Focusing on the little things in life and reconnecting with nature: it was what many people did to get through the numerous lockdowns because of corona … but it’s also exactly what Nutchel desires from its visitors. For that purpose, the glamping built cosy cabins in the woods equipped with just the bare necessities. Let me take you on our long weekend out of the rat race and into the fairytale forest of Nutchel.
Nutchel is located in Martelange at the very edge of the Belgian Ardennes, close to the Luxembourg border. The domain saw the light in 2018 and became ever more popular. Getting out of everyday life’s hassle for a while is something we all crave now and then … and Nutchel fills that desire in a unique way.
When the pandemic hit, getting out in nature was one of the only things we were still allowed to do. For anyone who wanted to venture out of his local park or forest after the umpteenth walk there, Nutchel was (and still is) the perfect getaway. I guess the staycation trend that resulted out of the pandemic, helped this glamping park’s rise to fame. By now, the concept has gained so much success they opened a second domain in France’s Alsace region.
Arriving at Nutchel Ardennes
Mid-September, when autumn was on the verge of painting nature into its warm colour palette, we drove to Martelange for a long weekend at Nutchel. It’s not possible to book the cosy cabins at the domain for just one night, as they really want you to submerge you in the back to basics lifestyle. We found our three-nights stay the ideal amount of time to enjoy our cabin and the surroundings of Nutchel’s domain.
When driving up to Nutchel, technology seemed to have left us already, as our GPS couldn’t accurately locate the domain. It’s also hard to spot the entrance from the road, so keep your eyes open when you’re on your way. Reaching Nutchel in the Belgian Ardennes by public transport seems virtually impossible, but luckily there’s a free parking lot at the entrance of the domain where you can leave your car safely during your stay.
The first thing we saw upon arrival at Nutchel was the Cosy Chalet. This larger wooden building houses the reception desk, but also a reading corner, a terrace to sit back and relax and a play corner where you can borrow board games. In addition, there’s a so-called Honesty Shop, where you can buy some reusable items or local food and drinks to enjoy in your cabin.
When we checked in at Nutchel’s Cosy Chalet we were welcomed by a very kind hostess who explained us everything we needed to know about our cabin and the domain. We also had the possibility to order breakfast or barbecue baskets for the coming days, but we already did that beforehand through their website. Have some breakfast or barbecue cravings during your stay? Then you can always return to the Cosy Chalet and fill out a form to place your order.
Before leaving the reception desk, we were handed a jar with some solar-powered fairy lights and pretty plants to get us into the mythical Nutchel atmosphere. Cars aren’t allowed to drive past the parking lot, but luckily we didn’t have to drag our luggage all the way up to our cabin. We didn’t exactly pack light for this long weekend … An electrical vehicle picked us and all of our stuff up at the car park and dropped us off right in front of our wooden home for the next days.
The Nutchel domain
When we arrived at our cabin, we had the feeling that other houses were rather close to ours, which made us a bit worried about how tranquil and private the weekend would actually be. But I must admit that we didn’t experience any actual inconvenience from the nearby cabins during our stay. Our cabin was placed in such a way that it’s impossible to look through the windows directly from the walking path. Neither did the windows or terraces from other cabins face our terrace, so we could enjoy our hot tub in peace and quiet, just as Nutchel intends.
During our long weekend we also went for a short stroll over the Nutchel domain. It’s not that big, so you can get around fast. This also means that even when fully-booked the park will not be too crowded … During our stroll we checked out the different types of cabins Nutchel offers. They have chalets that can house two, four or six guests. We stayed at a Sweet with hot tub, which is suited for two people. I would absolutely recommend this cabin for a romantic getaway. In my opinion the hot tub is worth the splurge, but you can rent a sweet without it too. You can also opt for a Classic for four or six persons. These last two are the only types of cabins where pets are allowed.
Furthermore, Nutchel counts two ‘specials’: the Canopy and the Tree Trunk with hot tub. The former can sleep four people and is similar to the Classic for four, but it has two floors including a rooftop terrace for amazing views over the surrounding nature. I was under the impression they were built a bit higher up on the terrain, which would definitely be a plus for the vistas from the terrace. The Tree Trunk can receive up to six guests. It distinguishes itself from the Classic, because it has a rooftop terrace with a hot tub.
The first impressions of the Cosy Cabin
I must admit it wasn’t love at first sight when we arrived in our Sweet for two. The cabins only have limited electricity and thus, limited lights. As the string of fairy lights that illuminates the ‘living room’ (the seating space underneath the bed, that is on a mezzanine) didn’t work upon arrival the cabin felt gloomy at first. In addition, the cabin was cold, which I really dislike and didn’t help the chilly atmosphere. During our first hours, I didn’t really feel settled or at home.
We had one additional problem in our cabin: the handle of the window above the bed was broken. Which meant it wasn’t easy to open the window and we couldn’t close it properly. Luckily, my boyfriend found a temporary solution, so our feet wouldn’t get wet at night. We did inform the staff about this issue, but unfortunately it wasn’t fixed the night of our arrival. When we mentioned it again the next morning, they were willing to send someone over. But as we had already figured something out and it would mean more disturbance during our stay, we agreed to not have it repaired while we were there.
Fortunately, love can grow and first impressions can be completely wrong. A staff member came around on our first night and fixed the fairy lights. This immediately had a magical effect on the atmosphere in the room. Add to that a crackling fire and some late night hot tub soaking underneath the starlike lights and you can imagine how the place lit up for me both literally and figuratively.
The amenities at Nutchel’s Cosy Cabin
A good night’s rest later in our super cosy top bunk bed, I was totally over the moon with the Cosy Cabin. The wooden cabins only have the basic amenities (well, and a hot tub), but this adds to the charm of staying on this domain. I felt as if I was transported back in time, to when my grandparents were young.
As I already mentioned the cabins only have limited electricity. There are some electrical fairy light strings, and if they don’t bring enough light to your cabin life, you can illuminate the candles that hang above the kitchen table. You can also use a gas lamp, that can be moved or taken with you for a late night walk over the domain.
You can use the few available plugs to charge some necessary electronic devices, but that’s it. In the end, Nutchel wants you to totally unplug and focus on the company you’re with, so this will definitely do. For the same reason, the domain does not have WiFi.
For cooling and heating there are non-electrical systems in place too. The refrigerator is a cool box that you fill with freezing elements. You can collect these at a freezer centrally located on the domain. In the same spot you’ll find firewood for the stove. This is the only heating available, but trust me when I say that it really suffices for a small cabin … if you use it properly. Regulating the woodstove was one of the biggest challenges we faced during our stay. At one point, we almost melted because of the heat, while another time the cabin was freezing by morning.
The small kitchen only has cold water available. If you need water to do the dishes, you’ll need to cook it on the small gas stove first. If you need your morning dose of caffeine, you’ll also have to practice patience, as you need to make your cup of coffee in an old-fashioned Billaetti coffeemaker. Slowing down and taking your time is all part of Nutchel’s philosophy.
The bathroom is equipped some more, so it’s comfortable to use. It has a light and small electric heater and you can simply flush the toilet. Here the Cosy Cabins do have hot, running water. Taking a shower in the shower basin, that is also made out of wood, is thus highly relaxing.
Breakfast and barbecue at Nutchel
Every morning after waking up in our Cosy Cabin, one of us had to go out to pick up our breakfast basket at the reception desk. After a short forest walk back, truly feeling like Little Red Riding Hood, the feast could start.
The breakfast basket includes a range of products that are locally or sustainably produced. We daily enjoyed fresh-baked cereal bread with ham, cheese, artisanal chocolate spread or jam. A croissant, a pear and a boiled egg for the both of us. Regarding beverages, we were spoilt for choices: apple juice, milk, coffee and tea were provided.
With a breakfast like this, slow mornings are guaranteed. For us this was the perfect way to wake up relaxed and truly savour the morning hours and each other’s company. Just as Nutchel intends! The only downside might be the price. Breakfast is not included at Nutchel and for adults it costs 12 euros per person. The amount and quality of the products definitely justify this price, but if we were to go back, we probably wouldn’t order breakfast at Nutchel every morning. We would definitely take it once though … and so should you when you visit.
Nutchel offers some other treats as well: barbecue packages. Every cabin has a barbecue and we wanted to make good use of that. So, on Saturday we put the table of our cabin on the terrace for some appetizers and a board game. Once the sun started setting, we moved back in, turned on the barbecue and we ate our hearts out.
In hindsight, we could have skipped our appetizers and we still would have had plenty of food. The barbecue baskets not only include three pieces of meat per person, but also a baguette, jacked potatoes with garlic butter inside and three veggie or vegan side salads. The baskets cost 24 euros for an adult and Nutchel also offers a vegetarian alternative. I would certainly recommend barbecuing at Nutchel: it’s another perfect way to relax and enjoy delicious local food, your cabin and the company you’re with.
Things to do when staying at Nutchel
Our main reason to go to Nutchel was their concept of deconnecting from the everyday hassle and reconnecting with nature, all while staying in a unique Cosy Cabin in the woods. We absolutely adored our hot tub and it was so worth the extra money. Every evening we soaked in the warm water, while having long conversations. We put Nutchel’s philosophy automatically into practice because of this extra feature. If you’re still in doubt whether to book a cabin with a hot tub or not: this is your sign to do it!
But as lovely as our cabin was, we of course wanted to mix it up with some activities. So, we did! But I also want to stress that we were happy that we didn’t plan too much explorations. Like I said: we mainly came to Nutchel for the unique accommodation, so we were happy we really had the time to enjoy it and to simply relax.
Relaxing is so much more rewarding after some effort, though. So, before checking in at Nutchel on Friday, we went to the office of the nature park Haute-Sûre Forêt d’Anlier. This domain stretches over Martelange and several neighbouring villages. At the office you can find information to do numerous hikes in this area, many of them starting at Martelange.
Hike the woods of the Ardennes
After some help from the very friendly gentleman from the office, we set off on our first hike. The ‘Promenade du Daguet’ or the ‘Deer’s Hike’ is 8,4 kilometres long and counts 127 metres of altitude. As it was the tourist officer’s favourite walk in the area, we were very curious to start … but a little disappointed at the end.
The hike sure has some beautiful parts, mainly the first and last kilometres. We really went into the woods at the start and finish, but unfortunately the middle part wasn’t very tranquil. At one point we started hiking along a paved road, that felt like a Canadian highway at times. It had woods or meadows on either side, so it sure had something. The problem was that it was quite a busy road, with heavy traffic that flew by. This wasn’t very pleasant, especially because there was no pavement for pedestrians.
This part of the hike took a bit too long for me and I would have preferred to hike more in the stunning nature the Ardennes have to offer. Luckily, we discovered an alternative the day after … although it wasn’t by foot (I’ll come back to this).
When we returned from our hike, we checked out the bird’s bridge next to the nature park’s office. At the end, there’s a tower to overlook the surrounding area. A small exploration, but one I would certainly recommend.
Mountain biking …
On Saturday we went for my boyfriend’s favourite activity: cycling, more specifically mountain biking. We rented the bikes at the nature park’s office and already booked them the previous day. They don’t have that many bikes and only two electrical ones, but we were lucky there was still a powered and a classic one available … and they were actually quite cheap. Helmets are included in the renting price.
Nutchel itself also has a bike rental service, but we weren’t sure they offered electrical mountain bikes, so that’s why we booked elsewhere. I’m not that big a fan of riding a bike – that’s probably an understatement – especially if it’s uphill, so an electrical one was an absolute must for me.
Martelange has a marked mountain bike route of 19,5 kilometres with 375 metres of altitude. There were some really steep uphill parts, but they were always followed by a flat or downhill segment. I also really liked the natural scenery of this route. Another win: we didn’t have to cycle on any busy roads. Some parts did seem challenging with a non-electrical bike, but if you’re fit and like cycling this loop is certainly doable. If not, just rent an electrical mountain bike like I did and you’ll be fine too.
… along a hiking path
As 19,5 kilometres isn’t that long, we decided to extend our route a bit by adding the ‘Promenade des Romains’ or ‘Romans’ Hike’. It was probably the first time ever I agreed on making a cycling trip longer than strictly necessary, so that’s undeniable proof that the Martelange mountain bike route isn’t too straining. If it were, I would have straight gone back to my hot tub.
The part we added is actually a hike, as the name tells, but the man from the tourism office told us it was also accessible by bike, so off we went. The route is 9,8 kilometres long and counts 135 altitude metres. That might not seem like much, but this loop was way more steep than we would have expected based on the information.
Especially the first part counts some really challenging parts. You first go up through a village and then climb higher through the woods. The path in the forest is studded with tree roots, making it even more daunting. At one point we were questioning how much higher 135 altitude metres could go.
Yes, at a certain moment I was regretting that I agreed on extending the cycling route … But it must be said that it was a beautiful tour to do through the woods. I would certainly have preferred this hike over the ‘Promenade du Daguet’ we did the day before, so all in all I was happy I still saw this area too. And if you don’t want to extend the mountain bike route, but are looking for a good hike in the region: the ‘Promenade des Romains’ is the one.
Out of Martelange …
On our last full day at Nutchel, we decided to take it really slow in the morning. We really wanted to enjoy our little house in the woods to the fullest. Around noon we went out into nature for the last time, but as we felt we had largely seen Martelange and its surroundings, we ventured out a bit further, to Neufchâteau.
This town has a beautiful lake, from where many hikes start. There’s also a miniature golf course nearby, which we did before going on our walk. The course is very basic and only has a limited number of holes, but we fixed that by doing the course twice.
I don’t exactly remember which hike we did, as we just picked one from the board that stands by the lake, but it was my definite favourite from the weekend. We went through meadows and forests and were treated to some lovely vistas along the way. We ended with dinner in the restaurant by the lake, although we felt slightly underdressed in our hiking clothes.
One thing is for sure: the Ardennes have plenty of mesmerizing hikes on offer and it’s a must do activity when staying at Nutchel. As you probably go to Nutchel by car, it’s easy to have some variety from the Martelange woods and venture out a bit further away. The Ardennes sure will have something you like.
There’s also more than nature to be found here. Really close to Nutchel you can find the town of Bastogne. It breathes history, as it was an important battleground during World War II. We didn’t come here during this long weekend, but we visited the Bastogne War Museum on another Ardennes trip. It’s ideal if the weather is really bad … or if you simply want to learn more about this dark page in Belgium’s history. It won’t disappoint!
… and out of Belgium
As I already mentioned, Nutchel lies very close to Belgium’s border with Luxembourg. As we had to check out on Monday morning and couldn’t enjoy our Cosy Cabin anymore anyway, we decided to make this a busier day of exploring. And although Nutchel is all about reconnecting with nature, we thought it was time for some city vibes. Our destination for the day? Luxembourg City!
The capital of the tiny duchy of Luxembourg is the ideal place for a day trip. The centre is small and walkable and all the main sights are close to one another. The tourism office perfectly caters to a day tripper’s needs, as they offer a self-guided city promenade that brings you to all the best sights in town. Over the distance of just three kilometres you’ll see the Grand ducal Palace, the Corniche, the Place d’Armes and much more. Can’t get enough? Then you can add two kilometres to the tour, go into the Grund district or take the Pfaffenthal elevator to explore some more.
A day trip to Luxembourg City sure is worth it when staying at Nutchel, although I would advise to not plan it on one of the full days of your stay, so you can really enjoy your Cosy Cabin. If you’re not into cities, it’s still worth it to cross the border. While Luxembourg is a small country, it has something for everyone: you can go hiking at the Müllerthal or discover one of its many castles.
In a nutshell: we loved our stay at Nutchel (very original pun, I know). It’s the perfect place to recharge your batteries, connect with loved ones and get out into nature … and those Cosy Cabins truly have something magical.