From the Scheldt to the Sensée via the old Bassin Rond

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It has it all: the Scheldt Canal, the Sensée, ponds and a village. Everything you need for a lovely day by the water. This walk is partly on tarmac, except along the rivers and ponds. Refreshment stop via Bouchain.

Details

n°96683219
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–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.47 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 26 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 26 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 131 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 98 ft
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Description of the walk

Parking on the square, near the church and Hordain Town Hall.

(S/E) Take Rue des Écoles for about 150 m.

(1) At the bakery, turn right onto Rue du Marais. This road becomes a path, then joins a road.

(2) Turn right onto it, cross the Vieil Escaut bridge, and keep right on the cycle path for about 400 metres. Pass a few buildings on the right (former breweries).

(3) Turn right, go uphill to cross the Canal de l’Escaut bridge, and continue straight on; at the end of this road, turn right.

(4) Turn left and follow the backwater (old canal).

(5) Turn left onto Rue Henri Deshayes to follow the canal along the GR®121 for approximately 1,600 metres.

(6) Turn right onto Rue de Wavrechain Sous Faulx, and walk alongside a campsite, then a ditch.

(7) Cross the bridge over the Rivière de la Sensée and continue straight on along Rue de Paillencourt. Cross the bridge over the Canal de la Sensée.

(8) After the bridge, turn right and follow the canal for about 1,800 metres.

(9) Pass the Pont Malin lock and continue straight on for a further 2,500 m or so. Head back up towards the bridge.

(10) Turn right to cross it, and immediately right again after the bridge. Follow the canal along the opposite bank for about 100 m via the Pont Malin embankment. Then turn left. When you reach a road, turn right and continue for about 50 m.

(11) Take Rue du Pont Malin on the right for about 100 m, heading towards the ponds. Turn left and follow the two ponds – the first for whitefish and the second for trout. Continue to the end of the second pond, until you reach the left-hand bend.

(12) Take the path on the right and follow the Vieil Escaut river for about 1,600 metres until you reach a bridge.

(13) Turn left to cross the bridge, then continue straight on along Rue Jules Ferry.

(14) Continue straight on along this street to return to the starting point at the church. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 125 ft - Hordain church square
  2. 1 : mi 0.1 - alt. 121 ft - Bakery on the right
  3. 2 : mi 0.39 - alt. 118 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 0.82 - alt. 125 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.08 - alt. 118 ft - The Dead Arm Canal
  6. 5 : mi 1.21 - alt. 115 ft - Canal on the left
  7. 6 : mi 2.21 - alt. 118 ft - At the bridge on the right
  8. 7 : mi 2.4 - alt. 108 ft - Bridge over the - Sensée (rivière)
  9. 8 : mi 2.8 - alt. 118 ft - At the confluence of the Scheldt - Canal de la Sensée
  10. 9 : mi 3.91 - alt. 118 ft - Pont Malin Lock
  11. 10 : mi 5.46 - alt. 115 ft - Bridge over the - Escaut (fleuve)
  12. 11 : mi 5.62 - alt. 108 ft - Junction
  13. 12 : mi 6.09 - alt. 112 ft - End of the ponds
  14. 13 : mi 7.08 - alt. 121 ft - Bridge
  15. 14 : mi 7.21 - alt. 118 ft - Rue Jules Ferry
  16. S/E : mi 7.47 - alt. 125 ft - Hordain church square

Notes

Refreshments in Bouchain.

Worth a visit

  1. The Scheldt
  2. The Sensée
  3. Ponds.
  4. Villages

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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