Walk in the woods of Marche-les-Dames

de fr

A lovely walk in the wooded hills of Marche-les-Dames: 1 km on the road to start with and 2 km on the towpath to finish, the rest is in the woods.
The path is largely marked by blue rectangles. The walk described deviates slightly from these markings to follow the ridges but rejoins them towards the end.

Details

n°3080078
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 328 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 324 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 189 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 69 m
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Photos

View of the first promontory
Very low tunnel under the railway at the end of the walk
Along the Meuse
Marche-Les-Dames

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in front of the Marche-les-Dames military barracks.

(S/E) When leaving the car park, head towards the station and then turn left onto the N992 (Notre-Dame du Vivier road) which climbs towards Gelbressée.

(1) Turn left towards Notre-Dame du Vivier Abbey, onto a small dead-end road that continues on the left along a path through the woods. Pass a path on the left and shortly afterwards you will reach a crossroads after an uphill stretch of about 1 km.

(2) Take the path on the far left. At the next junction, turn right, then left about 60 metres further on and left again to reach the first promontory overlooking the Meuse: be careful with children, as there is no protection.

(3) Enjoy the beautiful view, retrace your steps for about 100 metres, then turn left and follow the ridges above the rocks. Reach the second promontory and follow the same safety instructions.

(4) Continue to the right, then turn left onto the path to reach the third promontory: same safety precautions apply.

(5) Beautiful view of the Meuse. Continue along the path, turn left at the crossroads, then keep left again at the fork.

(6) After about 250 m, take a short detour to the left to reach the tragic rock, the place from which King Albert I fell: there is no commemorative plaque, just a large wall protecting the site. Retrace your steps.

(6) Continue to the left (west). At the next crossroads, take a sharp right turn and you will come to another fork in the road about a hundred metres from the one you passed on the way there.

(7) Head downhill to the left until you reach a path at the foot of the rocks (starting point for climbing routes). Turn left again and you will come out onto the N959.

(8) Turn right to cross the bridge over the railway line, walk carefully along the road for about 300 metres, then cross it to reach the towpath, which you follow to the left for almost 2 kilometres.

(9) Go through a very low tunnel under the railway tracks to return to the road. Then turn right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 79 m - Parking in front of the military barracks - Meuse (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 0.81 - alt. 102 m - Notre-Dame du Vivier Abbey
  3. 2 : km 1.71 - alt. 179 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.64 - alt. 117 m - First promontory - Viewpoint
  5. 4 : km 2.91 - alt. 113 m - Second promontory
  6. 5 : km 3.3 - alt. 147 m - Third promontory
  7. 6 : km 3.74 - alt. 181 m - Tragic rock
  8. 7 : km 5.21 - alt. 182 m - Junction
  9. 8 : km 6.57 - alt. 103 m - Cross the bridge on the right
  10. 9 : km 8.29 - alt. 105 m - Tunnel on the left
  11. S/E : km 8.55 - alt. 79 m - Parking in front of the military barracks

Notes

Easy parking is available at the start, in front of the Marche-les-Dames military barracks.
It is also possible to arrive by train, as the Marche-les-Dames station is very close by, or by bike via the towpath (8 km from Namur).

Not suitable for pushchairs and not recommended for young children due to the height of the rocks and the lack of protective barriers.

Quite muddy if it has been wet in the previous days.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 10780744

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Personally, I was dreading the last two kilometres along the Meuse, where the towpath runs alongside the road and railway line. I was wrong: this final stretch is an integral part of the appeal of the route, which is unfortunately too short.
It is true that the Marche les Dames wood is particularly modest in size.

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Libersart
Libersart

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, mainly through woods, ending with the last two kilometres along the Meuse River.

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Olivier1967
Olivier1967

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in the woods,
The return journey along the road and Meuse river is a bit monotonous.

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Bernard Bruxelles
Bernard Bruxelles

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk. Easy to follow with the blue square markers, even though they are less frequent and less visible near the cliffs. It's a shame there aren't more historical explanations about the area. The return trip along the Meuse was very pleasant and added variety to this walk

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ArinaTomberg
ArinaTomberg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I organised this magnificent walk again with my friends so that they could discover the superb views offered by the cliffs of Marche-le-Dame on the Meuse, as well as the historic site where King Albert I died. Each of them was captivated by the splendour of the landscapes stretching out before us. The majestic cliffs overlooking the Meuse revealed their breathtaking beauty, while the place where King Albert I lost his life prompted us to reflect deeply on history. An unforgettable experience to share.

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Ben1405
Ben1405
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike
To be repeated very soon!

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Am01
Am01

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, even though the weather was not on our side.
It can be very difficult in wet weather due to the mud, but in our case it wasn't a major problem.
On the descent out of the woods, just take the small path along the rock just before the one that runs alongside the railway. It's a spot for climbers
At the end of it, part of the cliff resembles a skull. It's nice to see if you're passing by 😁

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clausjm
clausjm

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, varied hike with elevation changes, mostly through wooded areas. The views are well worth the effort. The description is difficult to follow because there are many trails and the elevation changes make it hard to follow the route. Fortunately, there are blue squares, which are easy to follow. On the way back, there is about 1 km along the N road, which is not very pleasant, but the rest is worth it.

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bercaille
bercaille

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

There must be a mistake somewhere. Either on the map or on the signage on the ground, but the walk is actually only 6.7 km long, and the information provided at the start of the walk indicates 6.5 km

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ancoju
ancoju

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely forest walk
Thank you for sharing

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Gamin 1
Gamin 1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very parish specific to Brittany route with lovely views of the Meuse and surrounding villages

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Jeolen
Jeolen

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in the forest with beautiful views, but the whole section along the towpath is a bit depressing (apart from the view of the rocks, the scenery isn't very nice, the bushes along the riverbank are full of rubbish, the main road is very busy, and the railway runs right alongside). So we end a nice walk with 2 km where all we can think is "I can't wait to get there".
I would recommend finishing in the forest instead, even if it means retracing your steps at the beginning of the walk.

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Marley
Marley

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk. Very few people encountered

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PIRE
PIRE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We adapted the return route by heading back up towards the goose foot to avoid returning via the towpath and to make the ridges more interesting.

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isabelleseny
isabelleseny

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk in calm weather,
Muddy forest paths but magnificent forest and beautiful views.
Children must be supervised at all times.
We also enjoyed watching the climbers on the way back.
And as there was no space left in the car park in front of the barracks,
we parked in front of the station and were able to stay on the towpath until the end.
We also feel that the indicated elevation changes are a bit exaggerated.
We will probably do it again to see the forest in another season.

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