Ourthe (rivière) - Belgique walks

The route runs along the water's edge, passing several viewpoints, including the confluence of the two Ourthes rivers. The Nisramont dam and two footbridges are essential for crossing from one bank to the other. Please note: this is a challenging hike (see practical information)

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.

Limestone and blue stones make up a significant part of the habitat. Rue Haute is a fine example of this. Several limestone houses dating from the 18th century stand side by side. Among these are two listed buildings, the Moulin Faber and the Maison Godenir, which houses the Royal Tourist Office. The Aïve Cave/Neolithic cave, Ti Château/Roman camp, Trou Fré Djame... are other places you will encounter along this route.

This walk begins by following one of Wallonia's iconic rivers, with some beautiful rocks as a bonus, before offering a pleasant loop through the forests and countryside south of the tourist town.

The two Ourthes, the eastern Ourthe and the western Ourthe, meet at Engreux to form the Ourthe. Slightly downstream from their confluence, man built the Nisramont dam to form Lake Nisramont.

You will have covered almost 18 kilometres and will see two other very different types of boundary markers: two stone markers marking the former Belgian-Prussian border and two metal markers, still in use today, between Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.The Ourthe river is not very visible, but you will be riding alongside a beautiful nature reserve along its tributary at the end of the route, called Fooschtbaach in the Grand Duchy and Pihon in Belgium.

From mischievous nutons in the Ardennes forests to Satan, who in a fit of rage created the Fonds de Quarreux, to macralles bewitching hikers in the woods around Vielsalm, many legends haunt the Amblève and Salm valleys.

This stage ofthe GRP®571starts at Pont-de-Sçay near the confluence of the Ourthe and Amblève rivers, climbs up the Amblève slope, crosses Oneux and Chambralles, rejoins the valley and crosses the river at Martinrive. It continues on the other bank of the Amblève, passing through Aywaille, Heid des Gattes and Remouchamps.