Sart-Custinne, its forests and the Houille valley

A circular walk starting from Sart-Custinne through the forests and along the streams of Gedinne. A magnificent walk for lovers of (almost) untouched nature.
A difficult hike, not because of its length, gradient or terrain, but because of its route and the lack of visible landmarks in the forest.

Details

145777
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 330 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 330 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 404 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 288 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start in the centre of the village of Sart-Custinne, at the junction of Rue de Rienne and Rue de Gedinne.

(1) Take Rue Saint-Roch, pass the Chapelle Saint-Roch and turn left at the Y-junction after the cemetery.

(2) Take the path on the left at the edge of the forest.

(3) After 800 metres, take the path that branches off to the left and turn left. At the next T-junction, turn left.

(4) Near the road, turn right onto the path that joins the road. Take the road on the left. Follow it up to the crossroads.

(5) Take the path on the right and, after 20 m, take the path that branches off to the left.

(6) Continue along the first path on the left.

(7) At the T-junction, turn right and continue.

(8) Turn onto the third path on the right and, at the road, follow it to the left.

(9) Take a path that descends steeply to the right. Ignore the path that branches off to the left and continue straight ahead. The path becomes a trail and runs alongside a pine forest.

(10) At the end of this path, climb the embankment on the right, pick up a path to the right and at the next intersection, turn right to go up the slope. You will come to a wider path, follow it for about 200 metres.

(11) Turn left into Franc Bois and continue.

(12) Take the second path on the left and then the first on the right.

(13) Turn left after about 400 metres, then left again and right.

(14) At the next T-junction, turn right. The path becomes a paved road. Take the first path on the left. It leads to the Galette site (old mill, lodge).

(15) Turn right after the bridge over La Houille and immediately take the path to the right of the road. A long but beautiful path, sometimes a trail, sometimes a road, leads to Gedinne through the Houille valley.

(16) In Gedinne, cross the bridge over La Houille, turn right onto the road towards Rienne, then take the first right onto Rue Pommiers-Mathys. Keep left as you climb. Ignore the road branching off to the right and continue straight ahead down through the meadows. The path turns into a track and joins the road leading from Gedinne to Sart-Custinne. Follow it for about 500 m.

(17) Take the path that climbs into the small wood on the left. At the T-junction, turn right onto Rue de l'Asie - Devant la Vie.

(18) Turn right onto this road to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 360 m - Centre of the village of Sart-Custinne
  2. 1 : km 0.05 - alt. 364 m - Rue Saint-Roch
  3. 2 : km 0.81 - alt. 381 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.6 - alt. 380 m - Path on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.22 - alt. 354 m - On the right, towards the road
  6. 5 : km 2.73 - alt. 359 m - Path on the right
  7. 6 : km 2.94 - alt. 376 m - First path on the left
  8. 7 : km 3.48 - alt. 395 m - Turn right
  9. 8 : km 4.37 - alt. 361 m - Third path on the right
  10. 9 : km 5.19 - alt. 309 m - Steep path on the right
  11. 10 : km 5.58 - alt. 300 m - Embankment on the right
  12. 11 : km 6.38 - alt. 340 m - Turn left in Franc Bois
  13. 12 : km 7.38 - alt. 377 m - Second path on the right
  14. 13 : km 7.65 - alt. 353 m - First path on the right
  15. 14 : km 8.68 - alt. 350 m - Turn right
  16. 15 : km 10.52 - alt. 302 m - Le Moulin de la Galette. On the right after the bridge. - Houille (rivière) à finaliser
  17. 16 : km 13.2 - alt. 310 m - Gedinne
  18. 17 : km 15.09 - alt. 340 m - On the road from Gedinne to Sart-Custinne
  19. 18 : km 16.14 - alt. 362 m - Rue de l'Asie - Devant la Vie
  20. S/E : km 17.04 - alt. 359 m - Centre of the village of Sart-Custinne

Notes

No shelters, no water sources.
Gedinne, a few shops and restaurants.
A map and/or hiking GPS are essential for this walk.

Worth a visit

Gedinne.

Nearby:
- the pretty Ardennes villages of the Gedinne area
- the Croix Scaille massif, a key location for the Allied resistance, and the Millennium Tower
- the Semois valley
- Hargnies, a pretty village in the French Ardennes
- Beauraing
- Givet and the Meuse valley

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Pirenne
Pirenne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route was a bit convoluted, thank goodness for GPS tracking, otherwise the description wasn't enough.
Nevertheless, it was a very beautiful walk through the forest and the charming Houille valley.

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LG22
LG22

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent GPS tracking - superb route
Please note that the forest sections are full of deep ruts, which are not a problem in summer but may be difficult to navigate in wet weather.

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PhR08
PhR08

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route is too complicated. Nevertheless, the areas you pass through are pleasant most of the time.
Certain changes of direction should be simplified.

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Papou etienne
Papou etienne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, superb hike, impeccable paths and very well marked on the app, a big thank you to you... Regarding traffic, a few walkers between the mill and Redonne, obviously in the woods a few traces of loggers and horses but that's what the forest is like too...

Papou Etienne.

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Senzee Nadine
Senzee Nadine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Always very interested and interesting. We love walks in the woods and variety.

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judith vandepitte
judith vandepitte

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The Houille Valley is really beautiful, I'm delighted with this discovery and I'll be back!

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fzutterman
fzutterman

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The route is quite wild in some places. Unfortunately, the forest is now degraded in other places (extensive logging, tyre tracks everywhere). And some areas are also degraded by the passage of many horses.
Let's hope this corner of the forest regains its tranquillity. The description could be improved, as several important junctions and crossroads are not mentioned. Fortunately, the route is perfect.

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Krsto
Krsto

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

10 out of 10

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