Rich in its variety, this walk takes you through the Hertogenwald (the Dukes’ Wood) near Eupen. A narrow path follows a stream called the Hill (Helle in French), which has its source near Botrange, the highest point in Belgium, and flows into the River Weser in the Unterstadt district of Eupen. Tree roots and rocks on the bank of the stream provide a natural obstacle course, where you can play the lava game (see tip) or observe life in the water and count the animals that live here. The ground in this area consists of a very special form of soil: peat. This is what turns the water in the stream brown.
Leave the stream to dive deep into the forest – a mixture of broadleaf and coniferous woodland. Keep your eyes peeled for oddly shaped sticks: there are masses of them here, each forming weirdly sculptural shapes. No two are alike. You will also find lots of blueberry bushes, which come into fruit in July. Soon you reach a place called Binsterkanzel, where numerous rocks are covered in moss. In some places the moss is so long that it looks like extravagant hairstyles: who can spot the funniest? Finally, an avenue bordered by meadows takes you back to the starting point.
