Itinerary
Minimum 4 bikes, max 12
Getting around Wallonia is relatively easy thanks to a network of dual carriageways, allowing us to spend the days on lovely twisties, then jump onto direct routes back to the hotel. It also allows for the proposed days to be adjusted if desirable. As we're staying in a central base, there's also the opportunity to miss a days riding and explore at your own pace - or visit other attractions in the area.
Rough itinerary:
Day 1 187 miles, riding time from Calais 3hrs 50mins
Meet up near the Le shuttle terminal in Folkestone (might be an idea to stay nearby overnight) for a shuttle around 10.00 am and ride to Ypres for a lunch stop. It's worth a quick walk to the Menin gate, but we won't be staying for the evening ceremony, as our focus is Wallonia, not Flanders. After lunch we'll head for our 4 night base with a possible break at Dubuisson Brewery, the oldest in Wallonia.
Day 2 Awesome Ardennes 129 miles riding time 3h 35mins
Heading out from Dinant towards the French border, we pick up our route at Bruly – De – Peche, the site of Hitlers temporary HQ in June 1940. Roads and viewpoints from here are the order of the day with views and a drink at Rochehaut and ultimately Bouillon and its castle. From there we’ll take a direct route back to our hotel.
Day 3 Wallonia at war 171 miles riding time 4hrs 30 mins
Heading out of our base, we pick up our route at Rochefort, the last town taken by the German Panzer Lehr division before the British evicted the Germans in 1945 and pass Roche en Ardenne before arriving at our main stop in Bastogne, famous for holding out against the Germans in 1944. Options are to visit the 101st airbourne museum nearby (E14 entry) or enjoy lunch in the town square where you might spot a tank.
Onwards past Houffalize, which was flattened in Jan 1945 in an effort to cut off German retreat, and on to Durbuy for a stop and refreshments in this tiny city before heading back for the evening.
Day 4 Crossing the Meuse 167 miles riding time 4h 30 mins
We'll take a direct route - with some nice bends to our start point today in Spa (the name says it all) and a quick coffee before turning south - west and following the curves of the Rover Ourthe. We cross the Meuse at Givet, before heading north to Anhee and some nice roads to the west, before we loop back to the Meuse and back to our base.
