Explore the Ardennes on foot with a Cicerone guidebook

Description

Easily accessible from Calais, the Ardennes region of southeastern Belgium is a great destination for a family walking holiday. This beautiful area of beech and oak-forested hills also offers endless walking opportunities, suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities.

Walking in the Ardennes describes 32 day walks based in five centres in Belgium: Bouillon, Spa, Malmedy, Dinant and La Roche-en-Ardenne, and one 68km long-distance route, the Sentier du Nord, divided into six manageable stages that traverse northern Luxembourg from Weiswampach to Diekirch. With numerous outdoor activities, including kayaking and mountain biking as well as the outstanding walking available, the Ardennes is a great destination for a family holiday.

Located primarily in south-east Belgium but also stretching over the borders into northern Luxembourg and, to a lesser extent, north-east France, the Ardennes is a beautiful area of beech and oak forests, rolling green hills and deep, winding river valleys. It offers almost endless walking options and is packed with historic sites to visit including medieval castles and fortified farmhouses perched above attractive villages, as well as WWII museums and war relics situated alongside the routes. Military history enthusiasts will be especially enthralled.

The walks described in this guidebook differ in distance and ascent but there are no large height gains and so the walking is all essentially straightforward. There is no difficulty grading system, and no special equipment is required; recommended gear is the same as would be used for countryside walking in the UK. On-road sections have been kept to a minimum. As such, the walking is suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities, and is perfect for all the family.

• 32 day walks and one 68km route in 6 stages
• information about the medieval castles, fortified farmhouses and WW2 relics found along the routes
• practical advice on accommodation, food and drink, when to go and much more

• Activities
  Walking
• Seasons
  walks can be done at any time of year; June and September are best as accommodation is open, crowds are unlikely and there is a good chance of decent weather
• Centres
  Belgium: Dinant, Spa, Bouillon, Malmedy and La Roche-en-Ardenne; Luxembourg: Clervaux
• Difficulty
  walks have no technical difficulties but vary considerably in length and height gain; no specialist equipment is required
• Must See
  the extraordinary and renowned habitat of the Hautes Fagnes; the cave systems at Han-sur-Lesse or Rochefort; Bouillon and its castle; the military museum at Diekirch in Luxembourg

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