Godinne to Dinant (23km)
Details
Spring is here (according to some definitions) and it's time to move our legs again with a hike from Godinne to Dinant (~23km, 600m elevation). We will walk along the valley of the Maas, but staying by the river is boring so we'll have at least three good climbs, visit a ruined castle, walk above steep cliffs and enjoy some great views. At the end, we will have a drink in Dinant (optional) before taking the train back to Brussels.
There are major engineering works this weekend and the railway is closed between Brussels Zuid and Noord stations - please read the travel information below carefully!
The weather forecast is sunny and 17C, but prepared for a shower just in case. The path will be muddy and slippery in places so wear good shoes, preferably walking boots.
We will walk at an average speed of 5km/h. This is quite fast. We will walk both on paved and unpaved roads. I’ve never walked this route before, so it’s possible there are some mistakes in the planning.
You can find the GPX track here: https://mapy.com/s/redejagasu
Meeting point and train
We will meet in the main hall of Brussels Schuman station at 09:00.
The train IC 2509 (Dinant) leaves from platform 2 at 9:16 (you can also join this train at Brussels Luxemburg at 9:28, but please note it does not call at Brussels Zuid, Centraal or Noord).
It arrives at 10:35 in Godinne.
Train tickets
- Single Brussels to Godinne, € 9.60 or € 5.80 with Train+
- Single Dinant to Brussels, € 11.40 or € 6.80 with Train+
You probably want to buy the Train+ card for the price of € 6 (1 month) or € 48 (12 months). It can be bought in the SNCB/NMBS app or at ticket machines.
Train back to Brussels
There are trains every hour at xx:13 from Dinant to Brussels, taking 1h30 to Schuman station. There is an additional connection via Namur every second hour at 15:35, 17:35, 19:35...
Specifics
Distance: ~23 km
Elevation gain: ~600 m
Net walking time: ~5.5h
Level: Intermediate (lots of climbing)
In the unlikely case of too bad weather, we may cancel a hike, even a few hours before the event. If this happens, we will of course update the Meetup website and send out a message to those registered. So, it is important to have access to either the Meetup.com website and/or your email.
What to bring
- lunch - we will not stop at a cafe/restaurant for lunch
- comfortable hiking clothes – waterproof hiking shoes
- extra socks to change + compeed for blisters
- water (min 2l) and enough food for the breaks
- sun protection oil, a head and sunglasses OR a raincoat
(please consult the weather forecast on www.meteo.be)
- mosquito/tick repellent
- some money for drinks/snacks/etc
Basic rules
The number of participants is limited, so make sure that you RSVP only if you really intend to come. If your plans change, update your RSVP asap. This is basic courtesy towards others. Last day cancellations, no-shows and Internet warriors are not appreciated.
Only people whose name appears on the main list may come to the hike.
Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability
You are responsible for yourself and should be fit enough if you choose to take part. As participation in this event 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. By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organisers from any responsibility and liability.