Source: Route 66

Along the Ourthe from Comblain-au-Pont to Liège (30 km)
by Paul Hellings

The Ourthe is a river that originates in the Ardennes and ends up in the Meuse in Liège, after having accepted the waters of the Amblève in Comblain-au-Pont and of the Vesdre a few kilometers before the mouth of the Ourthe. This description starts in Comblain-au-Pont and goes to the north, to Liège. This is a very special bike trip. It allows you the ride in the Ardennes, but without having to climb them.

Access: To go to Comblain-au-Pont, take the E25 highway from Liège to the south, and take the exit Aywaille. The highway exit brings you down a steep slope to floor of the Amblève valley, only about 2 km east of the centre of Aywaille on the N663. In Aywaille the road turns sharply to the right. After another 100m, turn to the left, in west direction again. There is no sign at that street, but it is quite obvious. In any case, do not cross the Amblève bridge, this would mean you are too far. Another 9 km on the N663 brings you to Comblain-au-Pont.

Comblain-au-Pont to Esneux (10 km)

Park your car close to the railway crossing in Comblain-au-Pont, and take the street just before the crossing to the right (north). This is the Rue de Liotte. Cross the Amblève, and turn left to the tow path immediately. Now you are along the last few meters of the Amblève. The tow path brings you in a minute to where the Amblève ends up in the Ourthe. You are here on the east bank, heading north.

After about 400m the path turns to the right, away from the Ourthe and you have to do the same. About 150m further, you turn the left. This the Rue de Rivage, it runs parallel to the Ourthe, and after less than a kilometer you are along the Ourthe again. Follow this road (with very little traffic, at least in the weekend) to Chanxe. Just before this village, there is a railroad bridge accross the Ourthe. Take the first road bridge after this railroad bridge to cross the Ourthe, to join the bike path at the other side. You pass a few houses, and then you are on a bike path, with at your right side the Ourthe, and at your left side some remainders of the old Ourthe canal.

entering Esneux
source: Paul Hellings

After 2.5 km there is another railroad bridge, and you should cross it. First ride under the bridge, then turn left immediatly (in fact, this is the only obvious thing to do). A few meters further you see the where to can take the side path of the iron bridge. The sidewalk along the bridge is very narrow. Two bikes coming from opposite directions are not able to cross each other. At the other side, take the tow path along the Ourthe again and continue to Esneux, now on the right (east) side.

Esneux to Tilff (11 km)

Esneux loop
source: Paul Hellings

Esneux is a remarkable place with a church high up the hill. When you enter Esneux, the tow path becomes the side way of the main street along the Ourthe, with a lot of pubs and restaurants at the other side. Continue to the traffic lights, at the Esneux bridge. At these traffic lights, you simply continue straight on, and take the Rue de l'Athenée. The Ourthe itself is at your left side, at the other side of a parking. You might see a promising tow path at the far end of that parking, but do not take it. It continues only about one kilometer, and then you enter a farm. Just follow the Rue de l'Athenée. This road runs in west-northwest direction, and gently turns into a tow path along the Ourthe again. The Ourthe makes a large loop in this region. In Esneux, it runs west, and then it starts turning to the right over three quarters of circle. So after a while, you are riding south, and you see the Esneux church again, but now from the other side. In the northern part of the loop, there is a short stretch with cobble stones, and a narrow bridge that only goes to a camping. So, you don't cross this one.

You do cross the first bike bridge, (you are heading straight south then), and turn right, not following the Ourthe, but along te road that you see. Follow this road to the centre of Hony. After 600m you go under the railroad bridge, and 400 m further, the street turns sharply to the right. Now you are heading south, and a few 200 meter further you see the Ourthe bridge. Do not cross, but take the little street to the left, about 100m before the bridge. It brings you back to the Ourthe. You are now the left (west) bank and will remain there for the rest of the trip to Liège. From this point, you will see more and more Ravel 5 signs , that you can follow. Continue to the Mery bridge.

At the Mery bridge, cross the street and continue along the bike path at the other side (Notice the Ravel 5 sign!). This bike path runs between the railroad and some commercial buildings and brings you back to the Ourthe again, after 1300m. Now you can continue to the bridge of Tilff. Cross the bridge if you want to visit Tilff.

Warning : even in the weekend, if you want to eat something, first ask if the kitchen is open. I was there on a saturday in summer.At 1h30 in the afternoon, the only thing I could get was a sandwich, at least in the "restaurant" I tried. The kitchen was already closed, they said.

Tilff - Liège (9 km)

towpath between Tilff and Liège
source: Paul Hellings

From Tillf to the Meuse in Liège, it is now only about 9 km, still at the left (west) side of the Ourthe. The 13km sign that you see in Tilff is to the centre of Liège. About 350m after the Tilff bridge, the tow path becomes a bike path along a road, with a sport centre and a swimming pool between you and the Ourthe. One kilometer futher, you are on the Ourthe boarder again. After about 6.5 km, the Vesdre comes into the Ourthe. You are now in the outer parts of Liège. Just follow the Ravel 5 signs, that guide you on a bike lane heading west, along another part of the old Ourthe canal. The Ourthe itself is just at the other side of the few buildings at you right. The highway at the other side if the old canal is the E25. After about 1 kilometer, under a road bridge, you join the Ourthe again, and continue another 1.8 km to the place where the Ourthe ends up in to Meuse at Liège. Here you are about 30 km from where you started in Comblain-au-Pont.

Last update 26 September 2007

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