Hike in the heart of the Saint-Hubert Forest

On this first day of November, we head to the heart of the Saint-Hubert Forest to enjoy the last autumn colours in Belgium. After more than an hour's drive from Brussels, we leave the highway for winding country roads passing through trees with yellow, orange and red leaves.

The start of the hike is from the small hamlet of Mochamps, near Tenneville. Having no precise starting point, we easily find a small parking area at the edge of the forest once the trail markings (yellow rectangles) are found.  
 

The air is fresh, the clouds are grey, and calm reigns as we walk the first few meters of this 9.7 km hike.

Very quickly we come across the Priesse Tower. This observatory perched at 5 meters high, offers a panoramic view of the bogs and the Mochamps plateau. It is the ideal place to observe large game (Deer, Doe, Roe deer,...) as well as several species of birds for the more knowledgeable.

We are lucky because a few minutes after entering, 2 does cross the plain from right to left before our eyes. We return there at the end of the hike but this time, despite our patience, we will not see any animals.

After several kilometers, we encounter a second observatory: the Bilaude viewing area. This offers us an unobstructed view of the Bilaude Pond.

During the walk, we cross a boardwalk (recently renovated) for nearly a kilometer that takes us to the heart of the Rouge Poncé Fen. This is Wallonia's oldest Nature Reserve. It protects peat bogs and wet heaths that are home to remarkable fauna and flora.

Returning to the car, we pass between the green fir trees and smaller trees with autumn colours. We even get some blue sky and a few sunbeams breaking through the clouds.

👉 For more autumn hiking ideas, don't hesitate to consult our article on the 5 places to hike in autumn.