The small town of La-Roche-en-Ardenne is one of the best places in Belgium for a weekend hike.
The fortress town on a bend in the river deep in the Ardennes offers a fantastic range of 10 clearly-marked hiking trails ranging from a 3km family stroll to a 13km forest ramble.
The walks take you out of town along steep trails that lead up into dark pine woods and along quiet mountain streams. On the way, you might spot wild boar, deer and beaver dams.
Spend a night in La Roche at the smart new Panache Bike and Sleep Hotel, or find yourself a snug weekend cottage at the booking site Ardennes-Etapes.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
