Holiday home for the autumn break in Belgium

Whether you want to enjoy long family walks through autumn woodland or simply curl up in a warm cottage with a good book, the autumn break in Belgium has something for everyone. There is plenty of choice, prices are noticeably lower than in summer and the peace and quiet is complete.

The Ardennes in autumn are stunning. The forests turn deep orange and red, the rivers fill up after the first rains and the walking trails remain perfectly accessible. It is the season this region seems made for. Homes with an open fireplace or wood burner are the first to be booked for the autumn break.

The coast also has its own charm in October and November. Fewer tourists, long walks on the beach and an unforgettable stormy day with a mug of hot chocolate: the Belgian coast in autumn is a different and often more beautiful story than it is in August.

In October the beech forests of the Ardennes turn a deep orange and red. Along the Ourthe at La Roche-en-Ardenne, in the valleys around Durbuy and on the hillsides above Bouillon, a carpet of leaves crackles underfoot with every step. Morning mist lingers over the rivers and the air smells of damp earth and falling leaves, that autumn scent that belongs to no other season.

If you walk with attention, you will find mushrooms too. In the woods around the High Fens and the Semois valley you come across chanterelles, porcini and fly agaric along the paths. Many Ardennes holiday home owners know the best spots and are happy to share them. Only gather what you are certain you can identify.

The Ardennes is the obvious choice, but the High Fens above Malmedy and Eupen are equally worth the trip. The peat bog turns purple and brown, the wooden walkways across the fen are pleasantly empty in October and the sky feels bigger. Around the Baraque Michel, at 680 metres, the chances of the first frost are highest, which gives the landscape a particular atmosphere.

The Semois valley between Bouillon and Alle-sur-Semois may be at its most beautiful in autumn. The river winds through a deep valley, the hills glow with colour, and the number of other visitors drops noticeably. Holiday homes along the Semois are much in demand, so booking early is not a cliche but a genuine necessity.

Walking comes first, but the autumn break has more to offer. In the forests along the Lesse and the Ourthe, kayaking routes are still open in October, the water runs high and the banks are deserted. On the Belgian coast the beaches are empty and dogs are allowed to run free, an experience quite different from summer. Collecting chestnuts with the children along a forest path sounds simple, but it is exactly the kind of memory that lasts.

After a cold day outside, a fireplace or log burner is not a luxury but a necessity. Many holiday homes in the Ardennes have one, and some also offer a hot tub or sauna. A warm soak after a muddy walk along the Semois, with a local beer to hand: the autumn break in Belgium excels at exactly this.

Waterproof walking boots are not a suggestion but a requirement. Ardennes paths turn muddy after rain, and wet feet on the first day spoil the rest of the holiday. Pack a warmer jumper than you think you will need too: temperatures in the Ardennes drop quickly to 5 or 10 degrees in the evening, even when the sun shines during the day.

The autumn half-term falls on a slightly different date in Belgium each year, depending on the language community. Flemish, French-speaking and German-speaking schools are sometimes a week apart. Check the exact dates for your region before you book. And book early: holiday homes with a fireplace or log burner in the Ardennes are often fully booked for October before the summer holidays even begin.