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

Le Laval is the name given to the stream that originates upstream of Magerotte and flows into the Western Ourthe at Sainte-Ode after passing through Magery, Houmont, Rechrival, Laval (near Laval Castle), Fosset and Sprimont.‘Le Tram’ is the former local railway line that linked Marche to Bastogne: you’ll only really see the route itself near the ‘Espace de jeux’ in Chenogne. A number of signposted walks have been marked out in the region based on this railway line.This highly scenic walk takes you through the rolling Ardennes countryside, with its meadows and farmland. There is only 1.5 km of woodland on this route, towards the end between Chenogne and the gigantic commemorative cross erected ‘in the middle of nowhere’.

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.

Those who love nature and solitude will be in their element: it is possible not to encounter a single hiker on this circular route, which is half countryside and half woodland, even on a fine summer’s day. You may come across some roe deer.

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.