Nearby:
The Charleroi–Brussels Canal and the Ronquières Incline
The old Charleroi–Brussels Canal and the River Samme
The medieval castle of Écaussinnes
Nivelles and its collegiate church
Ronquières and the ‘Bonhomme de Fer’
Part countryside, part woodland, this circular walk takes you on a journey of discovery through the area to the west of the Ronquières Inclined Plane on the Brussels–Charleroi Canal and the Hainaut town of Braine-le-Comte.
Whilst the walk does not strictly speaking pass through the incline site itself, it offers a fine view of its tower, visible from a great distance even though it lies at the bottom of the Senette valley.
Starting in the countryside, the route quickly climbs towards the Houssière forest, with its countless paths and tracks and its old sand pits.
You’ll come across the ‘Bonhomme de Fer’ at the southern end of this woodland. It is quite simply a geodetic marker dating fromthe mid-19th century, erected by the Belgian military engineers of the time to map Belgium more accurately. It formed part of a primary network of 86 points, some of which were marked by a cast-iron marker in the shape of a human figure.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 10.50 mi -
Average duration: 5h 25 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 640 ft -
Descent: - 643 ft -
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Highest point: 577 ft -
Lowest point: 194 ft
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Country:
Belgium
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City:
Braine-le-Comte -
Start/End: N 50.610345° / E 4.219913° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 236 ft - Ronquières Cemetery
- 1 : mi 0.72 - alt. 341 ft - Charly-des-Bois
- 2 : mi 1.04 - alt. 436 ft - The Houssière Woods
- 3 : mi 1.59 - alt. 354 ft - The stream in the Bois de Fauquez
- 4 : mi 3.66 - alt. 512 ft - The former Marouset sandpit
- 5 : mi 4.89 - alt. 574 ft - The former sand pit at Point du Jour
- 6 : mi 6.41 - alt. 469 ft - Bonhomme de Fer
- 7 : mi 7.84 - alt. 328 ft - Henripont
- 8 : mi 8.46 - alt. 236 ft - RAVeL
- S/E : mi 10.5 - alt. 236 ft - Ronquières Cemetery
Worth a visit
Reviews and comments
4.5 / 5
Based on 1 review
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
5 / 5
User 3340489
Overall rating : 4.5 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 21, 2026
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A lovely walk with a slight climb. The Bois de la Houssière is a magnificent forest, and the views of the surrounding countryside are also very beautiful and varied. A wonderful day in September ☺️
Machine-translated
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The climb back up takes you through the fields, always with the Ronquières Tower in view. After bidding it farewell, there’s a short break on the plateau and another panoramic view of the route you took on the way there, before you descend into the Ri de Fauquez valley, from where you climb back up to rejoin the original route. The icing on the cake is that you might just be greeted by a llama in a meadow...
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+108 ft
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+302 ft
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+217 ft
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