Around the Bois Duquesnoy forest, starting from Arleux

The walk begins along the Canal du Nord and then continues along country lanes. When you arrive in Oisy-le-Verger, you are immediately greeted by the horses at the riding centre. Then we weave our way through to the Bois Duquesnoy. As I can't take my dog on the municipal tidal paths, I turn off early to continue along a quiet, leafy country lane. Finally, we return along the canal to the car park. Enjoy your walk.

Details

3375027
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 34 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 33 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 70 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 35 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Arleux (59151)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 50.272537° / E 3.109346°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2506E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the Biselles campsite in Arleux.

(S/E) Take the yellow-markedPR® trail and follow the Canal du Nord. At Palluel, go past the bridge and continue along this bank of the canal until you reach asecond bridge.

(1) Take the small path on the right that leads to a small road. Turn left and cross the bridge, then immediately turn left onto the small field path. Walk along the bank for a short distance until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Turn right onto this path, continue to the country road, and turn left towards Oisy-le-Verger. At the entrance to the village, join the D 21.

(3) Cross it and take the small steep path opposite. Walk along the low wall of the last house and then the gardens until you reach the football pitch. A few metres further on, join a field path at a T-junction.
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(4) Turn left, continue to the woods and follow the edge.

(5) Enter the woods. Continue along the edge until you reach a three-way junction where you join theGR®121.

(6) Take it to the left and follow the red and white markings. You will come to a new crossroads near the canal.

(7) Leave theGR® and turn right onto the yellow-markedPR® trail, passing the Palluel lock on your left. Continue along the edge of the canal. When you reach the bridge, turn left and then left again to return to the car park near the Biselles campsite in Arleux (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 36 m - Car park near the Biselles campsite. Walk along the - Canal du Nord
  2. 1 : km 2.94 - alt. 46 m - 2nd bridge
  3. 2 : km 3.92 - alt. 40 m - Field path on the right
  4. 3 : km 5.08 - alt. 64 m - D21
  5. 4 : km 5.58 - alt. 66 m - Field path on the left
  6. 5 : km 6.21 - alt. 66 m - Entering the woods
  7. 6 : km 6.86 - alt. 40 m - GR121
  8. 7 : km 8.14 - alt. 45 m - GR-PR crossroads. After the lock, pass the - Sensée (rivière)
  9. S/E : km 9.26 - alt. 37 m - Car park near the Biselles campsite

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 23895062
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice but not very well signposted.

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boucles d'or
boucles d'or

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and original hike. Not very busy, it is not complicated.
Between the start and point 1, you can follow the canal all the way; there is no need to leave the towpath at the D21 as indicated on the map.

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Jean-Claude C.
Jean-Claude C.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Park in the municipal campsite car park. A very beautiful route combining the banks of the canal, the countryside, the forest and tarmac roads. No particular difficulties. We enjoyed this walk as a couple. Be careful at the end of the canal on the way back: do not take the towpath, but the field path just above it.

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Bertrand Guinet
Bertrand Guinet

Beautiful description

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nicole.provo
nicole.provo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good because it combines towpaths, countryside and woods.

The start is poorly signposted because there are two campsites in Arleux, which confused us. Start from the municipal campsite.

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Valdudu
Valdudu

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In some places, the grass was quite tall, and at Oisy le Verger we had to take a detour because the path was inaccessible, covered with nettles. Otherwise, it was a pleasant walk. Instead of the advertised 9.2 km, we ended up walking more than 10.5 km.

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clemosc22
clemosc22

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful and varied nature walk, first along the canal, then along a path through the fields and finally around the woods. Done on a sunny day, it offers beautiful scenery. I highly recommend it!

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