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Rue des Trappistes
The walk follows part of the ‘Sentier des Abbayes Trappistes de Wallonie’ (Wallonia Trappist Abbeys Trail), the ‘Grande Forêt du Pays de Chimay’ trail and a few other local walks.
The walk takes you along the watershed between the English Channel and the North Sea and/or the Seine and the Meuse to Scourmont Abbey, better known as Chimay Abbey, mainly due to the beers and cheeses produced and sold by the Trappist monks.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 11.15 mi -
Average duration: 5h 40 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 659 ft -
Descent: - 640 ft -
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Highest point: 1,112 ft -
Lowest point: 833 ft
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 840 ft - Car park, Rue des Trappistes
- 1 : mi 6.99 - alt. 1,043 ft - Alternative No. 1
- S/E : mi 11.15 - alt. 840 ft - Car park, Rue des Trappistes
Notes
Please note that the route can be very wet after a spell of rain, particularly in the forest from the 10th kilometre onwards, where there are numerous small streams to wade across.
Refreshments are available at the Espace Chimay (formerly the Auberge de Poteaupré) or at the Ferme des 4 Saisons (Bib Gourmand).
Reviews and comments
4.8 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
4.5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
5 / 5
User 30264245
Overall rating : 4.5 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 02, 2026
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A lovely walk with a route that’s generally well signposted. There are, however, two sections that require a little more care, particularly towards the end where the path becomes less visible after a long straight stretch offering exceptional views. The app helped us easily find the right path whenever we were unsure of the route. Despite the high temperature, the coolness of the forest made the walk particularly pleasant. Well worth doing again and again.
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jacques.nys
Thank you, Pirenne, for the positive comment.
Sorry for the inconvenience caused around km 12.
The state of the vegetation is probably not the same in all seasons.
I have updated the description and indicated how to get around/avoid this section.
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Pirenne
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
The only downside is that before reaching the Forge Jean Petit road, when the route leaves the GR, it leaves the good gravel path and turns left onto an uphill path that is heavily overgrown with brambles and nettles, when it would be possible to go around Haute Grange and avoid this inconvenience.
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Other walks in the area
In the Great Forest of Chimay
Visorando Member
10.53 mi
+456 ft
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+541 ft
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The Virelles Pond is a beautiful natural body of water in the Botte du Hainaut, unlike the nearby Eau d’Heure lakes, which were created by man in the 1970s. This long walk around Virelles Pond doesn’t actually take you right up to the water’s edge, as the pond has been designated a nature reserve and management of its surroundings has been entrusted to the Aquascope. There’s an entry fee to get close to the lake! That said, the route follows a short stretch of the RAVeL, plenty of footpaths and forest tracks, and a bit of tarmac, allowing you to discover, in turn, the onion-domed bell tower of Virelles Church, the Blaimont viaduct and its silent clock (a sundial erected in 2022), the northern part of La Ferrière, the Prés de Virelles nature reserve, the odd bit of work by our beaver friends, a very damp woodland area beyond the Prés de Virelles, and a path that gets particularly muddy in winter after the picnic area.
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6.37 mi
+276 ft
-302 ft
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The Virelles Pond, known locally as "Lac de Virelles", and its Aquascope are major centres for nature conservation. You will be blown away by this natural site, surrounded by green valleys, wooded slopes and picturesque villages. Along the Eau Blanche, the murmur of the waterfalls will lull you as you walk.
Étang de la Fourchinée and Bois de Seloignes circular
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+108 ft
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This walk starts at the Étang de la Fourchinée nature reserve, crosses the Bois de Saint-Remy and then the Bois de Seloignes, before returning along a small tarmac country road for about 1,500 metres. In the Bois de Seloignes, you will pass close to the Source de l'Eau Blanche.
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+449 ft
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The (W)Artoise and the Maginot Line in Cendron
7.93 mi
+312 ft
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11.20 mi
+482 ft
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In this corner of Thiérache, the forest, ponds and waterways have been the driving force behind various economic activities throughout the ages. Livestock farming also plays an important role in this region of scattered settlements and hedgerows.
This hike can be shortened by almost half. See Practical Information
21/08/2024: Hike modified.
The Croix Colas route
Local authority6.94 mi
+318 ft
-318 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Signy-le-Petit (Ardennes)
This route offers a pleasant walk, alternating between forest paths, country lanes and waterside trails. The woods provide welcome shade, whilst the more open sections offer glimpses of the surrounding countryside. You’ll also come across some local heritage sites and hamlets, which lend the route an authentic feel. The presence of small streams and the canal creates a calm and cool atmosphere, which is particularly pleasant in summer. A varied and accessible route, ideal for a peaceful outing in the countryside.
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