The River Bocq runs though a deep wooded valley in the Ardennes near the village of Spontin. You can begin a hike in Purnode village where the Brasserie du Bocq brews Blanche de Namur beer.
The path (marked with red signs) takes you down through woods to the hidden Bocq valley. The trail continues past abandoned quarries and over a little bridge.
Along the way, you come across an old train line that once served the stone quarries along the valley. It closed in 1960, but a small diesel train still runs along part of the route a few days every month, stopping at small abandoned stations.
Back in Purnoode, you can try one of the local beers brewed in the Brasserie du Bocq. The Blanche de Namur brewed here is a perfect Belgian summer drink.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
