On the paths of Melen

Starting from the Melen Cultural Centre (near the football pitch), a circular route of around 7km taking in paths, trails and village roads.

Details

1728996
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.20 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 377 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 400 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 879 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 673 ft

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Cultural Centre, head north-east and, at the junction, go straight across onto Rue Roux.

(1) Turn left onto Rue Ardoncour. Pass the right-hand bend at a right angle, then turn left onto a path that joins a road near the Church of Sant-Job.

Turn left, then immediately right to follow Rue de Cerexhe. Pass a pond on your right and continue to the next junction.

(2) Turn right onto a downhill path leading to the edge of the Bois de Melen. Keep left at the first fork, then take the path on the right that runs alongside the stream. Above this path, turn right onto Rue de la Libération and immediately take the path leading uphill to the left.

At Rue de la Citadelle, turn left and follow a short circular loop that takes you along a section of Rue Haute before descending via a path on the right that leads back to Rue de la Citadelle. Turn left. You will arrive at a bend.

(3) Follow a path on the left. At the cross, continue straight on along the path to join Rue Haute, opposite the Haute-Melen primary school.

(4) Turn right, then further on, left. Continue straight ahead. Cross several meadows, passing through the hedgerows.

(5) Cross the Ruisseau de Noblehaye and veer right, keeping a distance between yourself and the stream.
Further on, turn right and cross the same stream via a small bridge. Pass through a narrow gate. Cross the meadow, following the edge of the plantation. At the end of the meadow, go through the gate (close it behind you) and head straight on to the wayside shrine.

(6) At the cross, take a small path on the right. Cross the farm and join Rue Haute, following it to the right. Continue straight ahead. Ignore the first street on the left.

(7) Turn left, then leave the road and take a path on the right. At the bottom of the path, turn right into Rue Reux and go straight on to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 869 ft - Melen Cultural Centre
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 846 ft - Rue Ardoncour
  3. 2 : mi 0.92 - alt. 755 ft - Turn right
  4. 3 : mi 1.62 - alt. 709 ft - Dirt track
  5. 4 : mi 1.81 - alt. 830 ft - Haute-Melen village school
  6. 5 : mi 2.48 - alt. 722 ft - Le Noblehaye stream
  7. 6 : mi 2.95 - alt. 869 ft - Cross
  8. 7 : mi 3.67 - alt. 850 ft - Rue Haute
  9. S/E : mi 4.2 - alt. 869 ft - Melen Cultural Centre

Notes

(5) This is a damp spot as it is near the stream, so move away from it slightly to follow the stream. Very muddy in wet weather.

Worth a visit

On the right, Saint-Job Church

(4) On the left, a magnificent wayside cross.

(4) Straight ahead, Haute-Melen Castle (not open to visitors).

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
idViso*Flo
idViso*Flo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Landmark 1: the route is incorrect; you need to pass in front of the house on a private car park. The route shown on the map and marked "La flânerie dus puits et des biscuits" is correct (OpenStreetMap map - 2025)
Landmark 5: the path along the stream is impassable due to heavy vegetation. After crossing the stream, continue straight ahead for about 30 to 40 metres, then turn right and follow a path through a meadow, parallel to the stream. At the end of the meadow, turn right and ford the stream.

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danhardy
danhardy

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk started off a bit too much on the road. Difficulty finding the entrance to the meadows.

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2525211
2525211

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We only followed part of the route as we already knew the other half. The section we followed was well described and the map was reliable. The description of the other part (which we didn't follow but knew the route) also seemed reliable to us.

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kidaline
kidaline

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk around Melen, perfect for children. They really enjoyed the section across the fields with the fence posts, which were easy to find. It's a shame that the end of the route follows roads for a long way.

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Philomène Radermecker
Philomène Radermecker

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We were unable to follow the entire route as there were electric fences and no way to get through. Fortunately, we knew the area and were able to continue in another direction.
Best regards,

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francoisepetit
francoisepetit

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike, lack of precision in finding the footrests.

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