Sombreffe walks

Starting and finishing at the 1815 Museum in Sombreffe, this is a lovely walk through the fields and rural residential areas of Sombreffe. Points of interest: La Goffe and Sombreffe Castle. A few short sections on roads are busier but can be walked safely (pavements).

Inthe 19th century, the Dumont family founded the Établissements de Chassart, modernised agriculture and livestock farming, and set up a sugar factory following the development of beet cultivation in the region. This was followed by the creation of a distillery and the production of the famous Chassart Vieille Cuvée genever. In 1906, the family name was ennobled to Dumont de Chassart.

As invigorating as can be in strong winds, this circular walk takes place mainly in the countryside on the agricultural plain between Gembloux, Jemeppe-sur-Sambre, Chastre and Sombreffe, bypassing the Docq crossroads (N29 x N93).In our opinion, it is more interesting on the north side than on the south side.You will discover some beautiful isolated trees, some magnificent rows of trees, a few merry-go-rounds, the strange Donjon de Villeret, the (deconsecrated) Église des Alouettes in the middle of nowhere, the Château d'eau de Sombreffe and a park of modern windmills (= wind turbines).

Starting from the church on Rue Joseph Draye in Bothey, a village of 300 inhabitants in the municipality of Gembloux, set off to discover the rich heritage of the lower Orneau valley. Landscapes, churches, chapels and castles will delight you along this undulating route. Alternating wooded and rural passages. Along the roads, the grassy verges are generally flat and well maintained. There are numerous facilities where you can take a break during your walk.

When the sun and moon are out, the weather is usually ideal for hiking. This walk takes you on a journey of discovery through the Arton and Orneau valleys, starting from the Basse Hollande ponds in Corroy-le-Château. The route passes successively through Les Trois Ponts, La Large Eau, the hamlet of Ferooz, the village of Bossière, as well as the old lime kilns and the Sainte-Barbe Chapel located along the Orneau north of the village of Mazy. A tip for enthusiasts: in spring, the grassy descent between the plateau and the Orneau (between km 8 and 9) is covered with a magnificent carpet of wild garlic.

The walk starts at the site of the former Chassart factories, on the edge of the Marbais wind farm, and begins its rural tour with a short detour into Hainaut territory before heading north towards Marbisoux and Marbais. Admire the two bell towers in the distance: Marbisoux with its small bulbous spire and Marbais with its four pinnacles. After Marbais, the route crosses the magnificent rolling lawns and wooded grounds of the Rigenée and La Bruyère golf courses. A gently undulating countryside where a wind farm has been built generally means that the area is well ventilated. Be careful: the wind can be biting and/or blow your hair around, depending on the season! Also take care when crossing the N93 twice.

This circular route mainly follows country roads and paths, starting from the Chapelle du Camp chapel. Discover the Château de Cognée, the Ruisseau La Pêcherée stream and its ponds.

This 9.7 km hike is a combination of the Golf de la Bruyère route starting from Camp and the circular route of the Boucle du Camp starting from Châtelet. Enjoy the Brabant countryside around Marbais and the passage through the village. Trails, dirt tracks or paved roads with rural traffic. Short passage through the Golf de la Bruyère and discovery of the Château de Cognée.

An easy walk around Mellery on paths and trails away from traffic (with the exception of a very short section) with a passage through the woods of Villers-la-Ville: in short, peace and quiet and green surroundings.

This short walk in the Bois Grand-Père takes you on a discovery of the hilly part of the Orneau valley to the south-west of the Grand-Manil district. There are no particular difficulties, except for a little mud on the path in the woods and between the Ferme de Bedauwe and the Orneau.The perfect family walk, alternating between trails, paved paths, countryside and forest.

A pleasant and varied walk alternating between wooded, agricultural and built-up areas (including 3 farms), starting from the pretty village of Mellery. An easy and very peaceful route. The route corresponds to walk no. 13, suggested by the Villers-la-Ville Tourist Office.

This short (spring) walk takes you from the centre of Villers-la-Ville towards the Rigenée golf course and the countryside around Sart-Dames-Avelines and Le Châtelet, before climbing up to the Plateau des 4 Chênes.With no other aim than to stretch your legs, this route presents no particular difficulty whilst offering an outing in the fresh air, whether on your own, with family or with friends.

A lovely circular route around the Bois de Haute-Heuval. After about 1 km on a quiet concrete road, it takes an old cobbled street (worthy of Paris-Roubaix!) before joining forest paths. It may not be the most beautiful of the (many) possible walks in the area, but it is nonetheless enjoyable, whatever the season.

Alternating wooded and rural sections. The route follows paths (sometimes paved) and dirt tracks (so expect muddy conditions in wet weather). There is one difficult section when you leave the Ry d'Hez river and have to climb perpendicular to it: the slope is very steep and difficult, especially if the ground is wet. Only three short sections are on tarmac roads, only one of which is on a busy road.

Without entering them, discover five villages in the Gembloux area. This well-maintained route of around 15 km gives pride of place to paths and trails. In addition, 20% of the route is along roads with often flat and passable verges. In spring, the undergrowth is ablaze with flowers. On the hills, take a look around you: the landscapes will surprise you.

This walk is located in the south and in the most wooded part of Gembloux. Beautiful scenery.

A short walk through the woods surrounding Spy Cave to the Orneau Valley.

Set off on a superb 22 km mountain bike ride to discover the region’s magnificent landscapes! From the very first pedal strokes, you’ll ride through the woods of the Spy Man’s Cave, a place steeped in history and surrounded by unspoilt nature. You’ll then follow the peaceful banks of the Orneau to the splendid Falnuée golf course, where the tranquillity and greenery offer an exceptional setting. The route will then take you through the beautiful countryside of Mazy, along country lanes, open vistas and pleasant little paths. Finally, you’ll return to your starting point, enjoying one last glimpse of the charm of the stream, the golf course surroundings and the forest. An ideal outing for mountain bikers seeking nature, relaxation and new discoveries!

A 5.5 km circular route through woods and fields around Basse Heuval in the municipality of Villers-la-Ville. A fairly varied and very peaceful route, no road noise – pure bliss! Part of the walk takes place in the woods and the other part in the countryside.

Les Bons Villers, Villers-Perwin, Villers-la-Ville... these three Villers, among the many others in Wallonia, share the border between Hainaut and Walloon Brabant on a plain called Chassart, named after the prosperous factories built inthe 19th centuryby the Chassart family just a few miles away.Countryside, countryside and more countryside: that's what you'll find on this refreshing ride.

A circular route through the Bois de l'Étoile and across the very pleasant residential neighbourhood of Bois Pinchet, starting from the car park at Villers-la-Ville Abbey. A peaceful and varied route with few roads.

This country and forest walk takes you on a long tour around the ruins of Villers-la-Ville Abbey (well worth a visit) along a beautiful array of village paths, country lanes and forest trails.

A 6 km circular route that is as pleasant as it is varied, taking you through fields and woods. The route passes through Le Châtelet, the former feudal manor of the lords of Marbais. The route and description are partly (and very loosely) inspired by ‘Walk No. 7’ proposed by the Villers-la-Ville Tourist Office.

Starting from Spy Church, overlooking the square of the same name, the route leads to the small village of Onoz through fields, which can be seen at the bottom of a wooded valley along the Orneau. From there, shaded paths follow the banks of the stream and then explore the Bois de la Veuve and Bois du Bètch-aus-Rotches woods, located on the side of the valley. The route inevitably passes by the Spy Man's cave and the museum dedicated to him.

A lovely 5 km circular route through the beautiful woods of Sainte-Catherine and the Ermitage Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where you hear nothing but birdsong and the babbling of the Ry Pirot. No road noise – this is rare enough (especially in the BW) to be worth mentioning. There are several lovely wooden benches along the route. This walk can be completed in about 1½ hours (including a 10–15-minute break) rather than the 2 hours calculated by the programme.

A rural hike in Walloon Brabant, discovering a few villages crossed by the Orne and its tributaries.

A short, almost entirely shaded circular loop in the beautiful little Bois de Bérinnes forest in Genappe. Part of the route runs alongside the Ry d'Hez stream, which has been transformed by beavers. At the start and end of the walk, there are views of some very pretty gardens.