Hacking
4 days on a horse in the Great Forest of Saint-Hubert
5 mins OF ESCAPE
This vast Ardennes forest stretching across 10,000 hectares really is a whole new experience. The Great Forest of Saint-Hubert is the cradle of many a legend, trapping the visitor in its mysterious atmosphere.
Time to mount!
To go hacking you need, well... a horse! We begin our adventure by meeting our travel companions, who will set the pace as they carry us on an exploration of the forest. My beautiful mount is called Hollywood, a lively horse with a gentle expression. I know instantly that we'll get along well! There are a number of riding stables offering horse tourism options in the Great Forest of Saint-Hubert, so although you can hack in the Ardennes with your own horse, it might be simpler to rent one instead, together with the services of a guide.
Shared authenticity
Personally, I appreciate having a guide to help me explore the Great Forest of Saint-Hubert, and not only to avoid getting lost. Time spent exchanging with local people is precious. I love listening to their stories of the Ardennes, the forest, and the pleasant moments they've spent here...
Nothing beats this interaction when it comes to getting a real feel for a region and fully appreciating its authenticity.
And there's no lack of authenticity in the Ardennes!
Does it get boring, riding for days through a forest? Not a chance! The forest landscapes change constantly as you travel from one area to another, but also with the time of day and the weather conditions. I'm fascinated by the variations and the dance of light and shadow. It's as if an artist were at work, adding strokes of colour, sometimes bright, sometimes dark, playing with the rays of light and trying (successfully) to paint a chiaroscuro masterpiece.
Monumental trees
I'm also in awe of the forest's vertical dimension, with trees stretching to heights worthy of the tallest gothic cathedrals. As my horse winds its way between their trunks, I look up at the treetops. Suddenly feeling tiny, I'm stunned by the beauty and the harmony of nature...
Unexpected happy encounters
In the forest, being on a horse has fortunate consequences. On horseback, I feel truly in harmony with the natural surroundings. I feel more a part of it, as my companion sets the pace, taking me gently forward and camouflaging my scent with his own. This makes happy encounters more likely, as we witness ourselves during the hack. On a forest track, time stands still for a moment: the horses stop and we suddenly see a female wild boar and her young, calmly crossing our path as if they haven't even seen us. The forest really does offer a host of sensations and rich experiences!
Enjoy this experience
La Chevauchée Forestière en Grande Forêt de Saint-Hubert
Maison du Tourisme de la Forêt de Saint-Hubert
Place du Marché 15, 6870 Saint-Hubert, Belgium
Tel.: 0032 61 61 30 10
Email :info@foretdesainthubert-tourisme.be
La Chevauchée forestière: foretsainthubert.wixsite.com/chevaucheeforestiere
Tourist information: www.foretdesainthubert-tourisme.be
I spent a few days in another time, travelling across the Ardennes on horseback, awe-struck by the beautiful scenery.