Medium-length walk around the Grottes de Han estate

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This medium-length walk around the Grottes de Han estate naturally differs in a few respects from the walk known as the ‘Grand Tour of the Grottes de Han estate’. It does not follow the course of the Lesse between Belvaux and Resteigne Castle, but it does take in the hermitage site and, above all, involves climbing to the top of the rocky cliff face to the north of the estate via an alpine-style path. This walk is probably not suitable for all children, but the bravest and most determined will enjoy the small playground at the starting point, the famous ‘alpine’ trail, and spotting animals on the outskirts of the park or from the Griffaloux viewpoint.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.56 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,332 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,352 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 945 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 495 ft
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Photos

The alpine trail crosses a scree slope to climb up to the viewpoint

Description of the walk

A few details:

(1) The watermill is the first house in the row. Turn left after the last house to see the leat and the wheel of the old mill.

(3) To see and (try to) decipher the stone inscriptions commissioned by the hermit, take the small path leading down to the north of the site. The inscriptions are carved into a pile of rocks situated below the ruins of the tower.
(7) The path that climbs from the edge of the woodland to the viewpoint (8) is described as ‘alpine’ because the slope is quite steep and it crosses a scree slope worthy of those in the Alps. Caution is essential, even though it is by no means a ledge. It is strongly advised against for the descent. It is this section that leads me to describe the route as difficult. The rest of the route presents no particular problems.

(12) The Griffaloux viewpoint offers a bird’s-eye view of one end of the wildlife park, where fallow deer and Heck horses usually graze. Be careful – there is no guardrail at the edge of the precipice! It’s an excellent spot for a picnic with a distant view of the Royal Castle of Ciergnon.

(13) The route runs alongside the fence (on the outside) of the wildlife park. You may (or may not) spot Heck aurochs, deer (does and stags), storks, lynx and vultures (near the gate at (14)).

(14) The Gouffre de Belvaux was privatised a very long time ago… which is great news for the conservation of the site and its operators, but much less so for walkers who’d like to see this exceptional chantoir without having to pay for a full tour of the caves or the wildlife park!

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 564 ft - Belvaux Chapel
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 561 ft - Former watermill in Belvaux
  3. 2 : mi 1.39 - alt. 928 ft - Edmond d’Hoffschmidt de Resteigne’s Hermitage
  4. 3 : mi 1.44 - alt. 912 ft - Inscriptions carved into stone
  5. 4 : mi 2.52 - alt. 676 ft - Viewpoint over the Grignaux anticline
  6. 5 : mi 3.75 - alt. 499 ft - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  7. 6 : mi 4.39 - alt. 538 ft - Resurgence of the - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  8. 7 : mi 5.42 - alt. 587 ft - Alpine trail – scree slope
  9. 8 : mi 5.55 - alt. 774 ft - Viewpoint
  10. 9 : mi 5.7 - alt. 751 ft - Calcareous meadow
  11. 10 : mi 6.05 - alt. 568 ft - Saint-Martin Fountain
  12. 11 : mi 6.51 - alt. 574 ft - Inter-Allied Monument
  13. 12 : mi 7.04 - alt. 728 ft - Griffaloux rock and viewpoint
  14. 13 : mi 8.32 - alt. 623 ft - Wildlife park
  15. 14 : mi 8.51 - alt. 568 ft - Near the Gouffre de Belvaux
  16. S/E : mi 9.56 - alt. 564 ft - Belvaux Chapel

Notes

There are a few benches here and there, but not many. The one at (8) is particularly well situated for a picnic break.
There’s a small children’s playground at the starting point (S/E) and a few benches for a snack break after your walk and before heading back.

Worth a visit

Han-sur-Lesse: caves and wildlife park (admission fee applies – check opening hours)

Other walks in the area

Walking L’Ermitage via the Bois de Niaux

Visorando Member
L'Ermitage par le Bois de Niaux
↔2.62 mi ↗+154 ft ↘-154 ft ◔1h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
Magnificent in spring when the daffodils are in bloom, in autumn for the flamboyant colours of the deciduous trees, and largely shaded during the summer months. Set off to explore the Ermitage halfway along the route and the Réserve des Pairées, a juniper-lined reserve that you’ll pass on both the outward and return journeys.

Walking Grand tour of the Han Caves estate

Visorando Member
Grand tour du domaine des Grottes de Han
↔13.20 mi ↗+1,257 ft ↘-1,240 ft ◔7h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
A visit to the Caves of Han is a must. At least once in your life, you must go there to admire the natural beauty shaped by water in the Boine limestone massif over millions of years! Of course, the walk suggested here does not go inside, but takes a wide loop around the forest estate, which has been privately owned and fenced off since the 1960s to preserve its condition. As a result, whilst you can still see the Lesse resurgence, it is unfortunately no longer possible to see beyond the top of the rock at the point where it disappears into the Gouffre de Belvaux. That said, this walk also offers the chance to discover the Ry d’Ave, the Rocher d’Hérimont, the limestone hill on the north side, the viewpoint at the Rocher de Griffaloux on the east side, the village of Belvaux, the old Lesse quarry, Resteigne Castle, the Tiennes and Pairées nature reserves, the juniper-covered meadows, and the undergrowth carpeted with daffodils, lilies of the valley and other flowers depending on the season.

Walking Walk from Resteigne to Belvaux

Visorando Member
Promenade de Resteigne à Belvaux
↔5.00 mi ↗+630 ft ↘-607 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
A delightful mix of sights to discover throughout these 8 km: some lovely viewpoints, including Rocher à Pic and the La Lesse quarry, the Ellinchamps Forest Reserve, the bread oven and the Belvaux Chapel, as well as the Herdal Resurgence on the way back.

Walking Circular Daffodil Walk to Edmond d’Hoffschmidt’s hermitage

Visorando Member
Boucle des jonquilles à l'ermitage d'Edmond d'Hoffschmidt
↔10.17 mi ↗+1,070 ft ↘-1,047 ft ◔5h 35 ▲Average
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
Starting from the old Resteigne Quarry, set off to explore Resteigne Castle, the old watermill, the new footbridge over the Lesse, the nature reserves (pastures, juniper bushes, etc.), millions of wild daffodils (in season), the former hermitage of Edmond d’Hoffschmidt, the pretty village of Belvaux and the viewpoint overlooking the Lesse valley from the Rocher à Pic.

Walking Han-sur-Lesse geological walk

Visorando Member
Promenade géologique de Han-sur-Lesse
↔5.93 mi ↗+554 ft ↘-551 ft ◔3h 15 ▲Average
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
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.

Walking Hermitage and Resteigne Castle

Visorando Member
Ermitage et Château de Resteigne
↔10.20 mi ↗+922 ft ↘-892 ft ◔5h 30 ▲Average
⚑Departure from Tellin (Province de Luxembourg)
A walk starting from Tellin to discover the villages of Resteigne and Belvaux via the La Lesse valley and the Bois de Niau (woodland) where a hermit lived. There are still ruins of the hermitage of this former officer of Napoleon and heir to the Château de Resteigne (castle). On the way go past the Rocher à Pic viewpoint, the Belvaux chapel, the Hermitage, the Mill, the Castle and the old Resteigne quarry.

Walking Between rock and water in Han-sur-Lesse

Visorando Member
↔9.92 mi ↗+1,237 ft ↘-1,230 ft ◔5h 40 ▲Average
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
Welcome to Han-sur-Lesse, where nature and mystery meet. Between rivers and ponds, the Lesse winds its way between limestone cliffs and dry hills with rare flora, contrasting with the damp valleys. Underground, a fascinating world: rocks sculpted by water, caves, sinkholes and cavities bear witness to millions of years of erosion. In woods such as the Banalbois or the Griffaloux, the atmosphere becomes wilder. Ancient hermitages remind us of the presence of recluses in search of peace. A walk amidst rock, water and forest, rich in history and sensations.

Walking Around Ave-et-Auffe

Visorando Member
Autour d'Ave-et-Auffe
↔6.47 mi ↗+446 ft ↘-446 ft ◔3h 20 ▲Average
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
An easy hike accessible via the E411 motorway. Just 5 km from the Caves of Han-sur-Lesse, come and discover the charming village of Ave-et-Auffe, the village of my childhood. Formed by a merger in 1820, it stretches on either side of the Ry d’Ave, on the border with the province of Luxembourg but still within the province of Namur. Beautiful views over the Famenne and the foothills of the Ardennes. Breeding of Ardennes horses and alpacas. In March and April, daffodils, flowerbeds and hawthorns will delight you.

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