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Hi Folks,
I've gone and dun a google of the site, and found quite a few mentions of the Ardennes, but no specific thread (that I could find - no doubt someone will show me what I missed).
However, would love to hear form folks that have been to the Ardennes area of belgium for a summer holiday with kids.
Thinking of going close to Malmedy, as there is mtb-ing, lakes, nice villages, rivers etc - seems to tick a lot of boxes, and also we can get a big house to rent nearby (we will be 2 families).
Insight appreciated.
I've never been sorry, but this sound like an interesting place to go. I'm keen to know more too. Would you drive, what would be the route?
https://www.landal.com/parks/village-leau-dheure
We stopped here last year, lovely place. Would definitely go again.
dmorts - actually, yes we would, we live in Basel so its a relatively easy drive up 4-5hrs, but we are meeting up with my BIL's family and kids, and they'll come from the Hull-zeebrugge ferry so a nice short trip.
Wors - thanks for that - I've seen mixed reviews, many on trip advisor panning the accommodation (smelly, run down), but tempered with a bunch of great reviews elsewhere. - was there much biking in the area? It seems, from what I can find, to be a bit less bikey than some other bits.
Personally found the accomodation okay, wasn't spectacular nor run down. Didnt take my bike but from what I saw there wasn't an awful lot.
I don't know about the accommodation, but I do know about the area, as I have a holiday house nearby.
It really is underrated.
You will not be short of activities, as there is plenty of scope for cycling (both road and mountain), as well as kayaking and climbing.
If you like beer, the various monasteries that still make their own are easy to access, including Rochefort - which is a beautiful little town in itself.
If you like books, there is a village called Redu that has sought to become the Hay-on-Wye of Belgium. It's full of used and antiquarian bookshops. Just make sure you take cash with you, and don't depend on your bank card.
As far as cycling goes, there is a network of mountain bike trails (for example, http://www.ardennes.com/accueil/a-voir-a-faire/les-activites/a-vtt-dans-les-ardennes) throughout the region, as well as a road cycling network. (I assume you don't need me to tell you that, when searching for routes and/or resources, use the term "VTT" for "mountain bike".) The road cycling network is called RAVel.
Been the Ardennes on road bike trips a few times - great road biking country for sure and can image there's good MTB on the basis there's lots of hills and lots of forested areas.
Great for riding and walking. The castle at Bouillon is worth a visit http://walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/content/castle-bouillon-medieval-gem-wallonia . Look out for local festivals, we caught one once which was 'working horses' which was a competition amongst people who still used horses for lots of farm and forestry work. The only thing i would avoid is a lot of the canoe trips as the rivers tend to be low with so many weeds it's crazy. If you are there late in the year then the Chassepierre street arts festival is always a good laugh - http://www.chassepierre.be/en. The caves at Han are also good for keeping smaller people amused for a while http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en
Wors, cheers for that.
Thanks all for other input too, extremely helpful. Leffe - I love a good cave 🙂
Saxon, erm, no, I had forgotten to use VTT. Rest of the world all speak English though, right? 🤦♂️
The museum of the Battle of the Bulge at La Glaize is fascinating too.
We’re riding this later in the summer. https://bikepacking.com/routes/ardennes-arbalete/
Quite looking forward to it.
I worked for Eurocamp in 1993 at the campsite near Rochefort I think it will have changed quite a bit since then. There was a cave system in Rochefort that did tours. The citadel at Namur was worth a visit with a chairlift ride up to the top. As for biking it was early days of VTT back then and it was all a bit adhoc!