Hiking in the Ardennes: What to Wear (Autumn and Winter)

The Ardennes are only a few hours' drive from most of Belgium, but the weather there is often completely different. While it's still mild in Antwerp or Ghent, the High Fens can be foggy, wet and several degrees colder. With the right clothing, a grey autumn day becomes a beautiful hike. With the wrong clothing, it becomes a long, wet trek.

In this article you'll learn how to dress, why layers are the secret, and which trails are worth it.

Ardennes weather: colder and wetter than you think

The Ardennes plateaus are on average about 3 °C colder than the lowlands. The High Fens, around Belgium's highest point (Signal de Botrange, 694 metres), are the wettest and coldest area in the country:

• up to almost 1,400 mm of rain falls there per year, roughly double the amount in northern Hesbaye;
• the average annual temperature is around 7.5 °C, compared with about 11 °C in the Campine;
• fog often rolls in quickly.

So always check the weather forecast for the place where you're going to hike, not for your own town.

The secret: dress in layers

Instead of one thick coat, you're better off wearing a few thinner layers. That way you can take something off on a steep climb, and put it back on during a break or on a windy plateau.

1. The base layer: stay dry

The layer against your skin needs to wick away sweat. For long or strenuous hikes, merino wool or a synthetic technical shirt is best. Cotton holds moisture, and a damp cotton shirt quickly feels cold when you sweat a lot.

For a relaxed walk of a few hours in dry weather, a cotton T-shirt is perfectly fine. Just bring a dry shirt to change into afterwards.

2. The mid layer: warmth

This is the layer that keeps you warm: a fleece, a warm jumper or a hoodie. For easy walking, a picnic or a break on a bench with a view, a hoodie with a soft inside is ideal. Our hoodies have a fleece lining and a double-layered hood, which is handy when the wind sweeps across the plateau.

3. The outer layer: block wind and rain

A jacket that is windproof and waterproof, but still breathable. It doesn't need to be thick: the warmth comes from the layer underneath. Even with a good forecast, a rain jacket belongs in your backpack.

Don't forget these

• Hat and gloves: always bring them in autumn and winter, even if the morning seems mild.
• Good hiking boots: Ardennes trails are often muddy, with stones and tree roots. Waterproof boots with grip are no luxury.
• Wool socks: they stay warm even when they get a bit damp.
• Dry clothes in the car: a dry shirt and a warm sweatshirt to change into after the hike. It feels like a reward.
• A thermos with tea or soup.
• A paper map or an offline map on your phone: you won't always have signal in the valleys.

4 beautiful hikes to try

High Fens: around Signal de Botrange

Vast peat bogs with wooden boardwalks, wide views and a special, slightly mysterious atmosphere. A loop of about 12 km around Botrange is a good introduction. Stay on the paths: the peat is fragile and can be treacherously wet.

Ninglinspo (Aywaille)

A walk along Belgium's only "mountain river", with small waterfalls, natural pools and rocks. The path is about 6 km long, but slippery in wet weather. Note: on very busy days the path is sometimes closed, so go on a weekday or early in the morning.

Tombeau du Géant (Bouillon)

The famous view of a Semois river meander around a wooded hill. The trails in the area alternate between forest and open fields, with stunning views.

A loop in your own region

Not every beautiful walk is in the Ardennes. The Campine, the Sonian Forest or the Flemish Ardennes are perfect for testing your clothing and boots first.

In short

Frequently asked questions

What should you wear for an autumn hike?

Dress in layers: a base layer that wicks sweat, a warm mid layer and a windproof, waterproof jacket. Bring a hat and gloves, and dry clothes for after the hike.

Is a hoodie suitable for hiking?

Definitely for easy walks, breaks and cold mornings. For long, strenuous hikes with lots of sweating, a fleece or wool mid layer is better, and you can save the hoodie for the break or for afterwards.

How cold is it in the High Fens?

On average a few degrees colder than in the rest of Belgium, and it can freeze there on more than 100 days a year. In winter there is sometimes snow while it's just raining elsewhere.

Ready for your next hike?

Browse our Hiking collection with designs like the Trail Crest Hoodie and the Bold Ascent Sweatshirt, or discover all our mountain designs. Made for those who seek out the trail, and for the warm coffee afterwards.