La Buissière - Ourton loop following the Biette, then the Lawe

Bruay-la-Buissière: small car park at the entrance to Rue des Peupliers (there is also a large car park at the entrance to Divion cemetery, which may be useful to avoid finding the gates closed).

(S/E) Take Rue des Peupliers. At the first left turn, leave it and take a path between the houses. You will arrive at the Lawe. Follow it on the left.

(1) At the footbridge, continue straight ahead, first on the path and then in a green space, until you reach Sentier Wargnier. Follow it to the right, crossing the Lawe, for about 100 metres until you find a small gate on the left through the housing estate. Follow it, then turn right to reach Rue de la Lawe. Follow it on the left until Rue d'Aire. Cross it and follow it on the right until the roundabout. Cross Rue des Festeux to find the entrance to the cavalier.

(2) Follow this road to the left, cross the first street and then negotiate three flights of steps: one small, one medium and one large (it's like something out of the fairy tale Goldilocks). Finish with a small staircase that leads to a small street. Cross it and take the green space opposite to arrive in front of the Miners' Memorial (Rue Gaston Blot).

(3) Head towards the memorial. You will then find a path in the woods. Follow it until you reach a T-junction.

(4) Turn right, cross a cement road and continue straight ahead until you reach the entrance to Divion.

(5) Follow Rue Brunovic a few metres to the right, then turn left into Rue Jarzembovsi. Go under the ring road and, 100 metres further on, you will find a staircase on the left.

(6) (See practical information). Take these steps. After the first flight of steps, take the steps on the right and you will reach the cemetery. Cross it in a straight line.
At the exit, go straight ahead onto a pretty path along the edge of a field. After a left turn, leave the path and turn right between the houses to reach Rue Jean Jaurès.

(7) Cross it, follow it to the right and take the first street on the left (Rue Florent Évrard). Continue straight ahead to Rue Pierre Bachelet. Cross it, follow it to the right and take the first street on the left (Résidence de la Drève).

(8) Just before the end of the street, don't miss the small gate on the right that leads to the ponds. Reach them and turn left (uphill path). Continue on this same path to reach the entrance to the campsite, then Chaussée Brunehaut. Follow it a few metres to the left and find a grassy path on the right.

(9) Follow this path along the right bank of the Biette. It is well marked and eventually reaches a beautiful footbridge. Cross it and turn left. Continue along the river. After about 300 m, the path turns right uphill (hiking signpost on the left), then left to reach a wider path opposite a farm building.

(10) Head downhill to the left to reach the Biette. Do not cross it, but follow it on the left bank (the pretty Rue Pierre Martin). At the fork, take the Rue de Verdun on the right. After about 100 metres, you will find a path on the left.

(11) Follow it to the church. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead for about 50 metres, then turn left onto Chemin des Sinistrés to reach the D941. Cross it (take great care: bend, speeding is common and there is no pedestrian crossing) and take Rue du Château opposite, which joins the D86E2. Follow it uphill on the left until you reach a crossroads (statue of the Virgin Mary on the left).

(12) Take the path on the left to follow (at a distance) the Bois du Hazois and reach a junction.

(13) Turn right and continue until you reach a T-junction.

(14) Turn left and descend towards Beugin. Just before the road, find the entrance to the bridle path (barriers).

(15) Take it on the left and arrive at the entrance to Houdain opposite the small park.

(16) Continue straight ahead, either on the bridge or in the park (this is more comfortable and there are places to sit). Reach Chaussée Brunehaut. Cross it and continue opposite on the bridge (somewhat damaged in February 2025). Stay on the bridge to arrive under the Divion Viaduct.

(17) ( See practical information). Leave the footpath and descend to the left (slightly steep embankment) to reach Rue Marcel Seillier. Follow it to the right to reach the D941. Cross it and continue straight ahead to La Biette. Cross the river and immediately turn right onto the left bank (you can also stay on the right bank; the path is wilder). After a zigzag climb, cross the river again and follow it on the left (passage between the river and the pond). You will reach a T-junction.

(18) Turn left to join Rue d'Hulluch. Cross it and take the path opposite that descends to La Biette. Follow it to the centre of Bruay, Rue Lamendin.

(19) Continue straight ahead into the park (large car park on the right), keeping to the right bank. After the ponds, join Rue Cail.

(20) Follow it to the right. At the end, turn left towards the roundabout. Then take the second street on the right (Rue C et H Bouillez, slightly uphill).You will soon see a small green space on the left. Go up the steps and you will find yourself facing an uninviting embankment. A little further on, you will find another, much easier embankment. Climb it to reach the bus lane.

(21) Follow it to the left. A little further on, cross (protected crossing) and follow it for another 50 metres.

(22) Leave the bus lane and take a path on the right to reach Rue François Évrard. Follow it to the left until you reach Rue René Wallard.

(23) Cross it and take the steps opposite that lead to the Bois de la Volville. Join a lane and follow it on the left. Stay in the woods, but on the edge. After a steep climb (a little difficult at the end), you will reach a T-junction.

(24) Turn left and you will immediately reach another T-junction. Take the path on the left that descends to Rue Pierre Brossolette. Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

There are no real difficulties, but make sure you wear suitable footwear.

Point (6): The cemetery opens at 9 a.m. from November to the end of March and at 8 a.m. the rest of the year. If it is closed, stay on Rue Jarzembowski, following the cemetery, to find a hairpin bend on the left that leads to the cemetery entrance, where you will find the route again.

Point (17): if the slope is difficult to descend, take the alternative route. Continue for about 400 m on the bridge to find a gap in the hedge on the left. Take it to reach Rue Saint-Saëns. Follow it to the right. It soon turns left. At the end, take the small road opposite which joins the D341. Follow it to the right, then cross it to cross the car park and reach the Lawe. Follow it on the right to return to the point (18).