Circular around Saint-Denis

Here is an exotic walk around the Étangs de Saint-Denis, which also passes through woods, fields and small streets.

Details

29641305
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 112 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 117 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 112 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 50 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park behind the Abbey of Saint-Denis.

(S/E) Turn right and walk along the first ponds to reach the Baron's hunting lodge on the edge of the large pond.

(1) Continue between the ponds on the left and the Bois des Aulnois on the right. Turn right at the last pond to reach a farm.

(2) Take Chemin des Vallées opposite. At the cross, turn right into Rue de la Procession and continue to reach a crossroads at a place called La Motte.

(3) Turn 90° to the right onto Chemin de Saint-Denis and rejoin the Bois des Aulnois.

(4) Stay on the edge of the forest for a few metres, then cross some beautiful fields until you reach a farm.

(5) Enter the Bois du Becquerau via Rue Frébutte and, at the edge of the woods, turn right onto Rue Raulier.

(6) In Rue du Grand Coron, take a small lane that climbs alongside the cemetery to Place de Saint-Denis.

(7) Continue straight ahead on Rue de la Brisée, which turns left at a three-way junction. After a three-way junction, turn left onto Rue de Brocqueroie and then right onto Rue de la Petite Bruyère. Then turn right to reach the Clos Saint-Macaire crossroads.

(8) Continue right onto Rue du Camp and you will soon come to Rue de la Brisée. Turn left onto this street, then leave it at the next crossroads and turn right onto the path to reach the crossroads with Rue Jacquet.

(9) Turn right onto this street and take the path on the left that runs alongside the Ruisseau d'Hayon stream. Then turn right into the Bois de la Vignette to reach the car park behind the Abbey of Saint-Denis (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 64 m - Parking at Saint-Denis Abbey. Cross the - Aubrecheuil (rivière) - Belgique - Affluent de la Haine
  2. 1 : km 0.95 - alt. 61 m - Hunting lodge
  3. 2 : km 2.7 - alt. 91 m - Farm
  4. 3 : km 3.95 - alt. 107 m - La Motte
  5. 4 : km 4.93 - alt. 110 m - Bois des Aulnois
  6. 5 : km 6.04 - alt. 92 m - Farm
  7. 6 : km 7.1 - alt. 53 m - Rue du Grand Coron
  8. 7 : km 7.42 - alt. 75 m - Place de Saint-Denis
  9. 8 : km 8.54 - alt. 87 m - Clos Saint-Macaire crossroads
  10. 9 : km 9.5 - alt. 90 m - Rue Jacquet
  11. S/E : km 10.85 - alt. 59 m - Saint-Denis Abbey car park

Notes

The terrain is not always very passable, especially when it rains. I recommend wearing sturdy, waterproof shoes and avoiding pushchairs.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Saint-Denis Abbey, a place steeped in history, where you can also discover vineyards and orchards.
(1) The magnificent ponds.
(5) A farm that produces delicious goat's cheese.
Clos Saint-Macaire: a very pleasant place to walk and chat with the villagers.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
francine2
francine2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I hadn't downloaded the computer version, and towards the end, I couldn't find or turn onto the road to go home.

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Christine75
Christine75

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed this hike, but my only slight criticism is why did we have to walk along roads when we were walking alongside woods? I actually changed the route so that I could walk through the woods, which added 3 km to the hike, but it was much more pleasant than walking along the road with cars. Otherwise, it was very beautiful at the start with the lakes, but there was a lot of mud at this time of year. I would do it again in the summer.

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Greg306
Greg306

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route through a beautiful village. It's a walk with very little traffic overall. The only problem I encountered was at the end of Rue de la Filature, where you turn left to walk along the ponds. For some reason, there was a closed fence blocking the way, even on foot. So I took the path through the woods on the other side (to the right at the end of Rue de la Filature) to come out on Chemin des Vallées, very close to the junction with Rue de la Procession. From there, I followed the route again.

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danicau
danicau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route. I have no problem with the signposting because
I download the GPX file.
A hike to be recommended.

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ArinaTomberg
ArinaTomberg

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice walk! At the moment, the area around the ponds is very muddy. So it's best to wait two or three weeks or wear very good footwear. We found the path easily with the help of the app.

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gerodez-francoise
gerodez-francoise

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful region.

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Dubois Thérèse
Dubois Thérèse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The ponds are magnificent! A wonderful discovery! Worth repeating in spring or autumn when the colours are at their best.
One small downside: the route includes a few too many small roads, fortunately with little traffic, and not enough footpaths.

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Denis Dusong
Denis Dusong

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A few minor difficulties following the description of certain points. But overall, it was fine. A very beautiful walk... to be repeated... in spring, in summer... in short, in every season.

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