Time, between Condroz and Famenne

At Heure (Somme-Leuze) you will find the regional information office Condroz-Famenne (V) rue de l'Eglise 4. You can park there, or further away at the church, and get started. From the mini square of the church, with pomp and some beautifully restored half-timbered facades, you first follow the rising street of Stipy, up to the elbow with chapel. There, you walk straight on the street Nos Cisses straight. You also leave this asphalt in the next bend, but via a forest path that climbs sharply, a steep climb on a bare rock. At the top of the bank (phew!) turn right. Immediately a scenic drive. To the south, you completely overlook the narrow depression of the Famenne. Behind, the Ardennes emerge blurred: a long horizontal line, cleared from a high plateau cut by rivers and without real "mountains". To the north, you will notice the first ridge of the Condroz, where you will soon walk. Visual geography in one fell swoop. At the five sharp jumps on the left: rue Bois Molomont. A descending path, with further on the left the educational nature reserve Jalna (13 ha), property of the Belgian League for the Protection of Birds. On the right is an area for forest classes with a nature study centre. Beyond the entrance to Reserve 1, the asphalt ribbon becomes a paved forest trail. He plunges into the forest with a right turn, then sweeps a stream. You stay on the main path – also blue montainbike road – which slowly climbs to a clearing at a T-junction. Here on the right and after more than 1 km on a large crossroads turn right again. At the next fork: straight. You leave this forest road paved with slate chips after 300 m, turning right (brown road MB). The road crosses a wet valley, leaves the forest of Molomont and crosses a second valley of stream. Then you climb into the open space of Sinsin. With this, the first part, the bostrip, is over and now the wide views follow. At the cross-country pedestrian crossing, you pass straight ahead and at the first houses on the left. Via Rue de la Fontaine – the left fork – you arrive at the church of Sinsin 2. There, you go down rue Nestor Bouillon to the left, to leave them at No. 31, turning sharply right. The ribbon of asphalt exits the valley to the ridge road, the N929. You cross it to descend to the Valley of the Hour. You are now on the GR 577. Past a point of forest, it leaves the asphalt. You do the same and follow the red and white along the grassy road. Then Nettine appears. The road opens onto the N929 just now. You follow it only a moment to the left and then turn into the village by the rue du Monty. After the bridge, turn left again, until you reach the rustic farm. Then turn right into Rue de la Jasperie, until you reach the picnic area 3. From here you leave the valley again, first by the path of the Deffe. Then you cross the rue de la Corne, to continue up the rue Bois des Sarts. You stay on the asphalt and ignore the side branch on the right, just after the turn (unless you want to cut a piece). In this way, you arrive at the building of the water company – Compagnie du Condroz – at the highest point of the visit. A few steps further, turn right. This green and white marked ridge road is a pure pleasure: wide views of the assembly line. Here you walk approximately on the geographical border of Condroz and Famenne. At the second fork (the first is dead) follow the green and white to the left, until you reach a hiking crossroads: Le Poteau 4. Continue straight, but after 75 m turn left: rue d'En Bry. Behind you, Nettine beckons you, while red and white play as a guide again. You continue to follow the road along the edge of the forest, until a T: go up the asphalt there, so right. This street goes towards the new building, forget the red and white. From the houses, begins the descent to Heure. Keep right at the fork, cross the N929 and go back to Rue de l'Eglise.