Boeschepe walks

These three mountains watch over Bailleul, the capital of Flanders between Lille and Dunkirk: Mont des Cats, Mont de Boeschepe and Mont Noir, plus Mont Kokereel. From the top of these small hills (180m), you can enjoy views over the surrounding area. The route offers several points of interest, including Marguerite Yourcenar's house on Mont Noir, the Boschepe mill in the village of the same name, and Mont des Cats and its abbey of Cistercian monks, founded in 1826.

This walk will take you around the Mont des Cats along paths and back roads. It will reveal its viewpoints, its chapels, its heritage and its gentle slopes.

A bucolic tour through the wild hyacinths and wild garlic blooming in late April and early May. Discover the Mont Noir and Flanders (Saint-Jans-Cappel, view of Mont des Cats and Bailleul) through undergrowth, forest paths and small roads.

A long, slightly winding route to enjoy the beautiful Belgian trails, which are well maintained and clearly marked. Simple signposting: there are posts with numbers and an arrow indicating the number you want to go to (not easy to explain but obvious when you're there). Difficult route, even very difficult in wet weather.

Short route on beautiful, well-maintained Belgian trails with good signage.Simple signposting: there are posts with numbers and an arrow indicating the number you want to go to (not easy to explain but obvious when you're there). In wet weather, some areas may be soggy or even very muddy.

A patchwork of different routes in the area for a long hike that will delight your thighs.As for the mountains, like the Musketeers, there are four (or even five, I forgot the Baneberg near the mill), as you climb Mont Noir twice.In short, a nice climb in the Flat Country on numerous paths and a few small, quiet roads. It's a demanding route, because even between the mountains, there are plenty of small hills. But, as is often the case in Belgium, the trails are well maintained and constantly being improved.

As you descend north of Mont-Cassel, you'll enjoy the beautiful Flanders countryside.Although there are long stretches of tarmac, the roads don't have much traffic.

This walk will introduce you to the countryside around Sailly and the tranquility of the river Lys.

Arnèke is a village of 1,600 inhabitants not far from Cassel. You'll discover beautiful views of Cassel and Mont des Récollets, as well as the church of Zegerscappel.

This tour will introduce you to three different settings: the Domaniale de Nieppe forest, the wooded countryside and the Lys river.

The forest edge, the canal banks and the agricultural plain give the trail its contrasting moods. Keep your eyes peeled for birds in the undergrowth, insects on leaves and trees, and the mushrooms that grow here in late spring.

Prémesques, the starting village, is at the edge of the suburbs, close to Lomme and Pérenchies.This humble asphalt route could nonetheless satisfy joggers and provide plenty of fresh air for walkers. What else could you ask for?If you set off at daybreak, you might see a few partridges fly in, encounter a few rabbits and maybe even some hares.

Trail in the Weppes around Beaucamps-Ligny. The countryside near Lille Métropole.

Departing from the Parc Mozaïc car park, a 15km hike along the farm tracks of the Marais de la Deule, between Emmerin, Noyelles-lès-Seclin and Ancoisne.

This walk brings you into close contact with the canal's barges and birds. As the towpath is almost completely tarmac, this walk is particularly enjoyable in winter, when the paths are too muddy and impassable.