From Hamel to Arleux along the marshes

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A lovely little walk along the beautiful Hamel and Arleux ponds.

Details

n°190797
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.84 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 13 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 13 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 131 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 118 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Hamel (59151)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 50.278759° / E 3.075478°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2506E
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Description of the walk

(S/E) From Hamel Town Hall, follow Rue André Hallé south-west and take the first left onto Rue du Petit Pont.

(1) Turn left and follow (east-south-east) the wide Chemin des Marais (marked ‘Le Lanchoy’ on the IGN map at maximum zoom), signposted in yellow.

(2) It is recommended that you leave this wide track to walk as close as possible to the pond. Further on, leave the ponds behind to join the Chemin de la Rivière du Moulin a little further north.

(3) Turn right (east) onto the track. This leads to the Moulin d’Arleux.

(4) Return via the same route as on the way there.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 131 ft - Hamel Town Hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.12 - alt. 128 ft - Chemin des Marais
  3. 2 : mi 0.79 - alt. 121 ft - Access to the pond’s edge - Sensée (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 1.11 - alt. 125 ft - Chemin de la Rivière du Moulin
  5. 4 : mi 1.42 - alt. 128 ft - Moulin d’Arleux
  6. S/E : mi 2.84 - alt. 131 ft - Hamel Town Hall car park

Notes

In wet weather, the path can be quite muddy.

Reviews and comments

3.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.4 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
frimousse59
frimousse59
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A leisurely walk, though it’s not always easy to follow the edge of the pond

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LN62000
LN62000

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lots of mosquitoes, but a lovely walk

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JujuBéa
JujuBéa

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello everyone,
No signposting.
Walking along the edge of the ponds is very difficult as the anglers complain about being disturbed.
There are plenty of mosquitoes there at this time of year.

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Denis62950
Denis62950

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

To be honest, it’s not great – the path is very narrow in places and you end up walking through nettles, thistles and so on.
The little spot with the boats looks completely abandoned, and it’s very difficult to get along the narrow path running alongside the pond because there are so many anglers.
I wouldn’t recommend this route for a family walk.

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woody70
woody70

Thank you, anyway – I’ve discovered this spot. It’s a shame, though, as it must have been very lively at one time, given the number of boats. But most of them have been abandoned. That said, it does lend the place a certain charm and is a delight for the wildlife (there’s a beautiful pair of swans with their brood).

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Claude Nantes
Claude Nantes

Ah, it’s a shame about the little path that runs alongside the lake: it’s very pretty but very narrow and not easy to find.
As for the circular route, I quite agree, but the only option would be to walk all the way round the ponds, and that would be a completely different experience. I’ll try to do that sometime.

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woody70
woody70

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

It’s a shame it isn’t circular. I’ve never managed to walk all the way round the pond. Otherwise, it was lovely to discover the Arleux mill.

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