Walking in the Ardennes

Map key           
Overview maps   
Introduction   
Geography   
Geology   
World War II and the Ardennes   
Plants and wildlife   
Food and drink   
Early guides to the Ardennes   
Scope of this guide   
Getting there   
When to visit   
Accommodation   
Money   
Health and safety   
What to take   
Maps   
Waymarking   
Communications   
The RAVeL network   
Using this guide   

1 Bouillon and the River Semois   
Walk 1      Bouillon to Sedan   
Walk 2      Corbion, Crêtes de Frahan, Rochehaut and Corbion    
Walk 3      Bouillon to Poupehan and back   
Walk 4      Vresse and Membre    
Walk 5      Bohan and the French frontier    
Walk 6      Dohan and the Semois    
Walk 7      L’Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval    
Walk 8      Herbeumont: Viaduct and château    
Walk 9      Herbeumont: Mortehan, viaduct and the château    
Walk 10    La Ramonette    
Walk 11    The Belvédère    
Walk 12    Arboretum and patriots’ memorial    

2 Spa   
Walk 13    Solwaster and the Statte stream   
Walk 14    Fagne de Malchamps   
Walk 15    Château de Franchimont   
Walk 16    L’Étang de Chawion and Lac de Warfaaz    
 

3 Hautes Fagnes, Malmédy and Stavelot   
Walk 17    An excursion in the Hautes Fagnes   
Walk 18    Kaiser Karl’s Bettstatt   
Walk 19    Cascade and canyon   
Walk 20    Château de Reinhardstein   
Walk 21    Stavelot, Coo and Trois Ponts triangle   
 

4 Dinant, the Meuse and the Lesse   
Walk 22    The Meuse and the Lesse   
Walk 23    Gendron-Celles station to Houyet along the Lesse   
Walk 24    Le Parc de Furfooz   
Walk 25    Château de Walzin   
Walk 26    Belvaux and the Bois de Niau   
Walk 27    Han-sur-Lesse and Rochefort   
Walk 28    Château de Montaigle    

5 La Roche-en-Ardenne   
Walk 29    Maboge, Borzée and the ridges above the Ourthe   
Walk 30    The Celtic fort   
Walk 31    Circuit of the Lac des Deux Ourthes   
Walk 32    La Roche, Cielle and Le Grand Bois    

6 Luxembourg   
Walk 33    The Sentier du Nord   
Stage 1    Weiswampach to Troisvierges   
Stage 2    Troisvierges to Clervaux   
Stage 3    Clervaux to Drauffelt   
Stage 4    Drauffelt to Kautenbach   
Stage 5    Kautenbach to Goebelsmühle   
Stage 6    Goebelsmühle to Diekirch   

Appendix A    Route summary table   
Appendix B    Useful websites   
 

The whole of Belgium is covered by the 1:50,000 Institut Géographique National (IGN) series which are, in principle, the same as the UK Ordnance Survey maps but of nothing like the same high-quality graphic representation and readability. Notably, footpaths are very difficult to distinguish and follow. The same organisation produces maps at 1:25,000 and 1:20,000 scale, of similar quality.

For basic holiday planning or for multi-day walks these maps are adequate, but for detailed walking routes the best – indeed the only satisfactory – answer is to purchase local maps at local tourist offices or shops. Given the often limited opening hours of the former, this can throw up interesting situations. For example, in 2012 it was possible to purchase a map of the Ourthe Superieure in Nadrin tourist office, open only from 10.00am at the weekend. However, according to a local lady it was worth trying ‘chez le pâtissier’ (at the baker’s) where, sure enough, a copy was produced with a flourish from under the counter. It is usually impossible to source these local maps in the UK prior to departure.

Generally these local maps are at 1:25,000 scale, although there are variations (1:20,000 being quite common). They vary in size and format from place to place. But even these maps are not without problems for walkers: local walking routes are numbered, and in many instances these numbers obliterate the map’s detail. Also, these routes are overprinted on existing paths, tracks and roads, and it is often impossible to determine beforehand which surface you will be walking on. Those who abhor surfaced roads may find this particularly trying. It is also worth bearing in mind that some of the maps do not have a legend, and finally it should be remembered that many of the local maps are 15 years or more out of date. However, it needs to be said that the maps of the Grand Duchy at 1:20,000 scale are good.

On the plus side, details of these walking routes, including length, a severity grading and suggested timings, are sometimes included on the reverse of the map.

The maps contained in this guide are derived from open-source materials and adjusted to reflect the author’s experience on the ground. They are not designed as a substitute for a decent map or the ability to interpret it; they are adjunctive particularly to give a speedy visual cue to area and terrain. A compass is a useful tool to add to navigational equipment, being particularly helpful to confirm the direction in which a path or track is running when there is some uncertainty about your precise position.

Finally, active forestry management, necessary though it may be, is the bane of guidebook writers and wayfarers alike. Readers should bear in mind that yesterday’s walk through a spruce forest rich with the insistent high-pitched song of goldcrests may be tomorrow’s amble through open scrubland or new plantation, filled with the scratchy utterances of common whitethroat.
 

October 2019

Updates