Hautes Fagnes
Belgium'S High Moorland Plateau Of Peat Bogs And Boardwalks, With The Country'S Highest Point At Signal De Botrange (About 694 M) And Snow For Cross Country Skiing In Good Winters · Botrange, Liege Province
The Hautes Fagnes (Hohes Venn in German, High Fens in English) is a high, windswept plateau of raised peat bogs, heather and dwarf birch on the eastern edge of Belgium, close to the German border. It is one of the oldest nature reserves in the country and part of a cross-border nature park with the Eifel. Here sits Signal de Botrange, about 694 m, Belgium's highest point, marked by a tower and a little roadside cafe, with the Botrange nature centre close by. People come to walk the long wooden boardwalks, known as caillebotis, across the bogs; to see cotton grass, sundews and moor landscapes that feel more like Scotland than Belgium; and, in snowy winters, for cross-country skiing. The plateau is lovely in autumn colour and eerie in fog. The honest caveat: the highest point is a low summit on a flat moor, not a mountain; the weather turns fast; parts of the reserve close at times for fire risk or breeding birds; and walkers must stay on the boardwalks, as the bogs are fragile and hazardous.
Signal de Botrange and the Botrange nature centre, on the N676 between Eupen and Malmedy in the east of Liege Province, Botrange, Liege Province, Belgium
The plateau is open all year, but access is controlled. The reserve is divided into zones: some boardwalks and paths are open to all, some areas can be entered only with an approved guide, and some are closed - the rules are often summarised as zones B, C and D, and should be confirmed locally. When a red flag flies at entry points, usually during dry spells in spring and summer, the fire risk is high and much of the reserve is closed. The Botrange nature centre usually opens daily except some winter days and holidays - confirm. The cafes at Botrange and Baraque Michel keep their own hours. Getting there: the N676 and N68 cross the plateau between Eupen and Malmedy; a car is the easy option, with parking at Botrange, Mont Rigi and Baraque Michel. A TEC bus between Eupen and Malmedy has served some stops - confirm the timetable, as services are sparse. Book guided walks for zones C ahead through the nature centre.