Bois, vallée et coteau de Wavrans-sur-l'Aa

Start in Remilly-Wirquin: Place de la Mairie (Rue de la Moulière).

(S/E) Go round the town hall on the right and join the D192 (Rue Bernard Chochoy). Follow it to the right, cross the River Aa and take the^first street on the left (Rue des Prés). Ignore the street on the right and continue straight on to join the Voie Verte and reach a small road (Assinghem). Follow it to the right for about twenty metres.

(1) At the fork, take Rue du Goutoir on the right. Follow it up the gentle slope, ignoring the turnings to the left or right, until you reach a crossroads at the edge of the woods (elevation 130).

(2) Take the path opposite. After about 800 m, ignore a wide path on the left (blocked by a gate) and arrive at a clearing (on the left): hiking marker (trail signpost no. 9).

(3) Head left towards the gate. Cross the small hillock and turn right along the edge of the woodland onto a lovely path. Follow it. It gradually slopes to the left and eventually reaches a clearing. Cross the clearing, keeping to the right of the hedge. Re-enter the woods, staying on the lovely, gently sloping path. You’ll reach a hiking marker post on the left of the path.

(4) Continue straight ahead (the path on the left is now closed off in a rather unsightly but effective manner!). At the bottom, you’ll reach a fork.

(5) Take the left-hand path and cross the railway line with care. At the next two junctions, continue straight ahead to reach the Aa.

(6) Turn left before the bridge and follow the Aa along the beautiful Sentier des Soupirs. Then head away from the river to reach Place Jean Jaurès (church on the left). Turn right onto Rue du Pont Neuf (with a pretty tower on the right) and cross the Aa. Immediately after, turn left into Rue Bernard Chochoy (D211) and follow it for about 150 m until you find a street on the left.

(7) Turn into it and head towards the gate marking the entrance to the Poudrerie site. Enter and continue straight on for about 200 m to cross the Aa. Turn immediately right and follow the river to reach a fork (turret opposite).
Turn left to follow the ponds and reach another fork. Turn left again and reach a T-junction. Turn left once more and reach the site exit.

(8) Follow the Voie Verte on the right and, just after the factory, turn right to cross the River Aa.

(9) On the other side, leave the tarmac and head left to follow the river (yellow markings and arrows, narrow passage). Follow the river: there isn’t really a path, so walk through the grass; there are several barriers (four, if my memory serves me correctly) to cross, but they are fitted with steps. After passing close to a sports ground, move away from the water to reach Rue Salvador Allende.

(10) Follow it to the left for 200 m, then turn left into Rue de l’Isle for 50 m. Then turn right (car park) to find, 50 m further on, a small lane on the left. At the end, take the street on the right, walk past the school and join Rue Victor Hugo (D192). Follow it to the left. Cross the Bléquin and reach a junction.

(11) (See practical information) Continue straight ahead along Rue Victor Hugo to join the D225. Follow it to the left, cross the railway line with care and you will immediately find the entrance to the Voie Verte on the left.

(12) Follow it to the left, cross the Aa, go behind a factory and join Rue de la Pourchinte.

(13) Follow it to the right and, 20 m after the right-hand bend, turn left onto a footpath. You’ll reach a junction. Turn left and head towards the information boards.
Leave the tarmac and take the path (staircase). A steep climb leads to a T-junction. Turn right onto a slight descent. About 200 m further on, you’ll find a track on the left: a small signpost on the left-hand side of the path.

(14) Take this path: a narrow, very steep climb, overgrown with thorns (a pair of secateurs may come in handy!). Climb until you reach a gap in the hedge. Cross it carefully and traverse the wasteland to reach the small road opposite.
Follow it to the right and take the^first path on the right. It continues along the edge of the field. At the end (marker post), head diagonally to the right to reach a gate (visible from a distance in early spring).

(15) Go through it and head down the hillside ( steep descent!). Then turn left and follow the narrow path through the junipers. Pass two gates and begin the steep descent (but it’s well-maintained: there’s a staircase) to reach the site’s exit (gate).

(16) Follow the path to the left. After about 150 m, you’ll find a small flight of steps on the left. Take these and follow the grassy path running above the track until you reach a flight of steps leading back to the tarmac. Then turn left and continue to the junction.

(17) Take the road on the right for a few metres to rejoin the Greenway. Follow it to the left until you reach a T-junction near a farm. Take the road on the right to cross the Aa.

(18) On the other side, turn right onto the small road and continue to a T-junction. Turn left onto the small street, followed by a good path. Join a small road and follow it for a few metres to the right, before taking a path to the left. Continue to the T-junction (Assinghem).

(19) Turn right and join the D192. Follow it for about twenty metres to the right before turning onto the track on the left (just after the house). Another short climb leads to a junction.

(20) Take the main path on the left and reach the D225E1. Follow it to the left to arrive at the Town Hall Square (S/E).

This is a route that is not without its challenges. Make sure you wear sturdy footwear and ideally carry a walking stick (very useful between points (14) and (16).

A pair of secateurs may also come in handy.

At point (11), you can turn left, then immediately right along the equestrian centre. Cross the railway line, then the River Aa, and continue as close as possible to the edge of the woodland on the right until you reach the Greenway after the factory. This path is vaguely marked by small wooden arrows, but it is quite difficult as it is used by horse riders.