Bank holiday weekend Fastpacking the Sentier du Nord in Luxembourg

This was an amazing trip to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The plan was simple, as I had been working in Brussels rather than go home for the August Bank Holiday, to head into Ardennes and do a multi-day long distance path.

Ultralight Trail Running Packing List

As much as the path was marked on the ground with diamonds I quickly learnt that I needed to keep a close eye on the map as the sign were not complete enough to allow walkers (or runners) to just follow them.

I got the train from Brussels to Arion, which other than the first train being cancelled went smoothly enough. Next on to Luxembourg, then by train to Troisvierges and a bus to Weiswampach.

Then it was time to head off on the first bit of running on the route.

Day One Weiswampach to Troisvierges

Distance 11.40km Elevation 117m Elapsed Time 2:10:47

With only a bit of Friday afternoon available, as most of the day was taken up with train travel, the plan was the relatively straight forward section from Weiswampach to Troisvierges. The route was straight forward through edge of the town, past a motorbike side car festerval and fields with the most amazing wild flowers before heading through fields and woodland to the overnight stop at a local hotel and dinner sat watching the world go by eating salad

Day Two Troisvierges to Kautenbach

Distance 33.54km Elevation 912m  Elapsed Time 8:54:15

I slightly retraced my steps back to a German 88mm anti-tank gun at edge of the town, the first of a few war monuments on the route. There was plenty of woodland to enjoy and keep me in the shade for a number of the hill climbs. The Ardennes may not have large mountains although feels like you are constantly going up hill. I made it to Clervaux for lunch and after food and an explore; it was time to head on through some more lovely woodland. After passing through Drauffelt the relatively gentle start changed and the remaining of the day had even more of a feeling of going up hill constantly and the heat of the day had really intensified. When it was time to drop down into the delightful village of Kautenbach I was grateful to see my accommodation for the night and sit down to eat a lovely and typically continental salad with a wide selection of ingredients.

Day Three Kautenbach to Diekirch

Distance 31.22km
Elevation 1,109m
Elapsed Time 8:45:48

This was possibly my favorite day with some lovely running along trails winding there way up and down the hill side, with amazing views, cool woodland and with the only downside of very limit options for restaurants and cafe for lunch so I was glad of my bags of snacks. In hindsight with it being Sunday I should have planned ahead and booked somewhere, although not sure how this would have worked practically with timings. So I pushed on with a brief stop at local hotel to refill my water bottles. On arriving in Diekirch I was in time to look around the nation war museum which was a great way to learn a little more about the recent history; before heading down out for dinner after freshening up at my hotel.

I found every part of this fast packing trip satisfying from hunting out maps in Brussels after work, to planning the route and reflecting as I ran along. During the trip I had chance to practice my french and get some practice using a different type of map that I had not used before.

Day Four Sightseeing in Luxembourg City

After the end of the running I managed to find time to do a walking tour of Luxembourg City which was a great way to end the trip before heading back to Brussels.