Belgium
Description
This small kingdom has some surprisingly lovely landscapes. The Wallonian Ardennes region in the southeast is most famous among hikers, with its densely wooded river valleys and farm lands higher up on the undulating plateaus. In the northeast are the mysterious Hautes Fagnes, an upland plain of peat moors, partly in the Ardennes and partly in the Eifel region, and now a nature reserve that offers stunning beauty in all seasons. The north and west of Belgium, known as Flanders, is mostly low flat countryside, but nonetheless traversed by a myriad of long distance hiking trails, some of which lead through historic towns like Bruges and Ghent.
The majority of Belgian long distance hiking trails are known as GR's, a conveniently bi-lingual abbreviation of Grande Randonnees (French) or Grote Routepaden (Dutch). European long distance trails E2, E3 and E9 all lead through Belgium, and coincide with GR's.
Along the GR's, small hotels, B&B's and camping sites can be found in almost every village or town. Walking Belgium is a fun experience, frequently taking you back in time to what appears to be some older version of Europe. The often somewhat ramshackle towns, quaint shops and cafe's, old-fashioned politeness, excellent food and beer, there is simply no hurry to modernize, just live for the moment.
Opinions
- pc22 August 2011
- Rate 8
- Positive lovely friendly people....nice walking
- Robin Janssens
- Rate 7
- frank
- Rate 9
- Positive the people,food, chocolate, beer
- Negative the pollution
Map
Trails
- Dijleland
- E2
- E3
- E9
- GB - Gaume Buissonière
- GR12 - Amsterdam - Paris
- GR121 - Wavre - Boulogne
- GR122
- GR123 - Tour du Hainaut occidental
- GR125 - Tour de l'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse
- GR126 - Brussel-Namen-Membre sur Samois
- GR128 - Vlaanderenroute
- GR129 - Dwars door België
- GR130 - IJzer
- GR131 - Kreken - Ieperboog
- GR14 - Sentier de l'Ardenne
- GR15 - AE - Ardennes-Eifel
- GR16 - Sentier de la Semois
- GR412 - Sentier des Terrils
- GR5
- GR512 - Vlaams Brabant
- GR56 - Hautes Fagnes - Eifel
- GR561 - Kempen-Maaspad
- GR563 - Tour du Pays de Herve
- GR564 - Kempen - Condroz
- GR565 - Sniederspad
- GR57 - Vallée de l'Ourthe
- GR570 - Pays des Trois Frontières
- GR571 - Vallées des Légendes
- GR573 - Hautes Fagnes
- GR575 - Tour du Condroz Namurois
- GR576 - Tour du Condroz Liégeois
- GR577 - Tour de la Famenne
- GR579 - Brussels - Liège
- GR5a - Wandelronde van Vlaanderen
- Grenslandpad
- Groene Gordel
- Hageland
- Heuvelland
- Kempen
- Kempen-Broek
- Mol-Om
- Reynaertland
- Rhine-Meuse Trail
- Santiago de Compostela Pilgrims Way
- TBW - Tour du Brabant Wallon
- Tour de la Vesdre
- Transardense Route
- Uilenspiegel
- Via Arduinna
- Via Brabantica
- Via Brugensis
- Via Gallia Belgica
- Via Limburgica
- Via Monastica
- Via Mosana
- Via Scaldea
- Via Thiérache
- Vlaamse Ardennen
Regions
States
Links
Facts
- GR footpath - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The concept of the "Grand Randonnée", or GR, was invented in France, and then spread to Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands the term was redubbed LAW. This wikipage lists the main trails.
- Hiking.be (Dutch)
This page is devoted to hiking in Belgium. The Belgium trails have been ranked according to their popularity. This is useful if you like to know other hiker's opinions.
- Hiking in Belgium (Dutch)
Practical information about hiking in Belgium and a presentation of interesting regions and routes.
- Lijst van GR-paden in België - Wikipedia (Dutch)
- Lumaj (Dutch)
Reports of Lumaj's hikes along the complete GR 5A trail.
- Lumaj wandelwebsite (Dutch)
Reports on Lumaj's hikes along Belgian GR trails. With lots of interesting and useful side information.
Reports
- :: Jans Wondere Wandelwereld :: (Dutch)
Home page of a Belgium hiking enthusiast, Jan van Meirvenne. He hiked at least half of the trails in Belgium. He keeps a log of all the hikes, published here, and supplemented with trail facts.
- Trekkings by Luc Selleslagh (Dutch)
Superb private website by a Belgian long distance hiker, on his hikes inside and outside Belgium.
- Backpacking trips of Debbie Sanders (Dutch)
Trip reports of hikes in Europe with experiences and practical information. Both hikes along trails and self-made routes.
Guides and maps
- Catalogue SGR (French)
List of trail guides for Belgium.
Lodging
- ASBL GIWAL
Non-profit association aiming to develop a stop-over gites network for GR hikers in Wallonia. General info in English, details in French.
- GR-Infos (French)
A 'multilingual' but basically in French website on the Grandes Randonnees (GR) long distance footpaths in Belgium and France, providing info mostly on accommodations en route, with handy interactive maps per section.
Organisations
- GR Sentiers - Les Sentiers de Grande Randonnée (French)
Long Distance Paths Association of French speaking Belgium, Wallonia, giving short info on all trails in Belgium, a clickable map, a webshop to order guidebooks and maps online. Some info on lodging too. The organisation is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation and takes care of the E-Paths in Wallonia.
- Grote Routepaden (Dutch)
Long Distance Paths Association of Flanders / Belgium. giving short info on all trails in Belgium, a clickable map, a webshop to order guidebooks and maps online. Online info on lodging is for members only. The Stichting Grote Routepaden is member of the European Ramblers' Association, and they are responsible for the Belgium trajects of E2, E3 and E9.
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books

Netherlands
2012
- Wandelgids Gent - Gentse Toeren | Lannoo |
- Verrassende wandelingen die de stad op een andere manier laten ontdekken. Originele thema´s: een literaire wandeling, wandelingen voor kinderen, een ´sneukelwandeling´ langs gezellige restaurantjes ... Met tientallen smeuige verhalen, boeiende anekdotes, en leuke cartoons. Read more

France
2010
- La Flandre à pied - P591
- Guide FFRandonnée La Flandre à pied - P591 - PR 40 baladesAmbiance de carnaval entre France et Belgique, des Monts de Flandres au littoral.La Flandre évoque à la fois la France et la Belgique, deux pays et pourtant une même identité. Dans les prairies humides, sur les pentes des monts de Flandre ou sur... Read more

Netherlands
2008
- Wandelgids - 20x Logeren & citytrippen in Belgie | Lannoo |
- Omschrijving boek Beleef twintig boeiende thema``s in tien steden in Vlaanderen en Walloni. Wandel door de stad en ontdek weinig bekende plekjes of bijzondere invalshoeken. En dankzij zorgvuldig geselecteerde verblijfadressen en restaurants maak je van je uitstap een heuse citytrip. Dirk De Moor, toerismeauteur, verkende diverse steden in Belgi... Read more

Netherlands
2005
- Wandelgids Dagstappergids Vlaams - Brabant | Lannoo |
- In dit boekje wordt een fietsronde langs de rand van Nederland beschreven. De beschrijving valt uiteen in 45 trajecten van ca. 20-40 km. De route is zo gepland dat een aaneenschakeling van bewegwijzerde lange afstandroutes gevolgd wordt. Per traject zijn 2 bladzijden gereserveerd; de een bevat een zeer heldere kaart met de route, de andere... Read more

United Kingdom
- The Harrowing
- January, 1916, and the rooftops of Leeds creak with the weight of the winter's snows. William Redmond, soon to join the Chapeltown Rifles, wanders with his younger brother Samuel through the old haunts of their childhood - and, there, at the top of the Moor across which they are forbidden to walk, Samuel, for too long trapped in his brother's... Read more

France
- La Thiérache - Guide Chamina
- LA THIÉRACHEPicardie : AisneCOLLECTION LES INCONTOURNABLESA pied Aux portes de la Belgique, la Thiérache se décline en vert et rouge autour de la paisible vallée de l'Oise.Le vert, c'est la forêt et le bocage... et le bocage c'est le domaine de l'élevage qui produit un grand fromage, le Maroilles.... Read more

Germany
- Heusch-Altenstein, Annette;Flinspach, Karl-Heinz: Jakobswege - Wege der Jakobspilger im Rheinland 01
- In 8 Etappen von Wuppertal-Beyenburg über Köln nach Aachen Belgien Read more
- Also available from:
- Buch.de, Germany

Germany
- Jakobswege - Wege der Jakobspilger im Rheinland 01
- Seit Jahrhunderten zieht es Pilger aus allen Richtungen Europas nach Santiago de Compostela. 1987 erklärte der Europarat diesen Pilgerweg zur allgemeinen europäischen Kulturstraße. Für Westfalen und das Rheinland wird der Weg neu erschlossen und in voraussichtlich vier Bänden den Wanderfreunden zugänglich gemacht. Im ersten Buch führen die Wege... Read more
Maps

France
2010
- La Flandre à pied - P591
- Guide FFRandonnée La Flandre à pied - P591 - PR 40 baladesAmbiance de carnaval entre France et Belgique, des Monts de Flandres au littoral.La Flandre évoque à la fois la France et la Belgique, deux pays et pourtant une même identité. Dans les prairies humides, sur les pentes des monts de Flandre ou sur... Read more

United Kingdom
- Dalhem - Herve
- Dalhem - Herve, map No. 42/3-4 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Dalhem - Herve
- Dalhem - Herve, map No. 42/3-4 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Dalhem - Herve
- Dalhem - Herve, map No. 42/3-4 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Kortrijk - Harelbeke
- Kortrijk - Harelbeke, map No. 29/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Kortrijk - Harelbeke
- Kortrijk - Harelbeke, map No. 29/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Kortrijk - Harelbeke
- Kortrijk - Harelbeke, map No. 29/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- De Panne - Koksijde
- De Panne - Koksijde, map No. 11/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- De Panne - Koksijde
- De Panne - Koksijde, map No. 11/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- De Panne - Koksijde
- De Panne - Koksijde, map No. 11/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Middelkerke - Oostende
- Middelkerke - Oostende, map No. 12/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Middelkerke - Oostende
- Middelkerke - Oostende, map No. 12/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Middelkerke - Oostende
- Middelkerke - Oostende, map No. 12/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Nieuwpoort - Leke
- Nieuwpoort - Leke, map No. 12/5-6 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Nieuwpoort - Leke
- Nieuwpoort - Leke, map No. 12/5-6 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Nieuwpoort - Leke
- Nieuwpoort - Leke, map No. 12/5-6 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Gistel - Zedelgem
- Gistel - Zedelgem, map No. 12/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Gistel - Zedelgem
- Gistel - Zedelgem, map No. 12/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Gistel - Zedelgem
- Gistel - Zedelgem, map No. 12/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Veurne - Alveringem
- Veurne - Alveringem, map No. 19/3-4 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Veurne - Alveringem
- Veurne - Alveringem, map No. 19/3-4 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Veurne - Alveringem
- Veurne - Alveringem, map No. 19/3-4 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Hoogstade - Roesbrugge-Haringe
- Hoogstade - Roesbrugge-Haringe, map No. 19/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Hoogstade - Roesbrugge-Haringe
- Hoogstade - Roesbrugge-Haringe, map No. 19/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Hoogstade - Roesbrugge-Haringe
- Hoogstade - Roesbrugge-Haringe, map No. 19/7-8 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Pervijze - Diksmuide
- Pervijze - Diksmuide, map No. 20/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Pervijze - Diksmuide
- Pervijze - Diksmuide, map No. 20/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more

United Kingdom
- Pervijze - Diksmuide
- Pervijze - Diksmuide, map No. 20/1-2 in the topographic survey of Belgium at 1:20,000. Each 20K map from the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut / Institut G Read more















































