This brochure is provided by Green River Canoes Ltd and details some of the Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoe Trips described on the web-site at www.greenrivercanoes.com .

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Steven House

“ContentsGreen River Canoes 4

Introduction 6

8 Day Belgium Ardennes Trip 9

4 Day Belgium Ardennes Trip 19

Where We Stay 21

What we see 27

Canoeing 32

Hiking 33

Wildlife 34

Maps and Books 37

Green River CanoesWe provide Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoeing Trips on beautiful calm green rivers in the Ardennes region of the South of Belgium. This brochure describes the following trips: a 7 Nights/8 Days in the Belgium Ardennes with canoeing on the Ourthe, the Semois, and the Lesse rivers and a shorter 3 Nights/4 Day version for weekends or mid-week in which we paddle on the Ourthe and the Lesse. The web page gives the latest prices and dates for the trips along with a map and many more photographs.

All our trips are guided. Our guests will be accompanied on the river and trail by an experienced guide who knows the area and rivers well. Our other guide will accompany us in the background by driving our vehicle between lodgings. When necessary this vehicle will be transferring our luggage, meeting us for lunch and generally being available as and when needed.

All the accommodation on our trips is in small local Hotels, Chambre D'Hotes or B&Bs:

All our trip prices include transfers, canoe hire, accommodation (with breakfasts) all lunches and all evening meals.

Trips come in two sizes: with up to 7 guests we will have 2 guides and with between 8 and 14 guests we will have 3 guides (2 on the river & trail). Larger groups can be accommodated by request.

IntroductionTake your time in examining the summary page for each trip and then look at the day-to-day schedule and the description of the hotels we use. This should give you a good idea of what to expect from each trip.

The Prices and Dates page is self explanatory and the Details and Queries page may also answer some of the more technical questions you might have.

If you have further questions then please do not hesitate to contact us, we are only to happy to help.

In particular if the dates we've scheduled don't fit your requirements or you would like to change the schedule in some way then we will do our best to help you.

If you are a group of 4 or more then we are also happy to arrange a private trip for you. Just provide us with the dates you would like, the trip your are interested in (with any schedule changes you require) and we will do our utmost to provide it. Although our regular and scheduled trips have a maximum of 14 guests and 3 guides, larger groups can be accommodated with private and custom trips.

8 Day Belgium Ardennes Trip

On this 7 Night/8 Day trip we canoe on the Ourthe, the Semois, and the Lesse rivers in the Ardennes region of southern Belgium. We shall explore the wooded gorges and valleys of all these rivers as they flow though the unspoilt rural regions of this little known area.

The Ourthe, Semois and Lesse are calm rivers with easy paddling through beautiful scenery. The Ourthe can provide a little more excitement with Class 2 rapids on the upper section. These rapids are short however and the river provides plenty of easy water between them.

On this trip we will taste the the local cuisine which is similar in style to the French though often more robust and certainly more plentiful. The Belgium chefs are also keen on keeping to seasonal traditions: a particular favourite of mine is the wild season, in the autumn, where rabbit, pheasant, boar, hare and venison feature on the menu. Earlier seasons feature asparagus, chicory, mussels, eels, herrings and shrimps. In addition we will be able to sample the many types of Belgium Beers. We will taste Trappist Beers, particularly Orval and Rochefort which are brewed in monasteries in this region. If we have the time and inclination we will visit Orval and taste the beer and the cheese the monks make. It will take us some time to taste all the beers available: perhaps more than 400!

When not canoeing we will enjoy small walks to and from the river and be able to walk around the pretty villages and towns that we visit. We shall see Chateaux and Castles and the remains of previous invaders to the region.

The Ardennes region is not where the Great War was fought; this is more to the north, in Flanders, and to the west, in the Somme, but the Ardennes is where the Battle of the Bulge was fought in World War 2 as the Allies pushed the enemy back to Germany.

We shall see monuments to these battles and we can certainly take the time to visit some of these or visit a particular cemetery.

The Ardennes is a green and unspoilt landscape untouched by modern industry and an area which will reveal itself beautifully from the rivers as we canoe down.

On this trip we spend two days on the Ourthe, then three days canoeing down the Semois river and a final day on the Lesse.

The Ourthe, the Semois and the Lesse are all tributaries of the Meuse which flow through the Ardennes, the rural and largely wooded hill country in the south of Belgium in French speaking Wallonia.

On the Ourthe we will paddle a 21km (13m) stretch from Nisramont to Roche-en-Ardennes through the beautiful Gorge Herou, and then on the next day a further 20km down to Hotton.

We will then paddle the Semois which winds its way through a deep wooded valley in the far south of the country. We shall canoe a continuous stretch from Chiny down to Bouillon over three days. A distance of about 80km (50 miles).

Finally we will canoe a 24km (15m) stretch of the Lesse river from Houyet to Anseremme, following the river as it meanders through a deep and wooded valley to the Meuse. The valley famously follows the route of a small local railway in a valley which has no road. We will pass the the tiny National Park of Furfooz, with its Roman ruins and also the splendid Chateau Walzin.

Day to Day Schedule

Day 1. Arrival and first meeting.

You will be met at our arranged meeting point by our guides for your transfer to the Ourthe valley. This is usually Brussels Midi Station for those guests arriving by train from London (or elsewhere).

Alternatively arrangements can be made for arrivals at Brussels airport, or the airport at Charleroi.

We will meet you off the train that arrives at Brussels around about midday. The drive to the Ourthe valley and Roche-en-Ardennes takes about an hour and 30 minutes. We will stop somewhere for a picnic lunch where we will discuss the trip and go through the maps. If time allows we can visit the small town of Rochefort on the way

On our arrival at Le Midi Hotel in the centre of La Roche-en-Ardenne we will unpack and relax before settling down to dinner on our first evening.

Day 2. Our first day on the Ourthe

Today we will paddle the Ourthe river from Niramont back to La Roche.

We will canoe through the beautiful Gorge Herou and negotiate some minor rapids as the river meanders wildly.

Somewhere near the small village of Maboge we will pull over on the bank, or on an island, for a picnic lunch. After lunch the river opens out into a wide valley as it approaches La Roche.

We remain at the La Midi tonight.

Day 3. Continuing down the Ourthe river.

After breakfast we will find our canoes on the riverbank at La Roche and continue downstream to Hotton. The river is calmer now and doesn't meander quite as much.

We will rendezvous for our picnic lunch near Rendeux before continuing our way downstream.

A short drive will take us to the L'Embarcadere Auberge at Chiny. If time allows we can visit the Trappist Monastery at Orval.

Day 4. First Day on the Semois

Today we start our canoe trek down the Semois which we will follow for three days. Today we start from outside out hotel and paddle down to Chassepierre.

This river sits in a deep wooded valley and winds it's way leisurely through some beautiful countryside.

We will stop for lunch below Florenville; those with enough energy can walk up the hill! to the town.

After lunch the rivers takes some big turns before arriving at Chassepierre where we will be staying at Le Vieille Ferme.

Day 5. More bends and twists on the Semois river

Today we continue to wend our way down the green Semois valley. After leaving Chassepierre the forest encloses us as we pass Sainte-Cecile and an old Monastery at Conques. We pass a huge ox-bow lake here where one of the bends in the river has been long abandoned.

Shortly afterwards we pass under the disused railway viaduct (now a footpath) as we come to Herbeumont. High above the village you can see the ruins of a medieval castle destroyed by Louis XIV of France. We can stop here for our picnic lunch and climb up to visit if we wish.

After more sweeping bends in the river we re-approach Herbeumont from the other side and then progress on to Mortehan, where we will stop.

After packing our canoes away we shall drive the short distance to Boulloin where we are staying at the La Poste Hotel.

Day 6. A final day on the Semois river

Today we will continue our paddle down the Semois from Mortehan down to Boulloin. Once again the river meanders through the deep valley.

Somewhere along the way will choose a place for our lunch before the river slows down on its approach to the town. The river is dammed at both ends of town so at the upstream end we have to portage a few yards, before paddling through.

We will again be staying in La Poste.

Day 7. A ride down the Lesse river

After breakfast we will drive to Houyet (about an hour) to begin our descent of the Lesse river down to Anseremme, following the river as it meanders through a deep and wooded valley to the Meuse.

The valley famously follows the route of a small local railway in a valley which has no road. We will pass the tiny National Park of Furfooz, with its Roman ruins and also the splendid Chateau Walzin.

At the end of the day a very short drive will take us to our hotel: the Castel de Pont-à-Lesse, which we have canoed past earlier!

Day 8. Farewells and the time to leave

After a leisurely breakfast we will return to Brussels in time to catch the midday train home, or the appropriate flights as has been arranged.

4 Day Belgium Ardennes Trip

On this 7 Night/8 Day trip we canoe on the Ourthe and the Lesse rivers in the Ardennes region of southern Belgium. We shall explore the wooded gorges and valleys of all these rivers as they flow though the unspoilt rural regions of this little known area.

The Ourthe and Lesse are calm rivers with easy paddling through beautiful scenery. The Ourthe can provide a little more excitement with Class 2 rapids on the upper section. These rapids are short however and the river provides plenty of easy water between them.

The trip is either a week-end or a mid-week excursion starting and finishing in Dover.

We shall stay at the Auberge de la Lesse for all 3 nights. It is situated on the banks of the Lesse

The Auberge is about 3 hours drive from the port at Calais, for our arrival and departure and about 50 minutes from La Roche-en-Ardennes where we begin our paddling on the second day, and about 20 minutes from where we start and finish canoeing on the third day.

Day 1. Arrival and first meeting.

You will be met at our arranged meeting point by our guides for your transfer to the port at Dover. After crossingt to Calais we will have a 3 hour drive to Cendron-Celles and the Auberge de la Lesse.

We will aim to take an afternoon sailing to Calais and arrive at our hotel in time for dinner. If we can find time we will make a cafe stop in Chimay along the way.

Day 2. On the Ourthe

After a hearty breakfast we will drive to La Roche-en-Ardennes in the morning (about 50 minutes) to begin our paddle of the Ourthe river from Nisramont back to La Roche.

We will canoe through the beautiful Gorge Herou and negotiate some minor rapids as the river meanders wildly.

 

Somewhere near the small village of Maboge we will pull over on the bank, or on an island, for a picnic lunch. After lunch the river opens out into a wider valley as it approaches La Roche.

A 50 minute drive, via a Trappist cafe in Rochefort, will return us to our hotel.

Day 3. A ride down the Lesse river

After breakfast we will drive to Houyet (about 30 minutes) to begin our descent of the Lesse river down to Anseremme, following the river as it meanders through a deep and wooded valley to the Meuse.

The valley famously follows the route of a small local railway in a valley which has no road. We will pass the the tiny National Park of Furfooz, with its Roman ruins and also the splendid Chateau Walzin. We will find our lunch spot around here.

At the end of the day a very short drive will take us to our hotel.

Day 4. Farewells and the time to leave

After a leisurely breakfast we will return to Calais in time to catch a midday ferry home, and then return you to your vehicles in the afternoon.

Where We Stay

Le Midi, La Roche-en-Ardenne

For the first two nights we are at the Le Midi Hotel in the centre of the small town of La Roche-en-Ardenne on the banks of the Ourthe river.

The town has a ruined medieval castle. The town was liberated during the Battle of the Bulge at the end of World War 2 in 1944, then re-captured and finally liberated again in 1945.

Le Chiny L'Embarcadere

On the third night we are at the L'Embarcadere in the village of Chiny on the banks of the Semois, besides the St. Nicholas bridge.

It is from here that we will embark on our three day descent of the Semois.

Chausepierre La Vieille Ferme

On the fourth night we are at the La Vieille Ferme in the picturesque village of Chassepierre on the banks of the Semois.

We will be able to leave our canoes besides the river and walk to the hotel which is only a few yards away.

Bouillon, La Poste

For the fifth and sixth nights we will stay at the La Poste Hotel in the centre of Bouillon. This town straddles the river and is overlooked by an imposing castle.

The town is famous for Godfrey of Bouillon the leader of the First Crusade and the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Auberge de la Lesse

For the final night we stay at the Auberge de la Lesse which is on the banks of the river Lesse itself at about the half-way point of our day on the river. (We stay here all 3 nights on the shorter trip).

What We See

We will not be able to visit everything listed on these pages. Many of them are close to where we stay or canoe and some of the others we will be able to visit in-between our paddles and hikes.

TRAPPIST BREWERIES:  We will make every effort to visit Orval for those that are interested and we can endeavour to find the beers themselves wherever we are staying.

AchelWestmalleSint SixtusRochefort close to the LesseOrval close to Floreville on the SemoisChimay

 

LE PLUS BEAUX VILLAGE DE WALLONIE: This area of Belgium has numerous small and pretty villages. These are some of the ones that we pass by on our travels.

Celles: close to the Lesse river.

Gros-Fays, near the Semois

Laforêt, near Vresse on the Semois

Ny, near Hotton on the Ourthe

Wéris, near Hotton on the Ourthe

MUSEUMS & SITES

Florennes - Musée Spitfire

Rochefort - Museum of the Countal Castle

Rochefort - Malagne the Gallo-Roman

La Roche-en-Ardenne - Museum of the Battle of the Ardennes

La Roche-en-Ardenne - Pottery Museum - `The Sandstone of La Roche´

Bouillon - Archeoscope Godefroid de Bouillon

Bouillon - Musée ducal

Villers-Devant-Orval - Musée Historique et Monastique de l'Abbaye d'Orval

Villers-Devant-Orval - Pharmaceutical museum

Caves (grottos) of Han-sur-Lesse

An old panoramic train will bring you to the entrance of the caves, a guide will lead you through 3km of increasingly beautiful chambers and passages and a romantic exit on barges on the subterranean river.

CASTLES & GARDENS

The Feudal Castle of La Roche

Perched on the Deister rocky spur, this site has over time housed a Neolithic residence, a Roman, the house of the Kings of the Franks. Overhanging the city and the Ourthe, nestled in the middle of nature, it truly makes La Roche "The pearl of the Ardennes". Despite all the changes endured by the castle the actual ruins with their towers, arrow slits and oubliettes, have retained the feel of feudal times.

The Castle of Bouillon

This castle-fortress is the oldest and most interesting remains of feudalism in Belgium with the first fortifications from the 8th century. It was built on three rocky outcrops and is characterised by a labyrinth of corridors and huge vaulted halls. The castle became first famous due to Godefroid, the leader of the first Crusade (1096).

The Castle of Veves

If Cinderella ever hosted a ball,  it must have been there. This picturesque, turreted feudal castle dates back  to 1410. Perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop overlooking the picturesque village of Celles, it is still lived in by the same family and is fully furnished. It illustrates what life was like from the Middle Ages up to the 18th century.

The Castle of Lavaux-Ste-Anne

This castle portrays seigniorial life in the 17th and 18th centuries. You’ll never see another castle like this medieval oddity, a moat-encircled collection of domes with an impressive collection of stuffed animals inside. There are also three museums: a museum of daily life in the 17th and 18th centuries, a museum of rural life

in Famenne in the 19th and 20th centuries and a natural history museum.

The Castle and Gardens of Freyr

Named after the Scandinavian goddess of beauty, Freyr (1554) is located along the River Meuse. Most of the orange trees originate from the Court of Lorraine and are nearing 350 years old, which are brought inside during the winter. The gardens are in the style of Le Nôtre and are surrounded by mazes made of hornbeam hedges. The castle and gardens are listed as a Major Walloon Heritage Site.

The Chevetogne Provincial Estate

The Chevetogne Provincial Estate is the perfect destination for day trips, weekends and stays devoted to relaxation and leisure activities. The vast estate has everything a family could want, all in one place: leisure areas, paths for strolling through woods and gardens, sports fields and fabulous playgrounds, all in keeping with the vast scale of the site.

The Citadel of Dinant

On a cliff above the River Meuse, the citadel offers views of the town and countryside. This fortress was built in 1051 to defend the city against invaders. It is reached either by cable car or by the 408 steps cut into the hillside.

The Abbey of Maredsous

Built in 1872 by Benedictine monks in a neo-Gothic style, this monastery offers pilgrims and tourists a beautiful architectural ensemble. Take a guided tour of the church and grounds including the gardens, library, cemetery, school and workshops.

Canoeing

All the canoes for the trips are provided by us and include paddles and a life-jacket. The price is included in the trip.

We always prefer open Canadian style canoes, which are paddled in tandem - with two people aboard (usually). If you prefer to paddle solo then this can be arranged. These canoes are especially suited for the calm water conditions we will be paddling on and are stable and safe. They allow plenty of room for yourself and your stuff.

From time to time we get clients who wish to paddle a Kayak. We can arrange this for you if you prefer but we do stress that the rivers we canoe do not really warrant the use of a kayak and we feel tandem paddling in a canoe is the way to go.

Most of our clients have been canoeing before but we will insist on reviewing safety procedures at the beginning of paddling each day and revise paddling strokes for those who haven't paddled for a while or have paddled on lakes rather than rivers for example.

For those who have never paddled before their will be plenty of time for lessons as we go. These rivers are ideal places for learning.

If time and the inclination allows we can also practise other paddling procedures such as Eddy Turns, Peeling Out and Ferrying.

The clients will not be expected to lift or carry canoes at any time.

Hiking

Although the main focus of the trips will be on the canoeing we will have plenty of time for short walks and longer hikes.

Where possible we will walk to and from the river, although this is not compulsory.

In the appropriate season when early mornings are light we can opt to go for a pre-breakfast walk. The length and timing of the walk will depend on a consensus reached between those that wish to walk, how early we wish to rise and the time of year.

Some of the trails we walk on form part of the network of long-distance paths that criss-cross Belgium. These are known as Grand Randonees (GR) and are way-marked by a red and white flash. For example the GR-AE follows the Semois valley and forms part of the European Trail E3, which is a trail that runs 4,000 miles from Portugal on the Atlantic coast to Bulgaria and the Black Sea. The GR57 runs along the Ourthe valley and the GR126 along the Lesse. These all provide excellent walks.

Wildlife

On the river we will see plenty of bird-life both on and around the water. We will see Ducks, and Herons. We will also see Kingfishers, Wagtails, Dippers and Sandpipers. We will see Swal lows and Swi f ts and Martins as well as various other birds crossing our path such as Woodpeckers, Jays and other crows as well as the

almost invisible songbirds in the tree and hedges. Of the raptors we will see the Common Buzzard and possibly an Osprey or a Kestrel.

This area of Belgium has a rich variety of Butterflies and we will see many familiar species (if you are from Britain).

The river itself will provide many examples of the Dragonfly and Damselfly family. The delicate damsels include the Western Demoiselle, the White-Legged, the Orange Featherleg, the Blue Featherleg and various Bluets and Bluetails. Of the dragons we may see the Small Pincertail, the Yellow Clubtail, the Pronged C l u b t a i l a n d t h e C o m m o n Clubtail amongst others.

We will also be able to see many flowers, especially early in the season before the meadows are cut, and these will include several orchids such as the Purple, the Pyramid, the Bee and the Lizard Orchids.

Of course we will also see many trees and shrubs along the river course and in the forests. We can have some fun trying to identify them.

Of the reptiles we will probably see lizards and hear frogs. We sometimes see a Grass Snake swimming in the river (harmless) and sometimes a Viper (the only venomous snake, which is small, 18 inches long, and not very poisonous).

The hardest things to see are the mammals. We have seen Nutria and Otters on these rivers and we've also glimpsed Red Squirrels and Mink and Martens along the banks. On the early morning walks we've encountered Foxes, Roe Deer and Fallow Deer. Badgers have only been seen at night in the headlights.

Maps And Books

GUIDE BOOKS

Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg (Travel Guide) by Smith & Elliot

The Rough Guide to Belgium and Luxembourg, by Dunford & Lee

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Belgium & Luxembourg by Antony Mason

The usual guides from the regular people.

Walking in the Ardennes: Wallonia-Belgium, by Alan Castle

Describing 53 circular walks, ranging from two to 14 miles in length, this walking guide to the Belgian Ardennes includes details of accommodation, transport and other facilities as well as emphasis on places of interest to enable the walker to enjoy a holiday in the Ardennes to the full. I’ve had this book for a good many years and can personally recommend it. It is however a bit old and must be due a new edition. 

 

HISTORY 

Belgium: Long United, Long Divided, by Samuel Humes

This concise history describes the traditions and transitions that over two thousand years have developed in Belgium in a sense of shared identity, common government, and a centralised nation-state - and then over a few recent decades paved the way for Flemish-Walloon schism that now threatens to break up Belgium. It responds to the question: Why does a government, unified for

more than 600 years, no longer seem capable of holding together a linguistically divided country In tracing the evolution of Belgian governance, Humes describes why and how the dominance of French-speaking propertied elite eroded after having monopolised the land's governance for centuries. The extension of suffrage, combined with the rise of literacy and schooling enabled labour and Flemish movements to gather sufficient momentum to fracture the Belgian polity, splitting its parties and frustrating its politics. The presence of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has, in a tangential way, enable the Belgian separatists to discount the merit of a national government that is no longer needed to defend the country militarily and economically.

A History of the Low Countries, by Paul Arblaster

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are three relatively small countries whose contribution to Europe's economic, spiritual and artistic heritage has been immense. Their histories cannot be written in isolation from one another, or from their neighbours.

In the first full historical survey of the Benelux area to be written in English, Paul Arblaster describes the whole sweep of the history of the Low Countries, from Roman frontier provinces through to the establishment of the three constitutional monarchies of the present day.

Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945 by Danny Parker.

The definitive account of one of World War II's most famous battles First published in 1992 to rave reviews, Danny Parker's Battle of the Bulge has since become the standard history of the battle, praised by historians for its stirring narrative, meticulous research, and its wealth of new information and fresh interpretations. Published now in new edition, including a photo

section with fascinating then-and-now images of the Ardennes area battlefield, this classic history will be released to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the battle.

Battle Story: The Battle of the Bulge, by Andrew Rawson

In December 1944 the German military made their final attempt to end the Second World War by throwing in all their reserves in a desperate attempt to shatter the Allied lines. After breaking through the American-held sector in the Ardennes, two Panzer armies headed for the bridges over the River Meuse. However, a combination of poor planning, bad weather, tortuous terrain and above all, the determined defence of key towns and villages, such as Bastogne and St Vith, delayed the advance. The Allies were able to hold the northern and southern shoulders of the attack, hemming the Germans in. The Bulge had been created, and as the fortunes of battle were reversed, the Allies struck back. This book gives a clear, concise account of those dramatic days at the end of 1944, supported by a timeline of events and orders of battle. Over fifty photographs illustrate the events during this momentous campaign.

 

MAPS

Many types of maps are available for this region but I recommend those produced by the Institute Geographique Nationale (NGI).

They have two series of walking maps which are suitable for our canoeing needs.

The 1-25000 series is at a scale of 4cm to the km and the 1-100,000 series is at a scale of 1cm to the km.

TOE0802 Wallonie Ardennes covers the whole area of our trip.

A whole series of maps at 4x the scale are also available from the NGI.

These maps are available to buy online and also at a dedicated NGI shop in Brussels. Brussels also has a specialised Maps & Atlases Book Shop in the centre of the city. We can give you the addresses.

I would recommend the TOP100 maps; these are maps we use on the trips.