The Hoëgne is an immensely popular river to walk alongside. Between its source area in the High Fens and its mouth in the Vesder, near Pepinster, is about thirty kilometers.

Text and photo Eddy Vlyminck

During this walk, a beautiful stretch of Ardennes forest is first on the menu before we reach the little river. Various rapids, small waterfalls, and idyllic picnic spots are the ingredients for a romantic walk along the babbling water. On hot days, it's delightful to walk along the shady banks of the river. Good walking shoes are recommended, as the numerous boardwalks are not always in the best condition. A packed lunch and some drinks in the day backpack will help make this walk a genuine highlight.

Pasar 2020/10 - Last route check 2020/8

The route

The walk starts at the church of Hockai (V) where you find several parking spaces nearby. Start with the church on your right side in the direction of café Ardennais. Walk over the bridge. You cross RAVeL 44A which brings cyclists to Stavelot. Just after the bridge, turn right (RA), Rue Abbé Dossogne. It’s pleasant walking in the shade along the RAVeL. After about 700 m you reach the Pont du Centenaire. Immediately past the little bridge, go right up. This will take you to the higher walking path that you will follow for some time. At a wooden framework, marked with a blue cross, you return to the RAVeL. Follow the RAVeL to an intersection with signs. Here, turn right (RA). The wide forest path, scattered with stones, descends quite rapidly. Eventually, you reach a T-junction. Here, turn left (LA). You now walk through a beautiful avenue in broadleaf forest. Just past a clearing on the right side, you have a turn to the right. There, you will find the sign ‘la Hoëgne’ and again the blue cross. Here, turn right (RA). Follow this narrow winding path to a picnic area. Here you get your first view of the Hoëgne. From here, keep following the Hoëgne. A little further, past the sign ‘Vallée de la Hoëgne, sauvage et pittoresque’, so diagonally left. From now on, you continue to follow the Hoëgne upstream. By way of several small bridges, you frequently change from the left to the right bank. Eventually, you reach an open area with several information boards. Here, turn right (RA) along the bridge over the Hoëgne. Through a slightly ascending paved road, we leave the Hoëgne. Just past the barrier, turn left (LA). A forest path with fields on the right. Follow this gently ascending path to a T-junction with a house in modern architectural style on the left. Here, turn right (RA). At the end of Route des Mousseus, we cross the main road. This again becomes a paved road and at the height of a bench and crucifix, turn right (RA). A little further, the road bends to the right and immediately to the left. Follow this road straight on (RD) to the church of Hockai.

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