"Chemins de Solitude" Hike

In solitude or not, be enchanted and escape into the forest on this beautiful loop trail through the Ardennes.

“Chemins de solitude” or Paths of solitude is a long trek through the Ardenne forest in Wallonia. Its name comes from the increasingly quiet surroundings you’ll encounter as you go further into the trees, allowing you time for some mental relaxation and peaceful introspection...Unless of course you aren’t on your own and your overly chatty friend tagged along.

From Saint-Hubert, you venture into the heart of the forest circling around through valleys and past streams to end up back where you started, 20km later! The loop picks up part of the “Transardennaise”, a 160 km trek through the forest stretching from La-Roche-en-Ardenne to Bouillon, and is supposed to be one of the most beautiful hikes in Belgium.

You’ll be guided through lush forest, past trickling streams and an increasing sense that you are in some sort of fairytale setting as you hike further and further into the depths of the forest. Don’t worry though, this is less Hansel and Gretel, more well sign-posted, well-travelled path, so you definitely won’t get lost. You can concentrate on soaking in the beautiful sights and sounds of the enchanting hike, as you pass nature reserves and maybe even catch a sight of the forest fauna.

• The hike can be quite tough in places, a few hills see you climb 500 meters in total, so this is recommended for experienced walkers or those of you who want a challenge.
• It should take around 4 to 5 hours to complete the hike, so bring snacks!
• The route is marked by a blue rectangle.
• Along the way, you can stop at the Bilaude observatory for some nature watching.
• You can download an interactive map of the walking route here.