Loop hike in Neffe: discovering a peaceful area of Dinant

This loop hike in Neffe takes you from Neffe to Dinant. It's a short hike, under 6 km. Perfect for warming up, isn't it? Be warned: you're in Dinant , and here, nothing is ever flat… except for the Couque de Dinant a local pastry) and the towpath along the Meuse River. You've been warned.

The point of this route? If you stay at Gîtes Kangourou Dinant, this allows you to discover the residential district of Neffe, which welcomes you.  

This walk then offers you the opportunity to reach the center of Dinant Dinanttaking the main road that runs alongside the Meuse River. This is the road usually used to travel from Neffe to Dinant, or to reach the Kangourou Cottages. You will be leaving this busy route behind.

To get to the center of Dinant, as well as to return, you take two paths. One through the countryside, the other through the woods. Two unusual routes to reach the city center: they offer beautiful views of the city of Dinant, the Meuse River, the Citadel and, of course, the Rocher Bayard. 

Starting point for the loop hike in Neffe

Thewalking route starts in Neffe, on the doorstep of the Gîtes Kangourou Dinant, opposite the Rocher Bayard.

Are you not staying in one of the two Kangaroo gîtes? You can of course leave from Neffe, at the corner of Rie du Pont Cajot and rue de Givet.

As an alternative, you can also start this walk near the former Convent of Bethlehem, known today as Maison Leffe. The route passes right at the foot of this historic building.

Leaving Neffe, you take rue du Pont Cajot, which leads you… to a tunnel under the railway line. As soon as you exit the tunnel, turn left: the road is dead end. At least for all four wheels. Not for you.

Very soon, after passing the last houses, the tarmac gives way to a stony path, winding between a shed and some old shipping containers. This path then becomes a footpath, running alongside the railway line and gradually climbing. High before you, high in the sky, rises the imposing mass of the Charlemagne Viaduct . Don't forget to glance to your left before continuing along the path: the Rocher Bayard rises effortlessly above the rooftops of Neffe.

Towards the farm and countryside of Rond-Chêne

When you reach a point almost directly above the Charlemagne Viaduct, you'll come to a Y-junction. If you continue straight ahead, you'll head towards Anseremme. Ignore this option and turn sharply right, continuing the climb under the immense deck of the equally immense bridge. The path winds through bushes before joining a paved road as it passes under the viaduct.

Officially, it is a service road. Traffic is therefore not authorized there. But local residents use it as a shortcut to avoid crossing Dinant. No ban on pedestrians, of course.

Go to the right, but not without paying attention to the rare cars that can use this section. The path continues to climb. It joins another road, coming from Neffe. Ignore the access to the Charlemagne road on your left, and continue walking ahead, veering slightly to the right.  

You arrive in one of the countryside areas surrounding the town of Dinant. On one side, meadows; on the other, cultivated fields. And around a bend, you see the Rond-Chêne farm.

Across fields towards Dinant

Leaving the Rond-Chêne farm behind, you leave Neffe. Ahead of you are nothing but fields. The road you're on winds its way into the countryside. Watch out for the numerous potholes.

At a picnic area and an information panel, a dirt path leaves on your right, through fields.

Follow him. You are at the highest point of the walk, almost 210 m above sea level. Without realizing it, you still climbed some 120 meters, in barely 2 kilometers. This loop hike in Neffe is short, but it’s still a climb!

This farm track is peaceful and offers a wide view of the countryside you are passing through. Your gaze stretches far and wide, and you can see other countryside in the distance, on the other bank of the Meuse.

As the first houses begin to appear, the Citadel of Dinant emerges on the horizon.

Passing by the old convent of Bethlehem

From where you are, the Citadel of Dinant looks much less impressive than at the foot of the Collegiate Church. It seems to blend discreetly into the landscape. This won't last, rest assured.

Because the path you are walking along now begins a significantly steeper slope. Upon reaching the first house, you have the opportunity toadmire the Citadel, the Collegiate Church, and the center of the town of Dinant. 

Thisviewpoint is little known, as few people take this route to discover Dinant. Yet the view is well worth it, isn't it? 

The slope is steep: over one kilometer, you have a negative altitude difference of almost 70 meters.

At the bottom of the descent, after passing two other houses, you arrive at theformer Bethlehem convent, transformed into a place dedicated to Leffe beer and a holiday resort.

Depending on your schedule, it is possible to stop and visit Maison Leffe.

On the Burinfosse trail

At Maison Leffe, the center of Dinant is very close. You are of course free to leave the route to get there.

There are approximately 2 kilometers left to cover. Mostly on a trail, which is more frequented than the country road taken to get here.

This marked trail takes you from Dinant to Anseremme. At the start of the walk, you also walked a section of this path, between the railway tunnel and the Charlemagne viaduct.

The path begins at the corner of the old convent. It runs alongside the high perimeter wall of the former religious building. On the other side, the vegetation sometimes allows you to glimpse the Meuse River and the town of Dinant.

Crossing the Burinfosse ravine

Before venturing onto the path, beyond the perimeter wall of the former convent, be sure to take a look at the left bank of the Meuse. Enjoy these unique views of the left bank, where the heart of the city developed.

In particular, you can see the Mont Fat tower, at the top on the other side of the Meuse. It is not open to the public, as the site has been abandoned for many years.

After leaving the convent of Bethlehem, the path narrows and its route curves. In rainy weather, stay vigilant, because some places can be slippery. A few steps await you, then a bridge over a thin trickle of water, lost among rocks.

You are in the Burinfosse ravine, patiently carved by erosion over centuries. A local geological curiosity, its full extent is difficult to appreciate due to the surrounding vegetation. Be aware, however, that erosion continues and the ravine is... growing little by little. Come back in a few millennia to see the difference...

Return to Neffe

Beyond the footbridge, the path goes up and then runs along the remains of an old fortification wall. The path can be uneven, depending on the tree falls that occur, sometimes impressively. Sometimes the Meuse can be seen.

In its last part, the path runs along gardens, before arriving at an isolated house (you will notice that no road allows you to reach this house, built after the Second World War).

Then, a final garden, furnished with a dome greenhouse, welcomes you. As well as a few sentences, written on slates or on a door that seems to be of no use.

As the path widens, three houses appear on the right: this is the end of the path. At the junction with the road, turn left towards the railway line. Cross it and reach the banks of the Meuse. 

You finish this loop hike in Neffe along the river. You pass in front of the Church of Neffe and you quickly arrive at your starting point, near the pétanque court.