It used to be one of the best-kept secrets in the Ardennes. Not so much any more.
During the lockdown, when no one could leave Belgium, thousands of people flocked to this quiet valley. It became so overcrowded that the local authority closed it off in 2020 for several months. And then it had to close again after the floods in the summer of 2021. But the crowds have now vanished. You might even find yourself alone in this magical spot.
Starting in the village of Sedoz, the 7.5km circular walk passes through a beautiful landscape with tumbling waterfalls, giant quartzite boulders and deep pools. The route is incredibly dramatic, featuring wooden bridges and narrow ledges where you need to hold onto fixed ropes.
The pools have been given romantic names like the Bath of Diana and the Bath of the Beavers. Some are deep enough for a quick chilly dip. The trail returns to Sedoz along a forest road with a viewpoint called Drouet. The café back down in Sedoz is quite basic, but you can find other places to eat just a few kilometres down the Amblève valley in Remouchamps.
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.
