Vallée de la Semoy & Hautes-Rivières Forest Walk
Just 25 kilometres south of Sedan, the Semoy river carves one of the most dramatic and least-visited valleys in northern France — a tight, forested gorge where the river loops back on itself in great meanders between cliffs draped in ancient beech and oak. The village of Les Hautes-Rivières is the perfect base for a half-day of walking that feels genuinely remote despite being so close to the city
The GR 12 through the gorge
The long-distance GR 12 trail runs the length of the Semoy valley and its most spectacular section is the 8 km loop from Les Hautes-Rivières to the belvedere at Roc de la Tour — a natural rock platform above the river where the view down into the green horseshoe meander below is simply stunning and utterly uncrowded.
The path climbs steeply through beech forest where wild boar rootings are common and, in May, the woodland floor is carpeted in bluebells and wild garlic. Red squirrels, kingfishers and dippers are regularly spotted along the riverbank sections.
Practical notes for the walk
The loop takes around 3 hours at a moderate pace and is well waymarked with GR red-and-white blazes. Boots are recommended as the river-level path can be muddy after rain.
After the walk, the Café-Restaurant de la Semoy in Les Hautes-Rivières serves cold Ardennes beer and a reliable plat du jour — the terrace overlooks the river and is one of the most peaceful lunch spots in the entire region.
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