%20(7500%20%C3%97%201400px).png){kind=logo}
Date: Sunday, February 13th, 2022
Path: Own route + GR5
Distance: 18,4 km
Ascent: 439m
Descent: 439m
In the past I had already crossed the Fagne de Malchamps and the Bois des Minières south of Spa several times on the GR5. This time I wanted to do it a bit differently.
From the little train station of Spa-Geronstère the trail immediately starts climbing. First two kilometres on asphalt, then at a crossing we follow the Ruisseau du Pendu, the first of several brooks on this hike, downstream. After 400m we come to another road. Near the source of Barisart (you can taste the water there, but it really doesn't taste good) we follow a path upstream, part of the Promenade Meyerbeer. Winding along the stream, it goes steadily uphill, past the source of the Géronstère, until it reaches the Berinzenne estate.
A very wide forest road leads us out of the estate. After about 1 kilometre we turn right and finally reach the Fagne de Malchamps. Here we arrive at a well-known stretch of the GR5 trail, passing by the monument for the fallen crew of a British bomber that crashed here in April 1944. Above the moors rises the 24-metre high viewtower of Berinzinne. From here, you have a beautiful view of the whole area and you can see quite far too. Afterwards, we follow a path around the Fagne and finally dive back into the moors via a part of the Vecquée. The duckboard path is broken in several places, which makes the hike all the more challenging and interesting.
On the eastern side of the Fagne de Malchamps the trail leads through a muddy forest, sometimes with a duckboard path, but more often not. Near the airfield of La Sauvenière we come back on a wide forest road. We walk some 500 metres in the direction of Berinzenne and then suddenly turn right into a firebreak. A bit further on it ends up at a crossroads where we follow a small path along the brooklet la Picherotte. From now on it only goes downhill to Spa along a nice little brooklet and later through the Bois de la Havette.
Do you also want to try this beautiful hike? Download the GPX of it here:
By public transport:
Spa is accessible by trein from Pepinster or Verviers.
