Lomme (rivière) - Belgique walks

Glacière, ponds, arboretum, Croix des Bûcherons, but also Croix des Morts, La Lomme, Rocher de Marie Gobaille. Let's set off on the grand tour of Mirwart.

UNESCO created the Geopark label to promote geological heritage. On this walk, you will discover part of Belgium's first Geopark, Famenne-Ardenne. On the agenda: caves, clay pits and resurgences.

Circular forest to discover the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Bon Secours, the Rocher Marie Gobaille and ending along the Lomme with its two 19th-century buildings, formerly hydroelectric power stations.

Glacière, ponds, arboretum, Croix des Bûcherons: circular around Mirwart Castle.

A walk through the woods of the Val de Poix. Suitable at any time of year: in summer for the cool air, in autumn for the colours, or in the snow for a peaceful atmosphere.

A wooded walk through the Grande Forêt de Saint-Hubert, amongst rivers and streams. The route takes you on a journey of discovery to the source of the Lesse, the old truffle grounds of Libin and its former kaolin quarry. Explore the valleys of this magnificent region at your own pace.

Discover the Notre-Dame des Pauvres Chapel, whose stained-glass windows, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, allow light to penetrate under the arch sheltering the Virgin of Banneux. Beforehand, cross the Pont des Cloyes, a prime spot for observing herons, mallards, kingfishers and other birds of the Lomme.

Set off to explore the vast forest of Saint-Hubert from Mirwart, taking a more open route through the rural hills of Arville. On the return journey, the route follows the meandering course of the River Lomme and its numerous passages under the railway line before climbing up the avenue leading to Mirwart Castle, which was splendidly renovated at the start ofthe 21st centuryand transformed into a hotel, restaurant and venue for receptions, seminars and outdoor events.

Starting from the Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Salette, the walk begins in the countryside before entering the woodland, quickly reaching the Lomme stream, which it follows upstream for over 4 km to the provincial fish farm at Mirwart.The ponds stretch out one after the other along the course of the Marsault or Marsolle stream to the former site of the Marsolle blast furnace, which operated from 1536 to 1568 on behalf of the Lord of Mirwart.The route then zigzags through the forest for around 9 kilometres to reach the rural heights of Bure and return to the starting point.

Hatrival seems to have adopted the crows as its emblem... why not!We didn’t spot any more or fewer than elsewhere, but it is indeed the town’s emblem that stands at the village entrance and adorns one or two of the local lodges.After skirting a huge stud farm, the walk heads into the forest for a few kilometres before reaching the hamlet of Pont de Libin and following the railway line.A long climb through the forest follows to reach the heights of the Carrière du Petit Bois.There’s a superb view of the quarry, but take care as the path running alongside it tends to crumble and the site’s safety fence is partially hanging over the drop!The walk then gradually leaves the forest to cross the N89 and reach the village of Bras-Haut and the surrounding countryside.Take care when crossing the N89 (see note in ‘Practical Information’ below), where the route joins the forest paths leading to the entrance to Hatrival.

This beautiful nature walk takes you close to Belgium's most famous resurgences: the Lomme and the Lesse, as well as the associated caves. It also offers some lovely views of the surrounding valleys.

A walk through the rolling Ardennes countryside around two rivers that are emblematic of the region. The Masblette is a tributary of the Lomme (also spelled L'Homme in some sources). Their confluence is located between the villages of Lesterny and Masbourg, south of Forrières.

This mainly woodland walk takes the walker from the centre of Poix-Saint-Hubert to the outskirts of Hatrival, where the route passes by the Écurie des Îles (a horse breeding and trading centre) before branching off into the woods again. There isa short stretch through fairly wild, overgrown terrain in the Bois de Poix around the 1 km mark. Shortly after the 7.5 km mark, the route literally plunges down the eastern slope of the Lomme (still known as L’Homme in some places) and passes under the Brussels–Luxembourg railway line. After a steep climb of a few hundred metres, the walk turns right to head back down towards the station and the starting point, passing by the village school.

The children in the group will love it… some of the adults, perhaps a little less so: around km 1, the GR®17 follows a barely visible path through mature forests, young spruce trees, young birch trees, broom and also a few brambles. It’s quite refreshing with the morning dew or after a good downpour!

Part countryside, part woodland, the walk offers lovely views across the slopes of the Lomme Valley and its surroundings.Of particular note are the Notre-Dame de Haurt Chapel and the nearby disused quarry (a protected site), the Clusure viewpoint, the Maison Espagnole, the Château de Burlin estate, the beautifully renovated farmhouse on Rue Belair, and the Notre-Dame des Pauvres Chapel – to name but a few of the walk’s highlights.

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.