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Sclaigneaux 2k (for kids) and 10k walks

Sclaigneaux walk

A pleasant, varied walk with a great scenic view. And with a short child-friendly option!

The Sclaigneaux Nature Reserve is located on the northern bank of the Meuse River to the east of Namur and the west of Andenne. Not surprisingly, its nearest habitation is the village of Sclaigneaux.

Within a fairly small area the reserve encompasses an invigoratingly wide variety of habitats. One minute you can be walking through a dark pine forest, totally silent apart from the invisible goldcrests squeaking like rusty hinges in the treetops. Then the path opens out into a heather moor, and you see the beauty of the surrounding hills and villages and marvel at how many crops are already growing in the fields in mid-winter. Then you find yourself in some undulating sandpits, where you have to keep an ear open for fast-approaching mountain bikers. And suddenly you round a bend in the path and you’re in the depths of some old oak and beech woods and seeing badger paw-prints in the mud.

Sclaigneaux walk

The walk is a 10 km loop, but there’s a shortcut halfway along if you are pressed for time. Moreover, there’s a short 2 km walk that’s ideal for children.

OK, let’s get down to business. We’ll start with the map of the walk which you can also download here to view on a bigger scale and print:

Sclaigneaux walking map

At the bottom-right you’ll see a suggested starting point for your walk. It’s a car park which isn’t on a named road as far as I could see but it’s here on Google maps. (Coordinates: 50.498951, 5.061942).

On the left of the map I mark an alternative starting point. Here you can park on the little triangle of land with a war memorial outside Rue de Sclermont 691, 5300 Andenne. This starting point is more easily accessible by public transport, namely from the railway station at Sclaigneaux, although this requires walking an additional 1.5 km from the station.

Sclaigneaux walk alternative starting point
Alternative starting point

You can download the gps file of the route for your device from my RouteYou page. Or you can make use of this RouteYou app which I have embedded below. You can make it full-screen and easily follow the route from Discovering Belgium on your smartphone!

If you plan to walk the whole route of 10 km, you can go clockwise or anticlockwise. At the end of the car park (photo below), take the right-hand path to go clockwise around the loop. This is what I did. The advantage of going clockwise is that you reach the beautiful scenic view towards the end of your walk, when you can have a good sit down on a conveniently located bench and relax, knowing that there’s not far left to go. At least that’s what I did, and didn’t feel like getting up for a long time!

Sclaigneaux walk. Starting point in car park
Starting point at end of car park with the two paths (left and right)

If you want to go anticlockwise, take the left-hand path shown on the photo. On the map I’ve also indicated a couple of shortcuts.

A word of warning: if you go clockwise, the first half a kilometer is extremely muddy, at least in the winter. But don’t be put off. Struggle through; the path soon dries out.

Sclaigneaux walk
After half a km the path through the woods is dry

Also, some of the middle portion is also a mountain bike route, so is a bit roughed up.

Cycling through Sclaigneaux
Springboard for mountain bikers (or hikers when no-one’s looking!)

Short child-friendly walk

For a pleasant walk with the kids, start from the car park and take the left-hand footpath. After 1 kilometer you will reach the scenic view. There’s a bench there and some grassland to run around in. You should be OK taking a stroller on this walk.

Walking around Sclaigneaux
Plenty of space for the children to run around

What is there to see?

Here are a few photos of what to expect on your walk around Sclaigneaux.

Walking around Sclaigneaux
Sclaigneaux walk
Walking around Sclaigneaux
Walking around Sclaigneaux
Sclaigneaux walk
Walking around Sclaigneaux
The panorama from the scenic viewpoint.
View over the River Meuse valley
The river is the Meuse, which rises in northern France, passes through Belgium (it’s called the Maas in Flanders) and then through the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea

Let me know how you get on, should you do this walk. And, as always, any questions about transport, accessibility, picnic areas, Belgium … just comment below or drop me a line. I may not know the answer, but I’ll try to find it.

If you want to make a day of it, nearby is the Ceramics Museum Andenne and the Archaeological Center of the Scladina Cave, although I have not yet visited either of these places so can’t personally vouch for them.  

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20 thoughts on “Sclaigneaux 2k (for kids) and 10k walks”

  1. Very inviting – those panoramas are certainly worth a short stretch of muddy trail. That’s a great idea to lay out shorter walks for kids, and also perhaps older walkers.
    Have you ever gotten a glimpse of a badger? I’ve never seen one, bit even in a zoo, now that I think about it.

  2. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Vaqueiros in Spring | restlessjo

  3. Pingback: 15 child-friendly walks in Belgium – Discovering Belgium

  4. Pingback: 15 child-friendly walks in Belgium | Discovering Belgium

  5. Beautiful! We did it today and we’re looking forward to do it again in Spring maybe. We’d like to see the orchids. Today the main features were foliage and … ladybugs!!! Ladybugs everywhere! Who knew November was big for ladybugs…

  6. Thanks for this sugestión for a walk! It was a nice discovery near Brussels. Just a warning for other hikkers: ot can be very muddy and slippery.

    1. That’s a perpetual problem with many walks in Belgium at this time of the year Mari. Hiking poles can help to keep your balance over the slippy bits. Thanks for getting back to me, it’s also good to hear from readers who have followed in my footsteps.

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