Mare à Goriaux circuit

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This route takes you through the mythical 'Trouée d'Arenberg' (Arenberg gap), the venue for the Paris-Roubaix race, and then on to the Mare à Goriaux bird sanctuary.

Details

n°16409809
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 24 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 22 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 40 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 17 m
Downloads
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Photos

The descent into the pond
Mare à Goriaux

Description of the walk

Park in the Maison Forestière car park in Wallers.

(S/E) Reach the end of the famous Arenberg cobblestones (Paris-Roubaix cycle race) and take to the road.

(1) Go straight on, following the yellow marker.

(2) At the barrier before the car park, turn left and continue to a new car park.

(3) Pass between the white and green barriers to climb the slag heap.

(4) At the top of the slag heap, enjoy the view of Mare à Goriaux and the surrounding area. Then climb back down to the left, going along the Mare à Goriaux.

(5) At the A23 motorway junction, turn left to the Drève de Bassy crossroads.

(6) Turn right towards the Maison Forestière de Bassy.

(7) At the Maison Forestière, turn left and left again to Drève de Grand Bray, then right to the crossroads ahead.

(8) Turn left into Drève du Réthot and rejoin the outward fork at the cobblestones.

(1) Turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 20 m - Car park Maison Forestière de Wallers
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 21 m - Carrefour de la boucle
  3. 2 : km 2.09 - alt. 30 m - Barrier in front of the car park
  4. 3 : km 4.13 - alt. 26 m - Barrier
  5. 4 : km 4.59 - alt. 36 m - Top of the slag heap
  6. 5 : km 5.85 - alt. 18 m - A23 interchange
  7. 6 : km 6.77 - alt. 18 m - Drève de Bassy crossroads
  8. 7 : km 7.62 - alt. 19 m - Bassy House
  9. 8 : km 8.51 - alt. 19 m - Drève du Rhétot
  10. S/E : km 9.69 - alt. 20 m - Car park Maison Forestière de Wallers

Notes

The trail is not particularly difficult. It should be avoided on the day of the Paris Roubaix race, when you're likely to run into a lot of people.

Worth a visit

(S/E) The Arenberg cobbles and its gap made famous by the Paris - Roubaix cycle race.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Arno Lec
Arno Lec

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice ride, quite a few straight stretches though.

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Marquilly
Marquilly

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant hike in the woods.
Lots of straight paths.

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Brugo
Brugo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk in the heart of nature. Bells, lilies of the valley, birdsong... Lovely setting for a walk and a beautiful biological reserve Trouée d'Arenberg in reverse, Terril nearby, goriaux or pig pond created by a mining subsidence.

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sy.debarbieux
sy.debarbieux

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello,

I didn't do the whole hike. I mainly used the map to get as close as possible to the mare aux goriaux. I was very disappointed not to be able to walk to the top of the slag heap (even if I understand the reasons). So the walk is a bit of pond edge, a bit of slag heap and a lot of forest. and then, sniff, too early for the autumn colours.

But we'll be back when the autumn colours are stronger.

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Calirette
Calirette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Meurillon
Meurillon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good

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Rod De Brigode
Rod De Brigode

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Two or three straights that are a little long, but a very pleasant route with magnificent views as you reach the pond.

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Isalal
Isalal

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route identification is no longer up to date.

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Elisa59
Elisa59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk, very few people but I think it was due to the date. We loved it and will do it again at another time of year 😉

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jacques urbain
jacques urbain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

.

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danicau
danicau

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The GPX file makes the walk easier, as the signposting leaves something to be desired,
Kind regards,
danicau

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Reg59
Reg59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good route and great information, I'm not mistaken
Good route and good indications

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