This is a very long, peaceful walk with hardly any historic monuments but it is a perfect introduction to the green belt in and around Merelbeke.

Leave the St Baafsabdij on the left and follow the river downstream along the Koepoortkaai. Five hundred metres further on you take the narrow path by the river, the Jongenstragel. At the end of the path cross the river but continue to follow along the tow-path, called Achtervisserij.

On your right stands the lovely little church of the Nieuwen Bosch Abbey and the cottages of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Ter Hove. On the left hand side there are the buildings of the newspaper Het Volk, a number of alleys and architectural gems of gentlemens houses.

Take the busy Brusselspoortstraat under the Keizerviaduct and turn right immediately, on to Pynaertkaai.

You need only carry straight on. There is a footpath that runs for kilometres alongside the Scheldt. The tow-path, at one point known as Meierij, takes you past workers' neighbourhoods and finally out to the Ringvaart, the canal that had to save the port of Ghent from obsolescence after World War II.

Just before you reach the yacht harbour and the lock gate of the Ringvaart you will see the Liedermeerspark and you can connect with the excursions in Merelbeke.