This walk, which takes place almost entirely through woodland, will delight walkers in all seasons, offering a lovely variety of paths, vegetation and colours in spring and autumn.
There are no particular difficulties, apart from the odd steep climb, notably to reach the hamlets of Les Pierris and Les Haquets.
La Croix des Marchands marks both the highest point of the walk and the boundary between the municipalities of La Roche-en-Ardenne and Houffalize. In the19th century, bandits slaughtered and robbed sheep merchants at this important crossroads.
Mer and Belle Meuse starting from Bérismenil
Mer or Mère … signposts and place-name signs use both spellings. This stream rises in the hills south of Samrée and flows gently from cascade to cascade as far as Maboge, where it joins the Ourthe.
Further on, the other main stream on this walk is indeed called the Belle Meuse and has recently been colonised by beavers, judging by photos taken in 2017 – when there was virtually no sign of them and fording the stream posed no major problem – and in 2022, when crossing the path at km 14 is impossible without the small wooden bridges added at the side or without putting on waders. It, too, rises in the hills, at La Fange aux Mochettes to the north-east of Samrée, and flows southwards to join the Martin Moulin stream between Achouffe and Engreux.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 9.75 mi -
Average duration: 5h 30 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 1,175 ft -
Descent: - 1,145 ft -
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Highest point: 1,903 ft -
Lowest point: 1,224 ft
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Country:
Belgium
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Area: Massif des Ardennes -
City:
La Roche-en-Ardenne -
Start/End: N 50.178344° / E 5.664595° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,473 ft - Bérismenil Church
- 1 : mi 0.29 - alt. 1,388 ft - Sports stadium
- 2 : mi 1.19 - alt. 1,398 ft - Bois du Sart
- 3 : mi 1.76 - alt. 1,224 ft - Gué de la Mère
- 4 : mi 2.18 - alt. 1,365 ft - Ruisseau de la Mer
- 5 : mi 2.78 - alt. 1,621 ft - Les Pierris
- 6 : mi 4.28 - alt. 1,808 ft - Les Haquets
- 7 : mi 4.64 - alt. 1,850 ft - Croix de Chafor
- 8 : mi 5.58 - alt. 1,736 ft - Saint-Jean Chanoine
- 9 : mi 6.5 - alt. 1,903 ft - Croix des Marchands
- 10 : mi 7.52 - alt. 1,572 ft - Wibrin Wood
- 11 : mi 7.69 - alt. 1,572 ft - At Zaï
- 12 : mi 8.06 - alt. 1,532 ft - At Le Snery
- 13 : mi 8.41 - alt. 1,486 ft - Gerlé
- 14 : mi 8.7 - alt. 1,447 ft - Belle Meuse stream
- 15 : mi 9.23 - alt. 1,499 ft - Saint-Lambert Chapel
- S/E : mi 9.75 - alt. 1,473 ft - Bérismenil Church
Worth a visit
Off the route:
- La Roche-en-Ardenne
- The Nisramont dam and the confluence of the two Ourthes
Other walks in the area
An Ardennes getaway in the heart of the forest at Borzée
Visorando Member
10.66 mi
+1,358 ft
-1,385 ft
6h 05
Moderate
Departure from La Roche-en-Ardenne (Province de Luxembourg)
The forest completely surrounds Borzée. Borzée is a hamlet of La Roche-en-Ardenne. La Roche-en-Ardenne lies at the heart of the Ardennes. This circular tour takes you on a tour of the hamlet of Borzée and a section of the valleys of the Mer and Belle Meuse streams, two tributaries of the Ourthe.
From Cheslé to Hérou
6.28 mi
+981 ft
-981 ft
3h 45
Difficult
Departure from Houffalize (Province de Luxembourg)
A challenging walk in the Upper Ourthe region, along the wildest and most picturesque section of the valley. Discover an ancient Celtic fortress and the Hérou panorama, rated 2 stars by Michelin.
Borzée, or a beaver’s paradise
10.21 mi
+1,490 ft
-1,463 ft
6h 00
Moderate
Departure from La Roche-en-Ardenne (Province de Luxembourg)
Borzée, the cul-de-sac hamlet in the woods halfway up between Maboge along the Ourthe and Samrée on the plateau, had become virtually deserted since the closure of its iconic Nature Centre. It has come back to life and will likely become even livelier once the final phases of the Anatura Ardenne project to build a holiday village are completed.Borzée, the stream which officially rises in the hamlet’s pond behind the chapel and flows into the Mer stream barely 1.5 km further down, is literally overrun by beavers, whose dams, driftwood and gnawed, fallen tree trunks can be seen on either side of the valley.
The two Ourthes rivers and the Nisramont Dam
4.71 mi
+850 ft
-846 ft
2h 55
Moderate
Departure from La Roche-en-Ardenne (Province de Luxembourg)
Superb walk, relatively difficult in its first part
Forest loop in the heart of the Ardennes via Samrée
10.45 mi
+1,706 ft
-1,690 ft
6h 15
Moderate
Departure from La Roche-en-Ardenne (Province de Luxembourg)
Set off to discover the authentic Ardennes forest, far from the hustle and bustle of the tourist centre of La Roche-en-Ardenne. In mid-August, apart from a few people on the outskirts of Borzée, you may not meet any other hikers. Peace and quiet guaranteed.
Circular loop at the source of the Aisne
10.00 mi
+715 ft
-715 ft
5h 15
Moderate
Departure from Manhay (Province de Luxembourg)
The Tailles plateau rises to an altitude of around 650 metres, where fagnes, fanges, pools and peat bogs are home to the sources of many of the Ourthe’s tributaries. Two of the best-known streams are the Henri Moulin, which flows southwards and joins the Eastern Ourthe just before the Nisramont dam, and the Aisne, which flows northwards and joins the Ourthe at Bomal.This walk explores the northern part of the Plateau des Tailles and the wetlands where the Aisne has its source. The boardwalks installed in recent years at the bottom of the Fagne de Pouhon will save you from the wet feet that were a certainty in previous years! While you’re unlikely to spot any beavers, a bit of careful observation is all it takes to discover their handiwork.
Around the Aisne tourist tramway between Dochamps and Lamorménil
11.05 mi
+1,119 ft
-1,129 ft
6h 05
Moderate
Departure from Manhay (Province de Luxembourg)
Since 1965, the Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) has been operating an old Ardennes local railway line between Pont d'Érezée and Lamorménil. This long walk allows you to discover the last two (old) stations or stops.
Achouffe and the Martin Moulin Stream
5.44 mi
+604 ft
-597 ft
3h 00
Moderate
Departure from Houffalize (Province de Luxembourg)
Starting from Achouffe, discover the valley of the Ruisseau de Martin Moulin. The route follows forest paths and trails, ending with your feet in the water, and sometimes mud, on the path along the stream at the Moulin de Wihogne.
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