If the need for silence, tranquillity, and rolling pastoral landscapes takes hold of you, the Bois de Fagne circuit will fulfil your needs and leave you feeling rested and in the holiday spirit... It’s hard to believe you’re so far north, especially if the sun is out.
Calculated time: 3h10[?] 
Distance : 10.53km
Vertical gain : 50m
Vertical drop : 53m
Highest point : 227m
Lowest point : 181m The start and finish point is located in a car park beside the Aibes church. You can park there.
(S/F) Start your hike by taking the Rue de Quievelon towards the D963 road (east). Take this road to the left towards Colleret and Jeumont.
(1) At the chapel, turn right. You are on the Avesnois GRP (Yellow and Red markings). After the cemetery, turn left onto a small road. Cross the railway then veer left to continue alongside it.
(2) At the fork, turn right to Coulmie farm; now leave the GRP. Pass by the Motocross field.
(3) Pas by Coulmie farm keeping it to your left and follow a stone path to the right bordered by a beautiful hedge. Continue on this road to a paved road.
(4) Turn right, follow the road and cross the railway again.
(5) After a few hundred metres, head left on a grassy path, on Route de Grandireux, along the creek of the same name. Be aware that, in the rain, the road is muddy.
(6) At the next intersection, down the road, turn right on a small road.
(7) After passing the Castle of Boutigny (on the right), continue on the road to the Bérelles water tower on the D963 road.
(8) Cross the main road with caution and continue opposite on the road lined with willows and reeds that winds through the grove.
(9) At the crossroads called “Les Cinq Chemins” (the five paths), take the second road on the right that goes north-west and through the Bois du Mesnil (while remaining close to the edge).
‘’Take care at this junction'', the signs do not indicate the right direction: follow this description.
(10) At the junction with a minor road, bear right. At the fork that immediately follows, turn left. Pass the imposing farm on your left and go straight ahead (west) on a grassy path in a hilly landscape. At Thérouanne reach a road, follow it towards the right to the village of Quiévelon.
Take the main street to the cave with a rock with the statue of the Virgin Mary.
(11) Turn right onto Route d’Aibes. At the village entrance, take the first left (Rue Fleurot). At the end of this street, find Rue de Basse, turn right, continue for a few metres and turn left to reach the starting point (S/F).
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 194m
1 : km 0.2 - alt. 198m - Chapel.
2 : km 1.44 - alt. 200m - Fork in the road, leave the GRP
3 : km 2.22 - alt. 182m - Coulmie farm
4 : km 3.4 - alt. 198m - The Vingt Bonniers
5 : km 3.99 - alt. 196m - Crossroads
6 : km 4.95 - alt. 216m - T-junction
7 : km 5.24 - alt. 219m - Boutigny castle
8 : km 6.04 - alt. 225m - Route D963
9 : km 6.93 - alt. 225m - Cinq Chemins
10 : km 7.65 - alt. 213m - Junction
11 : km 9.06 - alt. 189m - Quiévelon
D/A : km 10.52 - alt. 194m
‘’Bring waterproof footwear in wet weather.''
After passing the cave of the Virgin Mary, shortly after (11), follow the path to find, on your left, a picnic table in the woods, the ideal place to relax while listening to the small stream right behind you.
At the crossroads (9), take care when following the Yellow markings on a tree opposite because the direction indicated by the sign is not the right direction.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
(3) Coulmie Farm which, before 1789, belonged to the Abbey of Alders.
(7) Here you will find an electric pylon, but it looks odd: take a good look, what kind of bird could have done this?
Shortly after (11), find Cave of the Virgin Mary, built at the request of a priest from Colleret and three other parishioners. The inauguration took place 15 August 1958 in the presence of the Archbishop of Cambrai. Every year on 15 August an important Marian pilgrimage brings together the surrounding communities’ parishioners.
During your tour, in late winter, you can see snowdrops.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : 
Location : 
Starting point : N 50.236673° / E 4.092575°