GR126 Dinant to Godinne

This Monday 26nd March 2007 spring started with 2 °C when the sun rose above the outskirts of Brussels and 22 °C in the afternoon in Namen.
The 8.35 train took 11 min. to bring us from Godinne to Dinant.
Just a 100 m east of the top of the cable way we started on the 126 proper. It lead us down the old ramparts of Dinant back down to the river Meuse.
We passed the Leffe brewery and went uphill onto the plains above the Meuse valley (289 m). There was abundant sunshine and we had to take off most of the warm clothing. The paths through the forest were extremely muddy but this did not adversely affect our mood.

We descended again into the valley to the lovely hamlet of Houx (91 m). After a short rest at the cemetery (!) we went up into the woods again but this time the path was fairly firm. The small village of Evrehailles had a butchery but not a café were we had hoped for, so we descended once more. This time to the stone quarry at Ivoir.

A steep ascent followed by a gradual descent to Godinne brought us back to our car after we passed the narrow long tunnel under the road and railway station.

Total distance covered: 22 km. Uphill: 678 m. Mx. Height: 289 m.

Covered road surface: app: 20%

Personal rating: ****