of Obaix and Buzet, passing by a few farms typical of the region.

This country and forest walk takes you on a grand tour around the ruins of Villers-la-Ville Abbey (well worth a visit) along a beautiful array of village paths, country lanes and forest trails.

Inthe 19th century, the Dumont family founded the Établissements de Chassart, modernised agriculture and livestock farming and set up a sugar factory following the development of beet cultivation in the region. This was followed by the creation of a distillery and the production of the famous Chassart Vieille Cuvée genever. In 1906, the family name was ennobled to Dumont de Chassart.

A short, almost entirely shaded circular loop in the beautiful little Bois de Bérinnes forest in Genappe. Part of the route runs alongside the Ry d'Hez stream, which has been transformed by beavers. At the start and end of the walk, there are views of some very pretty gardens.

Hike around the Rosseignies stream, at the top of a Senne watershed. Wide variety of surfaces and landscapes.

The hike starts at Avenue des Habitations Modernes and goes to the turret stable, passing through fields, forests, a small village and the Ravel. This hike will allow you to discover peaceful and pretty spots for beginners.

An easy walk through the pretty region of Arquennes, along paths, country lanes, woodland edges and the Ravel cycle route, returning along the Charleroi/Brussels canal. The route is almost entirely car-free.

Starting from the historic site of "Napoleon's last headquarters", this walk will introduce you to a region that is too often overlooked. You will take a quiet road, a dirt track and then paths over a small river before climbing up to a road that you will quickly cross to find another path at the bottom of the garden... And there you are in the centre of Plancenoit for a short while. Very quickly, your steps will take you back to crossroads combining tarmac (a little) and natural ground to cross the river again, then pastures and a historic farm, ending up on a very, very quiet road.

As invigorating as can be in strong winds, this circular walk takes place mainly in the countryside on the agricultural plain between Gembloux, Jemeppe-sur-Sambre, Chastre and Sombreffe, bypassing the Docq crossroads (N29 x N93).In our opinion, it is more interesting on the north side than on the south side.You will discover some beautiful isolated trees, some magnificent rows of trees, the odd merry-go-round, the strange Donjon de Villeret, the (deconsecrated) Église des Alouettes in the middle of nowhere, the Château d'eau de Sombreffe and a park of modern windmills (= wind turbines). Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

This circular route takes you along interesting paths around the villages of Céroux-Mousty and Court-Saint-Étienne. The highlight of the walk is the Sentier du Sculpteurs (Sculptors' Trail) with its magnificent wooden sculptures. A shortcut can be taken to reduce the walk to around 6 km.

A rural hike in Walloon Brabant, discovering a few villages crossed by the Orne and its tributaries.

A pleasant circular walk in the woods near Charleroi. Discover part of the Eau d'Heure valley and the charming village of Jamioulx. The Eau d'Heure is a small river that flows into the Sambre at Marchienne-au-Pont. It gets its name from its unique ability to rise in an hour and fall just as quickly.

Here is a short, easy walk in the woods of Leernes and along the Sambre.

A little countryside, a little forest, a little town, a little of the Sambre with a lock and an old drawbridge, the Abbey of Aulne, Thuin, Hourpes, its strange castle and lots of forest to finish off – that's what's on the programme for this walk.

In the heart of Walloon Brabant, Ittre reveals a landscape of deep forests and secret valleys. The Bois des Frères, Bois du Bailli and Bois du Chapitre offer a refuge for wildlife. Le Bilot and La Baraque l'Hermitage combine ancient stones and peaceful clearings.Around Braine-le-Château, the heritage tells the story: medieval castle, Ferme Sainte-Croix and villages with evocative names such as Derrière les Monts or Le Cheval Blanc. Local legends still tell of white horses crossing the woods at dusk.The paths wind between hills and meadows, on sandy and clay soils. Heather, holly and oak trees make up the typical Brabant landscape. Mixed forests, wet meadows, orchids, ferns, deer and rare birds punctuate the walk. Between nature, history and legends, Ittre invites you to immerse yourself peacefully in the memory of the woods. Hike without description to be followed with the Visorando app.

Starting from the pleasant little square in Ittre, a small path quickly leads to unusual places so close to the town. Then there are vast landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see, followed by a pleasant walk through the Bois du Chapitre forest as you continue on your way. This is how this circular route is constructed, with a few streets here and there connecting the paths that take precedence here. And, as the icing on the cake, you pass by the Brussels-Charleroi Canal, discover lock no. 5 and the Ittre marina, and, before setting off again, stroll through the narrow streets of Ittre.

This walk will help you discover Ohain. Miss Kika will take you along small paths, trails and lanes, crossing the golf course towards the Smohain valley, which you will follow for most of the walk. Together with the Lasne river, into which it flows, it gives the village its relief, while the numerous ponds attract many species of birds. The variety of landscapes, horses and numerous marked trails are what make this town so charming.

The tour is suitable for Nordic walking, despite a few short stretches on asphalt on small country roads and some cobblestones. Ohain is renowned for its agriculture and the diversity and beauty of its landscape. Several rivers run through the municipality, such as the Lasne (a tributary of the Dyle) and a few streams, including the Ohain.

This short walk takes you through the countryside to the bleak plain of Waterloo and its magnificent golf course, where golf enthusiasts have long since replaced Napoleon's armies.

A beautiful little hike, mainly on trails interspersed with a few short stretches on quiet roads, offering beautiful panoramic views and some magnificent trees. You may be lucky enough to spot a deer or two, a fox or a badger as you pass through one of the shady corners of the walk. Take the time to soak up the serenity of the undergrowth and stop at the foot of the remarkable trees.

Hike through the woods and bucolic trails of Wavre, Limal, Bierges and Rixensart

At the start, the hike offers an outdoor visit to the Château d'Ham-sur-Heure and the Sentier des Prairies du Château, which leads to the station, passing close to a waterfall and a half-bridge over the Eau d'Heure. After the station, the hike takes you over hill and dale through the forest for about 4.5 km before moving decisively into the countryside until you return to Ham-sur-Heure.

Around Thuin, a charming little fortified town, this short hike partly follows the Ravel 3 and Ravel line 109/2, passing through typical streets on the ramparts of Thuin and the magnificent Grand Bon Dieu woods.

Chaumont-Gistoux, like many places in Walloon Brabant, is full of small paths and trails connecting the villages, hamlets and neighbourhoods of the area. This is one of the highlights of the walk.

A beautiful hike (just over 3 hours), much appreciated, combining forests, streams, ponds and countryside. You will also be able to admire the castle of Sart-Eustache. There are a few short sections on tarmac, but these are necessary to reach other beautiful sections where the forest dominates. Hunting dates below

Whatever the season, this route will allow you to discover the splendours of the Bois du Grand Fréchy, all along the Ruisseau de l'Étang du Diable. A truly exotic route despite its short distance. I suggest another route in the same area: "Around the Bois du Grand Fréchy" (17 km). See hunting dates below

Enjoy this beautiful, peaceful hike with a few hills between countryside, woods and rivers. For those who would like a few extra kilometres, see my other hike in the same area (No. 6600390).