The post Fondry des Chiens, the Grand Canyon of Belgium appeared first on Simply By Joy.
]]>The rock formations take up a length of about 100 meters and a height of 20 meters. Not only is this a viewpoint for tourists, but it’s also home to a diverse range of fauna and flora. It is definitely a highlight in Belgium.
The nearest train station from Nismes is in Couvin. From this station on you could take a bus that takes you to the town of Nismes. If you choose to come by car you can easily park right next to the tourist office, which offers free parking!
There are several ways of getting to the rock formations. The easiest way is parking right next to the rock formation. But… how does this saying go? It’s about the journey, not the destination. Seeing Fondry des Chiens can easily be combined with a beautiful hike. Nismes offers many hiking trails. Most of them start next to the church of Nismes. In this table, I’ve summarized the most popular hikes to Fondry des Chiens:
Red Square ‘le Fondry des Chiens’ | 4 km | 1h30′ | Map |
Yellow Square ‘La Roche aux Faucons’ | 7,5 km | 2h40′ | Map |
Green Square ‘Le tienne aux Pauquis’ | 8 km | 3h | Map |
Red + White Square ‘Les Abennets’ | 9 km | 3h30′ | Map |
All trails entail different distances and unique features. There is no need to worry about finding your way as the signs are well visible on your route. My friend and I hiked the 9 km trail (red + white flag: Les Abennets) and ended our trail with our visit to Fondry des Chiens. Feeling satisfied and tired, we decided to spend some time in the town of Nismes (which of course, included drinking Belgian beer ).
The professionals at the tourism office of Nismes will gladly assist you with more information about the routes (free map!), the ‘what to do’s’ and a public toilet.
There you go, some inspiration for your next trip to Belgium! Kind reminder: always stay respectful towards nature & heritage sites. Keep your dog on the leash, don’t litter, and stay on the path.
Peace and love!
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]]>The post Rocher du Hérou – Natural park of the two Ourthes appeared first on Simply By Joy.
]]>The Nature site ‘Le Hérou’ offers a challenging hike, beautiful views, and peaceful surroundings. The cherry on the cake is definitely standing on the top of the Rocher du Hérou, being the flank of a long and unique rock formation found at the meanders of the Ourthe. Hike up and you will be rewarded with wonderful landscapes. The park is located in Houffalize, which is not too far from other recommendable nature spots (Nisramont for example).
You can make the hike as long as you please, starting from the parking lot right next to the viewpoint or basically anywhere else. As we traveled by van we had decided to park right next to the church of Nardin. There, we walked our way down till we reached the Ourthe. Note: the time we visited was a very dry period for Belgium. Make sure to wear waterproof shoes/clothes and be aware of slippery roads.
Without a set plan, Lotte and I began our descent, following charming trails that led us down to the Ourthe River. It was during this trail that we stumbled upon a series of blue wavy signs, which lead us directly to Rocher du Hérou. Embracing the unexpected adventure, we followed the signs and ended up with a fantastic 8-kilometer hike.
The area is renowned for its challenging hikes with stunning rewards – breathtaking views! Be aware that this hike might be demanding, so take it slow, prioritize safety, and pack plenty of water and snacks. Hiking is about the journey, so enjoy the peaceful surroundings and take it all in!
Getting there | I advise you to park near the park, or somewhere closeby like Nadrin. Unfortunately, getting there by public transportation is more challenging. There is no train station nearby, but a bus might take you to the town of Nadrin. |
Budget | Entering the park is free. |
Time & distance | There are countless hikes to and from the Rocher Hérou. You may make your trip as long as you please. |
Bring along | Enough water and waterproof hiking shoes. |
It’s not only the Rocher du Hérou that makes the hike a must-do, but it’s also the other viewpoints and beautiful sites.
There you go, some inspiration for your next trip to Belgium! Kind reminder: always stay respectful towards nature & heritage sites. Keep your dog on the leash, don’t litter, and stay on the path. Cheers.
More trips in the South of Belgium here.
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]]>Stairs, stairs, and stairs. No, the steps aren’t like the stairs at your home… Some steps are narrow, some are steep. I do not recommend this hike for people who aren’t feeling fit. During the hike, you get to points where you can choose for more challenging routes. When you consider taking these paths, think of the route you’d still have to walk. Even though the route is tough I still recommend you take it. It is challenging but rewarding! Rumors go that Hua Mountain is the most dangerous hike in the world. Well… Please, do not believe this! Even Chinese children and the elderly hike it. It might have been like that in the past, but nowadays the stairs are fenced off.
East Peak | The east peak is also called the Facing Sun Peak, which is 2090 meters (6 857 feet high). Here, you can find the visitor center, a ticket office and a cable car to the north peak. Hiking up the peak will take you about 4 to 6 hours. |
South peak | The south peak or the Landing Wild Geese peak is the highest peak of them all. The top reaches 2 160 meters (7 087 feet). Legends say that wild geese returning from the south often landed at the south peak of the mountain. |
West peak | With the shape of a lotus flower, the west peak got named ‘the Lotus Flower peak‘. The west peak reaches a height of 2 086 meters (6 845 feet). |
Middle peak | The middle peak is named after a Taoist temple situated on the peak: the Jade Maiden Peak. |
North peak | Thanks to the cliffs the peak looks like a flat terrace in the clouds. That’s why the North peak is also called the Cloud Terrace peak. Here you can take a cable car to descend. |
Must do! A plank road in the sky?! You can find the plank road on the South East of the Mountain. Be prepared for a very long waiting line! Take 35 Yuan in your pocket as rent for the gear!
The best time to visit the mountain is from March to November (especially September). It can be very hot during that time, make sure to bring enough water. I advise you not to go on the weekend or during a Chinese national holiday. It’ll be packed! When you get there, you’ll have to buy an entry ticket. Prices vary from season to season.
March – November | 180 yuan (student: 90 yuan) |
December – February | 100 yuan (student: 50 yuan) |
There are two options when you’re coming from Xi’an. It might be convenient to have a translation of these words, it could make your journey a bit easier:
The high-speed train from Xi’an North Railway to Huashan North takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The North Railway station in Xi’an is very convenient to reach. There are free busses at the back of the Hua Shan station that will bring you to the entrance of the mountain. Be careful with unofficial cabs and never buy tickets of a not-ticket office!
The normal train from Xi’an Railway station. Make sure you go to the Xi’an Railway station, not Xi’an North Railway station! This train ride will take you about 1,5 – 2 hours.
Buses are available from the east side of Xi’an Railway station to the entrance of the mountain. The indication of the buses should be convenient because other buses to Terra Cotta Warriors leave from the same location. Make sure you get on the right bus!
Cheers! Safe travels!
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