The first meanders of the Lesse from Ochamps

This second section runs along the eastern boundary of the municipality of Libin. After a night at the Bané campsite, explore the Anciennes Troufferies Nature Reserve and the Noire Eau valley as it joins the Lomme, before finishing at the former kaolin quarry in Libin.

The walk runs alongside and through the two nature reserves set up to preserve the former peat bogs or fens situated between the N40 and the railway line linking Brussels to Luxembourg. These sections offer a landscape typical of the ‘fagne’ region, with heathland, pools and shrubs.The entire route runs through woodland, with a wide variety of tree species offering a fairly balanced mix of conifers and deciduous trees. There is little undergrowth, allowing you to appreciate the forest in all its splendour.There are lovely views of the Large Fontaine stream just before the 3 km mark, the Fagne de Tailsus stream around the 6 km mark, and the Lomme stream at the 8 km mark, just before the steepest climb of the day.

Troufferies: a Walloon word meaning peat bogs, i.e. a place where peat is extracted. Peat was extracted in Libin from the Middle Ages until the 1930s. Come and stroll through a forest landscape of marshes, peat bogs, mud flats and moors... unusual in this part of the Ardennes.

Set entirely within woodland, apart from a stretch of about 500 metres after the first crossing of the N40, this walk alternates between tracks, paths, areas of deciduous trees, areas of conifers, clear-cut areas, tall trees, small trees, grassy areas and other undergrowth, making for a very pleasant route where monotony never sets in.The first real point of interest you’ll come across is the old Arfaye quarry, where kaolin was once mined. It’s not the only one in the region: there’s another one along the road between Libin and Smuid. The Roche de Colanhé is worth a mention and a brief stop, as this type of rock is rare in this part of the Lomme basin. ‘Troufferie’ means ‘peat bog’ in Walloon. The entire area to the east of the route forms a landscape of peat bogs, mudflats and heathland, which is rather rare in this part of the Ardennes. The peat bogs are no longer worked, but some peaty areas are currently being restored.

An eight-shaped route to the legendary site of Rocher du Cuy, also known as Roche aux Nutons, and the Villance forest. Nutons are creatures from Belgian and Ardennes folklore, often described as small, skilful beings living in caves and near waterways.

This region of the southern Ardennes is particularly active in forestry: the small village of Jéhonville alone has two sawmills. The forest is omnipresent, even though the route crosses a few areas of pasture and crops. The hike is a free combination of sections of local walking trails, GR® trails, the "Between Lesse and Lomme" route that circles the municipality of Libin, and unmarked but publicly accessible paths. The route crosses a didactic route called "Sur les traces de 14-18" (In the footsteps of 14-18) and passes through the Vieille Rochette Nature Reserve. You may or may not like the unusual shape of the bell tower of the church in Jéhonville.

The title of this walk is a nod to – and a plug for – the signposted walk entitled ‘Sur les traces de 14-18’ (In the footsteps of 14-18), which starts in Anloy and traces the history of the First World War in the Ardennes village of Anloy through a multitude of very well-made information panels.Of these information panels, this particular route only takes you past two: one at a place called Franc-Bois and the other, just before the finish, at the Franco-German cemetery in Anloy-Bruyères.Largely through woodland with a good mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, the walk will also take you past the Pont de la Justice and, nearby, the developed wetland area of the Ri de Chêne.

Circular route in the Ardennes forest in the Libin region, combining forest paths, trails and quiet country roads for the last two kilometres. Set off to discover the Devil's Stone, the Haute Lesse, the Pont de la Justice and Notre-Dame de Taillevent.