SIGNAL DE BOTRANGE - Between Gite Kaleo and the „Butte Baltia“ (3 km) in Botrange, we continue our hike. From here, we stay on the GR56 hiking trail. At first, the two hiking trails GR56 and GR573 lead us together until just before „Les six Hêtres“ (the six beeches).
We walk straight ahead to the edge of the „Neur Lowé“ fen, where we turn right. Along the fen edge, we reach the N68 highway, which runs from Eupen over the Fens to Malmedy. We cross the road and continue straight into the Polleur Fen. The Polleur Fen is an educational fen section here; the wooden boardwalks are wider. Information boards at various points explain interesting facts about this unique landscape to the interested hiker.
Trails often lead over boardwalks here in the High Fens, but be careful – they can be very slippery when wet. We continue following our white/red GR trail markers and quickly arrive at the point where a path to Baraque Michel leads off to the right. Our hiking trail bends through the Polleur Fen and we reach the Polleur creek. We follow the creek until we reach a forest road. Now we find ourselves at the „Pont de Beleu“ bridge.
5.4 Km PONT DE BELEU
At the bridge called «Beleu», a shelter invites you to rest on the left. After the bridge, we walk a short distance to the right heading north, then turn left again after a short stretch. At the end of the path, we continue diagonally left across the Polleur creek. Immediately after the creek, we come to a clearing on the right that rises slightly southward.
We continue following the well-visible GR trail markers until just before the six beeches „Les six Hêtres“. Here, the GR573 and GR56 separate. The GR573 continues over Hockai and then leads through the valley of the Hoëgne.
From here we are fully on the GR56; therefore, we turn left and after a few steps reach the mentioned six beeches.
2.8 Km LES SIX HETRES
We continue hiking and soon reach more fen areas. This is the Setay Fen along which we walk. After a while, we also come to the „Fraineu Fen“. Partly on boardwalks, our hiking trail leads between the two fen areas. At the end, we come across one of our many fen streams again, the „Trô Maret“ creek.
We now follow the wild waters of the „Trô Maret“ always downstream. Now we cross the road which leads from Hockai to Xhoffraix.
3.2 Km ROAD HOCKAI-XHOFFRAIX
On the other side, we continue always downstream following the creek. The wild creek is partly deep below us in a gorge. The valley has an almost alpine character. Shortly before we reach the N68 again, our trail turns right and crosses the creek. While the Trô Maret continues to plunge into the valley, we hike slowly uphill into a widening valley. Deep below we see the road running from Eupen over the Fens to Malmedy. Following the forest trail, we soon arrive at the Hotel Ferme Libert (Restaurant Marie-Catherine).
4.1 Km FERME LIBERT
We continue in front of the buildings of Ferme Libert and then over the mountain biking slope. We have to cross the ski runs and hike opposite through a tunnel pipe about 2 m in diameter. After the „tunnel section“, we reach a forest trail. Here too, a downhill slope is visible that takes your breath away at first glance. At the end of the forest trail, we turn right up the narrow road and soon see a white-painted chapel (with a residential house) from the 15th century. It is the „Chapelle de l’Ermitage“, a hermit’s chapel. The chapel is usually open and a short visit provides a welcome break.
Afterwards, it goes steeply uphill and our fitness is put to the test. At the top, near the small village of Bernister, we reach a ridge. We now hike along the forest edge and see in the distance a mighty bridge that belongs to the A27-E42 highway. The highway leads from Verviers via St. Vith and Steinebrück into the German Eifel. In the valley is also the well-known race track of Spa-Francorchamps.
From the Bernister village exit, it now goes powerfully into the valley, past the monument for the poet Guillaume Apollinaire (1899). We continue following the steeply descending road that leads down to Malmedy past a motocross track. Below, we pass through the old district of „Outrelepont“. Over the old rubble stone bridge, we cross the Warche. It continues in the direction of the cathedral and Place Albert Ier.
4.9 Km MALMEDY
