Cascade du Bayehon

A waterfall that gives you time

The Cascade du Bayehon near Longfaye, a small hamlet a few kilometres from Malmedy, is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Ardennes. The water of the Bayehon drops around twelve metres over a rocky ledge, surrounded by beech forest and boggy moorland. That may sound modest, but in person the waterfall never fails to impress, especially when the water is running high.

When to go

Spring and autumn are by far the most rewarding seasons. In spring the flow is at its greatest, particularly after a wet winter. The water then rushes broad across the rock face. In autumn, colour joins the picture: beeches and ferns turn orange and brown, and the surrounding marsh takes on something dark and mysterious. Summer is too busy and the foliage too dense to see the waterfall properly from multiple angles.

How to photograph this

This is a place for long shutter speeds. A tripod is not optional, it is essential. With a shutter speed of between one and three seconds you get that silky water movement that simultaneously emphasises and softens the force of the water. Use an ND filter and you keep control of your exposure even in daylight. A focal length of 24 to 35mm works well because you want to show the waterfall within its surroundings, not isolated from that context. Get low for a stronger diagonal in the frame, or find a position slightly to the side for more depth.

The path runs along the bank and offers a few different viewpoints. The best position is just in front of the waterfall, right above the turbulent water at its base. Watch out for the moss on the stones, it is slippery, even when it looks dry.

Practical

You can park at the start of the walking path in Longfaye. From there it is a fifteen-minute walk through the High Fens area, managed by the Parc naturel des Hautes Fagnes. The path is freely accessible. There is no permit requirement for photographers, but you are moving through a protected nature reserve, so staying on the paths is the rule. Early in the morning you will have the place almost to yourself. On autumn weekends it can get busier with walkers, but those passing through tend to move on quickly.

Sources and further reading

• Parc naturel des Hautes Fagnes
• Toerisme provincie Luik
• Wikipedia: Cascade du Bayehon