Sainte-Ode walks

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.

The walk begins in an orchard with heritage fruit varieties and an apiary, before following a sunken path that descends to the bottom of the Laval Valley. Beavers, ponds, artistic installations... so many discoveries await you.

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.

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

From the beautiful village of Lavacherie, set off to explore the Chapelle de la Bonne Dame and the Cheslin viewpoint. On your way back, pass by the Golet campsite and through the village streets, where magnificent houses built from local stone come into view.

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.

This unpretentious walk allows you to wander around the villages of Freux and Bras, through pastures and along country roads. The walk starts in front of Freux church, where there is a large car park.

Once upon a time, there was a railway line numbered 163 that linked Libramont to Gouvy via Bastogne. It is the small stretch of the Ardennes situated between Remience and Morhet, to the north of this disused railway line, that this walk invites you to discover.The alternation between forest and countryside provides the variety of experiences essential to any good walk.Although there are a few rather gloomy stretches of pine forest here and there, the walk ends with a splendid stretch of forest, as wild as you could wish for, around the 18 km mark.Architecture-wise: a small castle hidden in the woods near Morhet Station and the Chapel of Remience (where a touch of AI helps remove the countless power lines that spoil the photos).

Set off to explore the River La Basseille, a tributary of the Ourthe which rises in Saint-Hubert. The river, whose banks form a Nature Reserve, flows exclusively through the Forest of Freyr for around 10 km. Please note: there are two sections that are more difficult to follow; a GPX track is recommended.

This Ardennes circular route offers beautiful scenery across the rolling countryside around Laneuville and Remience and passes through open forests with a variety of tree species typical of the region.Magnificent in spring, the colours of nature are just as splendid in autumn... and what can one say when nature is covered in a pristine blanket of snow in winter.A few ponds and beaver dams add a pleasant touch to the route.Completely off the beaten track, the likelihood of meeting anyone is very low: we only came across one person loading logs onto his lorry and a farmer repairing the fences around his pastures.Consequently, there are very few benches and not a single picnic table along the entire route. There are no shops either: don’t set off without bringing at least some food and drink.

The Ruisseau de Basseille has its source in the Fagne de la Borne near the Saint-Hubert Aerodrome and flows into the western Ourthe near Ortheuville. This walk follows its course more or less closely for about 6 km.

Several series of ponds strung together like a string of pearls stretch between Freux, Bougnimont and Séviscourt. The hike takes you to those near the magnificent Freux-Suzerain castle. The others are even more hidden away at the bottom of vast private estates. For the rest, this hike is rather rural on the north side and very wooded on the south side. The end of the wooded section crosses the pretty marshy area of Golo.

The hike takes you on a journey of discovery through the countryside and forests on the heights of the Deux Ourthes Natural Park. The balanced alternation between panoramic views and deciduous and coniferous forests provides all the ingredients for a beautiful and enjoyable outing in nature.

Here is a circular walking route within the Two Ourthes Nature Park, offering a lovely mix of countryside and woodland (alternating between coniferous and deciduous trees) with magnificent views of the Ardennes hills between La Roche-en-Ardenne and the Pays de Bastogne. The section along the River Ourthe is wonderfully wild, and progress is slower here than on the wide country lanes to the north of the route. It is likely that this route would be impassable without getting your feet wet in the event of heavy flooding.

This circular walk follows the wide forest tracks through part of the future Nassonia National Park and the Deux-Ourthes Nature Park.Starting from the Sapin Fî car park, the walk first heads towards the Rouge Poncé birch forest and its boardwalks, then towards the Wallonia Log Park before branching off towards Mochamps, the Fagnes de Priesse observation tower and the Croix des Russes.After a long descent into the Rabani valley, the walk crosses the Masblette, the iconic river of Fourneau-Saint-Michel, via a small footbridge following the destruction of the two-arched stone bridge during the floods of summer 2021.On the return journey, the route climbs slowly but surely, following the Palogne stream back up to Sapin Fî.

The Ardennes is, of course, all about the forest. But it’s also about the countryside!The traditional image needs to be slightly nuanced, and the circular route presented here is a fine example: half countryside, half forest, the route offers a wonderful variety of landscapes and passes through forests of various species, alternating between deciduous and coniferous trees.The Belgian icing on the cake: a few signs placed on either side of the starting point remind us that Belgium is the birthplace of the comic strip.

Set off to explore the native region of the Western Ourthe. This rural walk is offered as a short version of the long, signposted “Voie Saint-Antoine” route.A blanket of snow and overcast skies were the conditions for this hike undertaken on 1 January 2021.Much enjoyed... and also much appreciated that it wasn’t any longer, as making our way through 30 to 40 cm of snow to clear certain paths isn’t as easy as it looks: wet feet and trousers up to the knees, despite suitable kit, didn’t discourage us.Definitely one to repeat in other seasons and under different weather conditions.

This is the perfect walk if you want to enjoy the snow, when there is any, whilst travelling by train.The walk starts and finishes at Libramont station, in the Ardennes.This 8 km walk presents no major difficulties; its sole purpose is to take your mind off things without the hassle of a car.

The Ardennes aren’t just made up of coniferous forests… There are also valleys, pastures, hay meadows, copses and farmland… Come and discover this other side of the Ardennes with this circular route through open countryside.

Set off to explore Banibois, in the heart of the woods crossed by the stream of the same name. This walk will take you through hundred-year-old oak trees, majestic beech trees and spruce plantations. You will also enjoy vast meadows on the edge of the woods.

A lovely walk through woods and meadows, via the Ardennes villages of Tronquoy, Respelt and Bernimont.The route consists mainly of pine forests and cattle pastures.

This circular route goes around a few villages south of La Roche-en-Ardenne, encroaching slightly on the territory of Tenneville.Although mainly forested, the route offers some beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and hills.

Starting from the Ronchamps pond, the walk begins by winding through the countryside before heading into the forest.Make sure you’re wearing suitable footwear, as the route follows a stream along a path overgrown with tall grass at the start and flooded with water towards the end. This valley is magnificent and wonderfully wild!The first climb of the route leads out into the countryside with a lovely view to the north over the hills of the Ourthe Valley.A short detour (off the route) to the centre of Beausaint allows you to admire its castle.From Beausaint to Vecmont, it’s (almost) straight ahead and through the countryside. There’s a small chapel and a picnic table between Ronchampay and Vecmont.Shortly after Vecmont, there is (unfortunately) a short kilometre of minor road before entering the woods, which the route leaves only briefly to cross the N89 again and finally return to the starting point.

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)

Superb walk, relatively difficult in its first part

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.