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