Sunday, September 10, 2023

Wallonia GR5 Belgium: Some Comments

The most obvious thing to say is after the flatness of Flanders, Wallonia has hills. You are broken in gently the first limestone hills south of Maastricht are not too steep, the gradients increase as you enter the area of the Ardennes. Nevertheless it is not all climbing there are lengthy paths and tracks over the plateau. Much of the walk is in woodland, deciduous trees, often beech, and with stands of commercial conifers. There is a small area of preserved "bog" or what I would call wet moorland, but wet muddy sections of track are spread over a wider area of forest. This was in a hot, dry period in wetter months I imagine the trail is much more wet and muddy. Farmland is also crossed, typically cow pasture with some fields of hay and maize.

Historic sites range from the castle ruin at Burg-Reuland to the Second World War Fort Eben-Emael. This was the area in which the Battle of the Bulge was fought and there are various memorials. 

Towns such as Spa and Stavelot were a pleasure to visit with many facilities, but there were stretches where accommodation and cafes were hard to find. Note that you may need to provide your own toilet paper at some campsites.

Waymarking of white above red stripes is excellent although as always a GPS with the track loaded, suitable maps or a guidebook is recommended 

Link to start of walk in Belgium is here

Link to start of walk in Wallonia is here

Link to start of blog is here










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