Fairies and gnomes

The picturesque village of Achouffe, which is part of Houffalize, is hidden at the bottom of the "valley of the fairies". ", where, according to legend, gnomes are also at home, and beavers: we have seen it ourselves.

Text and photo Mark Dedapper

During this walk you will cross the beautiful fairy valley, ideal for an adventurous journey along untouched nature. Achouffe is home to the famous Brasserie d'Achouffe, where La Chouffe "gnome beer" is brewed. The brewery was founded by two brothers-in-law, a Walloon and a Flemish, and was taken over by Duvel Moortgat in 2006. We walk along various streams. On the Martin Moulin stream, a tributary of the eastern Ourthe, a stone bridge leads to the mill of Wilogne. The mill, which is now privately owned, was used until the end of World War II. The path along the shore is quite rugged. From gnawed trees and dams, you can clearly see that this is an area where beavers are at home. Given the nature of the paths, sturdy waterproof shoes are recommended.

The itinerary

We leave in the car park next to the bridge after the Brasserie La Grange (Achouffe n° 7) (V). Leave the Los Angeles parking lot. At the Taverne de la Chouffe RA. Past the Saint-Joseph chapel (1) and just before the brewery (2) paved road RA. Continue walking No. 27 (blue/white/blue). Where the asphalt ends, just after a large building, THE booming road. After a few ponds, you arrive at the river Ruisseau de Chevral. You are here in the Valley of the Fairies. Note the many beaver dams (3). On a bridge to the other bank - RA. On the second bridge, you leave the river and follow the path that climbs steeply. Upstairs, you enter a dark spruce forest. At an RD intersection. At the triple jump briefly LA and immediately a narrow diagonal path through the forest. Follow the signs carefully. You descend steeply to the mill of Wilogne (4), where you follow the Ruisseau de Martin Moulin (5) RA on a winding path dotted with roots and stones. Sometimes you have to go from stone to stone over the water. Where a side stream flows into the river, you go RA a little higher and immediately LA (signs follow). Here too, the beaver dams. Follow the course of the river until you reach the asphalt. We are following the path a little bit. At the chapel LA and in the bend of the Taverne de la Chouffe RD. If you wish, you can go to the car park here – 6 km.// Follow RA after a few meters (follow the promenade with the blue rectangle). At the end of the asphalt, where the road turns right, RD forest road, between coniferous forest and meadow. 200 meters further narrow path LA, first going down and then up. At 'Les brulés aux grand sart' LA the 'promenade des Crêtes'. The road turns into a narrow path. Follow the main path and ignore the secondary paths. After a steep descent you will descend to the confluence (6) of the Belle Meuse and the Martin Moulin, which you will follow LA upstream (rough path). Cross a bridge and continue following the river. If possible, take a higher path (lower path interrupted in two places), but always parallel to the river. A good 400 meters further, you will pass the trout pond of the tavern 'La Grange'. On the asphalt track LA to the parking lot.