The best hikes in the Ardennes with children

100% kid-friendly hikes

The Ardennes is an ideal destination for hiking enthusiasts. Along the water, in the forest, on a plateau... there's plenty of choice! However, not all walks are necessarily suitable when it comes to introducing younger children to this activity. Trails that are too long or too steep can quickly become discouraging. That's why we have selected the best hiking trails in the Belgian and French Ardennes, perfect for family adventures and discovering the beauty of our region together.

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Clairefontaine: The witch's plateau

Abbaye_de_Clairefontaine_(35) — © Mélanie Meinbach

There are three hikes near the Clairefontaine site.

At the start of this walk, you will see the old apostolic school of Clairefontaine: a large complex of roughcast buildings adorned with cut stone set in a vast wooded park. You will cross a luxuriant nature reserve on the Plateau de la Sorcière (Witch’s Plateau) and at Mont Karlsberg, which was inhabited in the Middle Ages. Varied landscapes all along the route.

Not far from there, don’t miss the Clairefontaine site: the Notre-Dame du Bel Amour chapel, the remains of the Abbey, the Saint-Bernard spring, the crypt and the tomb of Ermesinde, as well as the garden of aromatic plants set in peaceful surroundings.

Start: old apostolic school of Clairefontaine (rue du Cloître – 6700 Arlon).

Waymarking: red rectangle on white background.