# High Fens and the Belgian Ardennes: Spa to Bastogne

> 3-day road trip of about 148 km (92 mi) with 8 stops, from Liège to Bastogne. About 2 h 02 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b14-high-fens-ardennes/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 148 km (92 mi) with 8 stops, from Liège to Bastogne. About 2 h 02 min of driving in total. The original spa town, boardwalks over the High Fens at Belgium’s highest point, the Coo waterfall, the Ourthe valley and the Bastogne memorial.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 148 km (92 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 02 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Liège → Bastogne |
| Countries | Belgium |
| Updated | June 18, 2026 |

## Route description

Liège sits on the Meuse at the edge of the Ardennes. Climb the 374 steps of the Montagne de Bueren for the view before leaving south-east on the E25 and E42 to Spa, about 40 km. The town gave its name to health resorts everywhere, and the Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand spring still pours iron-rich water. The Spa-Francorchamps racetrack lies in the forest 10 km south.

Climb east onto the High Fens, a plateau of peat bog and heath crossed by wooden boardwalks. The Signal de Botrange marks Belgium’s highest point at 694 m, and the nature centre nearby has maps of the trails. Some fen zones close in dry spells because of fire risk, and the plateau is often cloudy and cold, so pack a jacket. Descend to Malmedy, a small town with a cathedral.

Head south-west by Stavelot, with its ruined abbey and museum, to Coo, where the Amblève falls in a double cascade. Continue across the Ardennes to La Roche-en-Ardenne, about 50 km, a town squeezed into a bend of the Ourthe below a ruined castle. The river is popular for kayaking, and the surrounding hills have marked walks.

Finish in Bastogne, 30 km south, the town surrounded by German forces at Christmas 1944. The Mardasson Memorial and the Bastogne War Museum stand together on a hill outside the town. Roads in the Ardennes are good and quiet outside July and August. Autumn colours in October are a highlight, while snow can close the High Fens roads in winter.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Liège** (Belgium)
2. **Spa** (Belgium)
3. **Signal de Botrange** (Waimes, Belgium): At 694 m the highest point in Belgium, on the edge of the High Fens moorland with its boardwalk trails. Some fen areas close in dry spells because of fire risk; check at the Botrange nature centre nearby.
4. **Malmedy** (Belgium)
5. **Coo Waterfall** (Stavelot, Belgium): The Amblève falls over rocks in a double cascade, one channel cut by monks in the 18th century. Visible from the roadside in Coo; paid parking nearby.
6. **La Roche-en-Ardenne** (Belgium)
7. **Mardasson Memorial** (Bastogne, Belgium): A star-shaped memorial on a hill outside Bastogne honouring the US soldiers of the Battle of the Bulge. The memorial is free; the Bastogne War Museum next to it explains the winter siege of 1944.
8. **Bastogne** (Belgium)

## FAQs

**How long is High Fens and the Belgian Ardennes: Spa to Bastogne?**
3-day road trip of about 148 km (92 mi) with 8 stops, from Liège to Bastogne. About 2 h 02 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for High Fens and the Belgian Ardennes: Spa to Bastogne?**
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 02 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does High Fens and the Belgian Ardennes: Spa to Bastogne start and end?**
It starts in Liège and ends in Bastogne.

**Which countries does High Fens and the Belgian Ardennes: Spa to Bastogne pass through?**
Belgium.