The GR5 Trail - Benelux and Lorraine

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

What it’s like to hike the Northern GR5

Landscape

Wildlife

History

When to go

Getting there (and back)

Accommodation

Food and drink

Clothing and equipment

Waymarking

Maps

Language

Money

Staying in touch

Health and safety

Using this guide

1 The Netherlands

Stage 1 Hoek van Holland to Maasland

Stage 2 Maasland to Brielle

Stage 3 Brielle to Rockanje

Stage 4 Rockanje to Goedereede

Stage 5 Goedereede to Herkingen

Stage 6 Herkingen to Nieuw-Vossemeer

Stage 7 Nieuw-Vossemeer to Bergen op Zoom

2 Flanders

Stage 8 Bergen op Zoom to Kalmthout

Stage 9 Kalmthout to Brecht

Stage 10 Brecht to Zoersel

Stage 11 Zoersel to Herentals

Stage 12 Herentals to Westerlo

Stage 13 Westerlo to Scherpenheuvel

Stage 14 Scherpenheuvel to Diest

Stage 15 Diest to Lummen

Stage 16 Lummen to Stokrooie

Stage 17 Stokrooie to Bokrijk Provincial Domain

Stage 18 Bokrijk Provincial Domain to Zutendaal

Stage 19 Zutendaal to Maastricht

Stage 20 Maastricht to Eben-Emael

3 Wallonia

Stage 21 Eben-Emael to Visé

Stage 22 Visé to Soumagne

Stage 23 Soumagne to Banneux

Stage 24 Banneux to Spa

Stage 25 Spa to Stavelot

Stage 26 Stavelot to Commanster

Stage 27 Commanster to Ouren

4 Luxembourg

Stage 28 Ouren to Obereisenbach

Stage 29 Obereisenbach to Vianden

Stage 30 Vianden to Bleesbréck

Stage 31 Bleesbréck to Beaufort

Stage 32 Beaufort to Echternach

Stage 33 Echternach to Wasserbillig

Stage 34 Wasserbillig to Grevenmacher

Stage 35 Grevenmacher to Remich

Stage 36 Remich to Montenach

5 Lorraine

Stage 37 Montenach to Saint-Hubert

Stage 38 Saint-Hubert to Metz

Stage 39 Metz to Gorze

Stage 40 Gorze to Pagny-sur-Moselle

Stage 41 Pagny-sur-Moselle to Montauville

Stage 42 Montauville to Liverdun

Stage 43 Liverdun to Bioncourt

Stage 44 Bioncourt to Vic-sur-Seille

Stage 45 Vic-sur-Seille to Tarquimpol

Stage 46 Tarquimpol to Gondrexange

Stage 47 Gondrexange to Abreschviller

Stage 48 Abreschviller to Col du Donon

Stage 49 Col du Donon to Schirmeck

Appendix A Route planner

Appendix B Four 5-day itineraries on the GR5

Appendix C Accommodation along the route

Appendix D Useful contacts

Appendix E A little Dutch and French for hikers

May 2024

Stage 15

June 2023

Steen Hoeve

June 2019

Updates

One of the world's best long-distance walking trails

As springtime inches closer, it is time to start thinking about getting back out in the fresh air and if you really want to challenge yourself this year why not take on a trekking challenge? One of the world's best long-distance walking trails, the GRS covers 1423 miles from the North Sea, down through the length of eastern France to the Mediterranean with varied landscapes and cultural experiences along the way. Cicerone, a guidebook publisher that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, has detailed guidebooks that cover the GR5 trail over three titles. The northernmost section from the North Sea coast in Hoek van Holland, Netherlands to the Vosges mountains in France is covered in The GRS Trail - Benelux and Lorraine, then, the GRS Trail - Vosges and Jura covers wooded hills and river gorges, and The GRS Trail - Through the French Alps from Lake Geneva to Nice covers the southern stretch. The books have clear route descriptions, maps, information on landscapes and points of interest as well as practical advice.

Living France

The guide is a good read and is recommended.

The GR5 Trail is one of the world's famous trails. It runs from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Guides to the mountainous sections have been available from Cicerone for some years. At last the northern section has a guide. This section runs through four countries, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France., for 990km. Running from Hoek van Holland on the coast to Schirmeck, north of the Vosges mountains, it is the most varied section of the GR5, and is relatively easy walking.

The guide begins with an introduction to the trail in the standard Cicerone format; this is an interesting read as the northern section of the GR5 is very varied. Then follows the route description, 49 stages, with 1:100K mapping, together with details of transport, accommodation, refreshment possibilities, and information on the culture of the area. There are campsites along the trail, or nearby, wild camping is not generally permitted but is possible if done discreetly. The author describes four 5 day itineraries suitable for a week's holiday.

The guide is a good read and is recommended.

Slackpacker