Ourthe occidentale (rivière) - Affluent de l'Ourthe walks

A waterside route passing several viewpoints, notably the confluence of the two Ourthes. The Nisramont Dam and two footbridges are essential for crossing from one bank to the other.Please note: this is a challenging walk (see practical information)

Starting from the hamlet of Beauplateau and the former convent built in 1880, set off to discover the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Lorette via covered and uncovered trails, roads and dirt tracks.

A few sculptures, a bit of nature reserve with the occasional sign of beavers here and there, and a bit of countryside: that’s what this walk has to offer.

This beautiful hike in Sainte-Ode takes you on a journey of discovery through the valleys of the Ourthe, Baseille and Laval streams, alternating between forest and pretty panoramic views of this region of the Ardennes, with a return trip through the Orti Nature Reserve.

Superb walk, relatively difficult in its first part

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.

The valleys of the western Ourthe, its tributary the Laval, and the Orti Nature Reserve are particularly interesting at the start. After Wachirock, a succession of lovely countryside scenes unfolds, with panoramic views across this beautiful, rolling region. The stretch between Tillet and Amberloup offers a particularly relaxing atmosphere. The return journey along the outskirts of Tonny, through the countryside, in the undergrowth or along the edges of woodland, provides a very pleasant finale to this easy walk.Keen observers will probably spot the odd remnant of a work of art near the nature reserve, the gigantic white building of the holiday centre overlooking Amberloup, and the Château du Celly in the direction of the Cheslin Rocks. Happy spotting! Well worth a go in any season!

As a result, the walk is more rural than wooded, offering more panoramic views of this beautiful region. Whilst the natural scenery is lovely, don’t expect too many architectural or artistic highlights: there are a few works of art along the old country lane between Amberloup and Lavacherie, the Saint-Hubert Chapel in Bonnerue and the Church of Saint-Ouen in Tillet with its separate bell tower, but that’s about it.

The Agaric walk, adapted here, offers a wide variety of landscapes along the route: sometimes wooded with scrub, sometimes with deciduous trees, and often open, with beautiful panoramic views of the neighbouring rolling countryside.