4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Anything to do with being out and about, whether on your own or looking to arrange trips and adventures with forum members
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Mr Moofo »

I am off for about 4 days in May 2024 with a couple of mates
Anyone got any good routes or must dos?

I know Monschau is nice - what else?
Thanks
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14223
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7539 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by KungFooBob »

I did this...

https://www.terraltitude.com/activites/fantasticable

The place Ducale in Charleville-Mézières is a nice place to sit and people watch with a beer.
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11236
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Dave's bar in Namur, if he's still alive, Dave raced motorcycles in South Africa, talk about motorcycle racing in the 80s and you won't pay for a drink all night and come out very pissed when he eventually closes.
Honda Owner
Felix
Posts: 3954
Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:34 am
Has thanked: 485 times
Been thanked: 1430 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Felix »

KungFooBob wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 6:42 pm I did this...

https://www.terraltitude.com/activites/fantasticable

The place Ducale in Charleville-Mézières is a nice place to sit and people watch with a beer.
That is on the must do list. Camp site close by as well what is a bonus :thumbup:
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11830
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6382 times
Been thanked: 4763 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Count Steer »

Dinant is OK. A bit like Matlock on steroids...bikes, cable car, river etc.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
Bustaspoke
Posts: 1808
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:55 pm
Has thanked: 3262 times
Been thanked: 1737 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Bustaspoke »

The Ardennes region is on my radar for next year.Where's recommended as a base for a few days?
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Mr Moofo »

Bustaspoke wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 9:06 pm The Ardennes region is on my radar for next year.Where's recommended as a base for a few days?
That is what I am working on at the moment.
Malmedy
Verviers
Bastogne
Eupen
Spa

@Count Steer you're nearly a Belge, where would you suggest?
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11830
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6382 times
Been thanked: 4763 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Count Steer »

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 10:29 pm
Bustaspoke wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 9:06 pm The Ardennes region is on my radar for next year.Where's recommended as a base for a few days?
That is what I am working on at the moment.
Malmedy
Verviers
Bastogne
Eupen
Spa

@Count Steer you're nearly a Belge, where would you suggest?
Spent some time in Dinant and Namur. Chimay is in the vicinity too and is quite pleasant. You may want to stand on the highest point in Belgium - Signal de Botrange (there's a café :thumbup: ). TBH I often found it tricky sorting accommodation at short notice which meant a bit of planning. If we were just pottering about which was usually the case, a couple of times I headed across the border and explored a bit of France instead.

(Hmmm...your @Count Steer didn't seem to work....I'll investigate.)
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Mr Moofo »

Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 7:43 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 10:29 pm
Bustaspoke wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 9:06 pm The Ardennes region is on my radar for next year.Where's recommended as a base for a few days?
That is what I am working on at the moment.
Malmedy
Verviers
Bastogne
Eupen
Spa

@Count Steer you're nearly a Belge, where would you suggest?
Spent some time in Dinant and Namur. Chimay is in the vicinity too and is quite pleasant. You may want to stand on the highest point in Belgium - Signal de Botrange (there's a café :thumbup: ). TBH I often found it tricky sorting accommodation at short notice which meant a bit of planning. If we were just pottering about which was usually the case, a couple of times I headed across the border and explored a bit of France instead.

(Hmmm...your @Count Steer didn't seem to work....I'll investigate.)
We are probably looking for pommes and (gluten free) beer - in somewhere where with facilities / safe for bikes.
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11830
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6382 times
Been thanked: 4763 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Count Steer »

Are you camping? Never done any camping at all in Belgium.

It's quite odd really, the Belgians have/had a very different bike culture cf their neighbours (Germans, Dutch, French) all I seemed to see were the occasional very sedate Belgian groups doing the 'faire une balade de moto' thing.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Mr Moofo »

Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 8:05 am Are you camping? Never done any camping at all in Belgium.

It's quite odd really, the Belgians have/had a very different bike culture cf their neighbours (Germans, Dutch, French) all I seemed to see were the occasional very sedate Belgian groups doing the 'faire une balade de moto' thing.
Hell no! Do I look like I camp?
We will probably be airBnBing ...the last two years we have pushed the boat out and had really good accommodation. That puts the pressure on for this year!
For it to be AirBnB it probably has to be a little more than a one horse town ( which is challenge for Belgium)
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11830
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6382 times
Been thanked: 4763 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Count Steer »

Mr Moofo wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:05 am
Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 8:05 am Are you camping? Never done any camping at all in Belgium.

It's quite odd really, the Belgians have/had a very different bike culture cf their neighbours (Germans, Dutch, French) all I seemed to see were the occasional very sedate Belgian groups doing the 'faire une balade de moto' thing.
Hell no! Do I look like I camp?
We will probably be airBnBing ...the last two years we have pushed the boat out and had really good accommodation. That puts the pressure on for this year!
For it to be AirBnB it probably has to be a little more than a one horse town ( which is challenge for Belgium)
Soz. I misread up there ^^^ it was Felix that mentioned camping near Namur, not you.

For AirBnB I'd have a look at Namur and Dinant personally. Chimay is a bit of a two horse town - with beer tourists. :D
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Mr Moofo »

Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:16 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:05 am
Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 8:05 am Are you camping? Never done any camping at all in Belgium.

It's quite odd really, the Belgians have/had a very different bike culture cf their neighbours (Germans, Dutch, French) all I seemed to see were the occasional very sedate Belgian groups doing the 'faire une balade de moto' thing.
Hell no! Do I look like I camp?
We will probably be airBnBing ...the last two years we have pushed the boat out and had really good accommodation. That puts the pressure on for this year!
For it to be AirBnB it probably has to be a little more than a one horse town ( which is challenge for Belgium)
Soz. I misread up there ^^^ it was Felix that mentioned camping near Namur, not you.

For AirBnB I'd have a look at Namur and Dinant personally. Chimay is a bit of a two horse town - with beer tourists. :D
@Count Steer
I am slowly beginning to look at this - and focusing in on Dinant, Namur and Bastogne
What are Eupen and Malmedy like?

Thanks
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23432
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5453 times
Been thanked: 13102 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by weeksy »

Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:28 pm
Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:16 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:05 am

Hell no! Do I look like I camp?
We will probably be airBnBing ...the last two years we have pushed the boat out and had really good accommodation. That puts the pressure on for this year!
For it to be AirBnB it probably has to be a little more than a one horse town ( which is challenge for Belgium)
Soz. I misread up there ^^^ it was Felix that mentioned camping near Namur, not you.

For AirBnB I'd have a look at Namur and Dinant personally. Chimay is a bit of a two horse town - with beer tourists. :D
@Count Steer
I am slowly beginning to look at this - and focusing in on Dinant, Namur and Bastogne
What are Eupen and Malmedy like?

Thanks
Malmedy is quite nice in honesty. We stayed there when we were at Spa once (maybe twice)
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11830
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6382 times
Been thanked: 4763 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Count Steer »

Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:28 pm
Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:16 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:05 am

Hell no! Do I look like I camp?
We will probably be airBnBing ...the last two years we have pushed the boat out and had really good accommodation. That puts the pressure on for this year!
For it to be AirBnB it probably has to be a little more than a one horse town ( which is challenge for Belgium)
Soz. I misread up there ^^^ it was Felix that mentioned camping near Namur, not you.

For AirBnB I'd have a look at Namur and Dinant personally. Chimay is a bit of a two horse town - with beer tourists. :D
@Count Steer
I am slowly beginning to look at this - and focusing in on Dinant, Namur and Bastogne
What are Eupen and Malmedy like?

Thanks
Dunno about Eupen and Malmedy. Only did business trips out that direction to places like Liege or swerved south on car/bike trips and stayed in Luxembourg/headed down through Alsace on the way to Switzerland. Not spent much time around Spa at all.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11236
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Honda Owner
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Mr Moofo »

But we are going in May ...
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11236
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 4:37 pm
But we are going in May ...
Change your plans, stay longer
Honda Owner
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Mr Moofo »

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:42 pm
Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:28 pm
Count Steer wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:16 am

Soz. I misread up there ^^^ it was Felix that mentioned camping near Namur, not you.

For AirBnB I'd have a look at Namur and Dinant personally. Chimay is a bit of a two horse town - with beer tourists. :D
@Count Steer
I am slowly beginning to look at this - and focusing in on Dinant, Namur and Bastogne
What are Eupen and Malmedy like?

Thanks
Dunno about Eupen and Malmedy. Only did business trips out that direction to places like Liege or swerved south on car/bike trips and stayed in Luxembourg/headed down through Alsace on the way to Switzerland. Not spent much time around Spa at all.
I thought you were as good as being a Belge!
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11830
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6382 times
Been thanked: 4763 times

Re: 4 days in the Ardennes 2024

Post by Count Steer »

Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 5:23 pm
Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:42 pm
Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:28 pm

@Count Steer
I am slowly beginning to look at this - and focusing in on Dinant, Namur and Bastogne
What are Eupen and Malmedy like?

Thanks
Dunno about Eupen and Malmedy. Only did business trips out that direction to places like Liege or swerved south on car/bike trips and stayed in Luxembourg/headed down through Alsace on the way to Switzerland. Not spent much time around Spa at all.
I thought you were as good as being a Belge!
I probably saw as much of the country as most Brussels or Antwerp folk did. :lol:

(I was working most of the time and coming home at weekends, most of my time mooching around there wasn't when I was working but afterwards. Funny really, keep meaning to go for a city break in Brussels and kick over the traces but it never seems to happen).
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire