Les échelles de la Lesse – Gendron Celles loop (28 km)

For this hike along the waterfront of the Lesse river we primarily walk through woods on very varied paths. We have to conquer a few steep ladders to make the route a little more adventurous and to stay close to the river that has remained very wild and offers dense forests, rugged rock formations and breathtaking viewpoints.

On our route we will also pass by the secret Royal Trainstation d’Ardennes. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_royale_(Ardenne)

In Houyet we will leave the course of the Lesse and continue our way through trails that wind through the forrest and peacefull farm lands. On this route we will encounter charming villages, picturesque meadows and sparkling streams.

It's the perfect opportunity to unwind, recharge and connect with nature.

After our hike we can continue our good habit of taking a nice beer/pancake/snack in “o bord de La Lesse (www.oborddelesse.be) before returning to Brussels.

Please don't forget to pay Maikel a drink :-)

We will walk at an average speed of 5km/h both on paved and unpaved roads. I’ve never walked this road before, so it’s possible that there are some mistakes in the planning. Be prepared for this.

●●Meeting point
We meet at 08h10 in front of the Delhaize “Shop & Go” inside the Schuman trainstation. The train (IC2508 – Dinant) leaves at 08h23 from platform 2.We arrive at 09h49 in Dinant on platform 3 where we change to train (T18071 – Hoyet) who leaves at 09h56 from platform 2 We arrive 10h08 at our destination Gendron-Celles and start our hike.

●● Train tickets
The cheapest way to travel is to use the Weekendticket to Gendron-Celles (18,8 €).

●● Train back to Brussels
There is a train every two hours from Gendron-Celles to Brussels at XX:26
For more info check www.nmbs.be
LAST TRAIN = 20h26

●● Specifics
distance: ~ 28 km
elevation gain: ~ 579 m
net walking time: ~ 6h00
level: intermediate – hiking expercience is an advantage

In the unlikely case of too bad weather, we may cancel a hike even few hours before the event. If this must happen, we will of course update the Meetup website and send out an email to those registered. So, it is important to have access to either the Meetup.com website and/or your emails.

●● What to bring
- warm comfortable hiking clothes – waterproof hiking shoes
- extra socks to change + compeed for blisters
- enough water (min 2 l) and food for lunch/breaks
- sun protection oil, a head and sunglasses OR a raincoat
(please consult the weather forecast on www.meteo.be)

• some money to pay Maikel a drink ;-)

●● Basic rules
Please RSVP only if you really intend to come. And if your plans change update your RSVP latest 1 day before the hike, so other people still have the possibility to join. This is basic courtesy towards others. People who cancel at the last day or don’t show up for the hike will be blacklisted for future hikes. Do not show up for a hike unless you are on the roster (i.e. Yes RSVP, but not Wait Listed).

●● Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability
By signing up for this event you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves.