Neufchâteau (Belgique) walks

As you follow this circular route, discover the hidden gems of Neufchâteau and its villages: Keppler Mill, Étang de Bergh, Bois d'Ospau, the German mausoleum, the astronomical observatory, a replica of the Lourdes Grotto, the remains of an old slate quarry and, finally, the lake.

English farmers proclaim “No farmer, no food” ... and they’re probably quite right.This circular Chester loop shows just how important agriculture and forestry are to the region.Here there are few horses in the meadows but almost exclusively calves, cows and sheep grazing, with the occasional cereal crop here and there, all interspersed with woodlands consisting mainly of oak, beech and spruce!The Ardennes of yesteryear? Undoubtedly... but what a joy it is to still be able to enjoy it!Just outside Grandvoir, the Bois des Bois estate has recently been completely renovated and is a haven for nature-friendly tourism.Pure bliss!

A lovely walk through woods and meadows, via the Ardennes villages of Tronquoy, Respelt and Bernimont.The route consists mainly of pine forests and cattle pastures.

Set off to explore Banibois, in the heart of the woods crossed by the stream of the same name. This walk will take you through hundred-year-old oak trees, majestic beech trees and spruce plantations. You will also enjoy vast meadows on the edge of the woods.

This hike takes you on a journey of discovery through the rural and forested Ardennes east of Bertrix, completely off the beaten track. Apart from the surroundings of the Herbeumont slate quarry and a few crossings of main roads and the Bertrix-Athus railway line, used mainly for freight transport, it is completely peaceful and surrounded by nature. Don't miss the two castles in Biourge... go and admire them from the driveway of the first and through the porch of the second.

Set off to explore the native region of the Western Ourthe. This rural walk is offered as a short version of the long, signposted “Voie Saint-Antoine” route.A blanket of snow and overcast skies were the conditions for this hike undertaken on 1 January 2021.Much enjoyed... and also much appreciated that it wasn’t any longer, as making our way through 30 to 40 cm of snow to clear certain paths isn’t as easy as it looks: wet feet and trousers up to the knees, despite suitable kit, didn’t discourage us.Definitely one to repeat in other seasons and under different weather conditions.

This is the perfect walk if you want to enjoy the snow, when there is any, whilst travelling by train.The walk starts and finishes at Libramont station, in the Ardennes.This 8 km walk presents no major difficulties; its sole purpose is to take your mind off things without the hassle of a car.

Those who love nature and solitude will be in their element: it is possible not to encounter a single hiker on this circular route, which is half countryside and half woodland, even on a fine summer’s day. You may come across some roe deer.

A short walk through Bertrix, passing a restored former water tower, with views of Bertrix and the arboretum.

A shaded route through the Chiny Forest, where you can explore the wild Vierre, a tributary of the Semois, after the dam of the same name.

The Ardennes is, of course, all about the forest. But it’s also about the countryside!The traditional image needs to be slightly nuanced, and the circular route presented here is a fine example: half countryside, half forest, the route offers a wonderful variety of landscapes and passes through forests of various species, alternating between deciduous and coniferous trees.The Belgian icing on the cake: a few signs placed on either side of the starting point remind us that Belgium is the birthplace of the comic strip.

The village of Chiny is renowned for its storytelling festival. Located on the border between the Ardennes and Gaume regions, Chiny is ideal for walking. Come and discover its magnificent views, nestled among the meanders of the Semois. Revised route

This Ardennes circular route offers beautiful scenery across the rolling countryside around Laneuville and Remience and passes through open forests with a variety of tree species typical of the region.Magnificent in spring, the colours of nature are just as splendid in autumn... and what can one say when nature is covered in a pristine blanket of snow in winter.A few ponds and beaver dams add a pleasant touch to the route.Completely off the beaten track, the likelihood of meeting anyone is very low: we only came across one person loading logs onto his lorry and a farmer repairing the fences around his pastures.Consequently, there are very few benches and not a single picnic table along the entire route. There are no shops either: don’t set off without bringing at least some food and drink.

Route on one of the slopes of the Semois, from Bertrix to Cugnon, from the Château des Fées to the Point de Vue de La Mergire, from the Moulin de Cugnon to the Old Cemetery of Mortehan, returning via the old Bertrix-Herbeumont railway line, now the RAVeL and Route des Pierres qui Parlent.

Explore the forest to discover the Roche Perette and then the Rocher du Chat viewpoint, follow the Semois twice and finish at the château and the Épioux pond.

This walk is simply intended as a chance to recharge your batteries in the forest, in this case the Neufchâteau forest. Passing through the Forges de Mellier and the Étang du Cul de l'Oie.

A complete and accessible hike in the heart of Les Épioux. From the car park, you descend towards the Semois to follow the river along an almost flat section. The route then alternates between quiet roads, forest paths and beautiful climbs, notably towards the Château des Épioux and the wooded heights. You descend towards the Semois through the trees, following increasingly mossy streams, before reaching the Vanne des Moines and climbing towards the Roche du Chat.

Hike in the Épioux region, above Chassepierre, between Chassepierre and Herbeumont. The route follows the Semois for much of the way, through sun-dappled forests, peaceful riverbanks and secluded footpaths. With its significant elevation gain, the route alternates between steep climbs and gentler sections, offering beautiful views of the valley. You’ll also come across a few unusual sculptures along the way, which add an artistic touch to this immersion in nature.

From the Roche du Chat viewpoint via the Vanne des Moines, a short forest trail starting from Les Epioux.

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 route is mainly through woodland. Choose autumn for the colours or a sunny day to enjoy the scent of pine trees warmed by the sun. A moderate hike in terms of length, with no difficulties to be expected.

Once upon a time, there was a railway line numbered 163 that linked Libramont to Gouvy via Bastogne. It is the small stretch of the Ardennes situated between Remience and Morhet, to the north of this disused railway line, that this walk invites you to discover.The alternation between forest and countryside provides the variety of experiences essential to any good walk.Although there are a few rather gloomy stretches of pine forest here and there, the walk ends with a splendid stretch of forest, as wild as you could wish for, around the 18 km mark.Architecture-wise: a small castle hidden in the woods near Morhet Station and the Chapel of Remience (where a touch of AI helps remove the countless power lines that spoil the photos).

Discover the rocky outcrops of the Rocher du Saltire, and perhaps its heather depending on the season, as well as the view over the Semois from Le Castelain.

Is the walk awful? Not at all! The route winds through the countryside and forests of north-eastern Libramont. And when the magic of winter appears, it can take many forms! Even when there is no snow! Frosty fog can adorn the vegetation with a magnificent display. Another completely different natural phenomenon is the formation of white filamentous ice on dead branches caused by a fungus that releases water which freezes in the form of silky filaments. In summer, the atmosphere is inevitably different... and so are the landscapes! You are unlikely to have the chance to observe a stray deer in the middle of the meadows near the ponds of Château de Freux for long.

This unpretentious walk allows you to wander around the villages of Freux and Bras, through pastures and along country roads. The walk starts in front of Freux church, where there is a large car park.

Several series of ponds strung together like a string of pearls stretch between Freux, Bougnimont and Séviscourt. The hike takes you to those near the magnificent Freux-Suzerain castle. The others are even more hidden away at the bottom of vast private estates. For the rest, this hike is rather rural on the north side and very wooded on the south side. The end of the wooded section crosses the pretty marshy area of Golo.

The magnificent Thibessart Pond, on the Mandebras Stream, features a bird and dragonfly observation point. An educational trail has been created there, focusing on dragonflies.

Starting from Azy, a hamlet in the municipality of Florenville, discover the Semois, the Dolmen d'Azy and the Point de Vue de Bohahan.

From Florenville to Meix-devant-Virton, our path will take us along a succession of forest tracks and paths and gravel roads. It also means leaving the gentle riverbank behind to venture deep into the steeply wooded massif on the southern slope of the Semois.

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.

For a return trip to Metz in a single day, this route takes you to Longuyon station. Provided you set off early enough, you’ll be able to visit Orval Abbey, then the citadel of Montmédy, stop for lunch by the Étang de Charency-Vezin and reach Longuyon by mid-afternoon.

Starting from Chassepierre, this route through the Gaume region allows time to visit remarkable cultural sites and another of the ‘most beautiful villages in Wallonia’. This involves a few detours, but fewer than those along the Semois, where the route cuts across several bends! The route description refers to the ‘nodes’ of the cycle network developed in Belgium. The route includes a loop through Arlon to the viewpoint at the top of Knippchen, which can be done in the evening or the following morning.

For most of the route, this third stage follows roads suitable for cycling, smooth paths and cycle lanes. The Semois meanders so much that it is impossible to ‘follow’ it along its entire length, but this route crosses it numerous times and heads all the way up to its source in Arlon!The ride takes you through the Gaume and the Arlon region, away from the main roads with heavy motor traffic.