Discover the splendours of Mont Saint-Éloi, Écoivres & Acq

This walk is loosely based on the "Sentier des Pierres du Diable" (Devil's Stone Trail), but allows you to discover, alongside the famous Devil's Stones, the magnificent Mont-Éloi Abbey, the Écoivres war cemetery, the churches of Écoivres, Acq and Mont Saint-Éloi, and the Acq mill.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 72 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 74 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 136 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 73 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is the Pierres du Diable trail. It is located at the intersection of Rue de la Liberté (Rue de la Mairie) and Chemin d'Aubigny. There's a wooden bus shelter. You can easily park there.

(S/E) Take Rue de l'Égalité, the street opposite Chemin d'Aubigny. Continue straight ahead until you reach a junction, then cross the road to turn right.
When you reach a farm, there may be a bit of mud at the beginning of the path, but it won't last long. Take advantage of this passage to look at the old car bodies (notably the Citroën traction) that are stored on this farm. Of course, you have to stay on the public road!
Along this dirt track you can see the back of the Acq cemetery on your right, which you'll pass on your way back. This dirt track leads to the D49, which you'll need to take a little further to reach Écoivres.

(1) Continue straight ahead on Rue de Douai (follow the sign for the Pierres du diable path).

(2) At this junction, turn left for a 300m round trip to get closer to the Pierres du Diable.
The stones are located on your left, at the top of a small, ten-metre-long ridge enclosed by a fence. Once you've reached the Pierres du Diable, you can already contemplate Mont-Saint Éloi Abbey looming behind you.
Then retrace your steps and follow the slightly uphill road on your left. At the end of this road, turn left. Rue de la Cavée climbs a little higher.

(3) Turn into the small dirt track on your left. The climb will be easier for you. Once you've reached the end of the path, cross the road to climb up Rue Roger Salengro into the village of Mont Saint-Éloi.
Turn right towards the church into Rue du 4ème Dragon. Before turning, take a look at the beautiful property on your left. Walk past Église Saint-Martin. At the top of the street, you can see the majestic ruin of the abbey, listed as a historic monument in 1921.
Head towards the abbey. On your right, take a short detour under the trees to enjoy the panoramic views. You can also take a break on one of the benches.

(4) The passageway under the abbey has been restored.
Before you go, take a look over the door of the house at the corner.
Make the most of every angle. Once you've passed through the abbey, head into the cemetery for a greeny panorama of the area.
Head for Rue du Général Barbot and turn left. The descent is rapid. You can stop off at the farm at the bottom of the street. At the bottom, turn left and walk carefully along the Chaussée Brunehaut.

(5) At the crossroads before turning right, take a last look at the abbey.
Cross a small private wood via the D49.

(6) On your left, head for the Ecoivres War Cemetery. Then retrace your steps and turn left. On the opposite side of the road, you'll see the war memorial. Follow the road through Ecoivres to the church.
On your left, you'll often be able to hear and see the Scarpe river.

(7) Here you are at Église Saint-Joseph, where you can walk around the church and find a bench. Admire the magnificent bell tower.

Turn left at the bend. Follow the road (D49) and look out for white stone houses and a dovecote...
Return to the crossroads you passed on the outward journey.

(1) Turn left and follow the opposite route.
Then head for Acq along the D49, then left into Rue de la République. Shortly after entering Acq, you'll see the village cemetery on your right.

(8) Take the first road on the left. At the end, turn right into Rue de la Fraternité. On your left, you'll see the old water mill near the Scarpe river.

(9) Take the 1st right (past the glass containers) up Rue Pasteur.
At the top, turn left to reach the village square and church.
As you pass along the white stone wall of the café, look out for the Indian head engraving.

(10) Continue up Rue de la Liberté to return to the starting point(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 94 m - Intersection of Rue de la Liberté and Chemin d'Aubigny
  2. 1 : km 1.11 - alt. 86 m - Go straight ahead - Return left
  3. 2 : km 1.81 - alt. 87 m - Return to - Les pierres du diable
  4. 3 : km 3.36 - alt. 90 m - Left-hand path
  5. 4 : km 4.4 - alt. 135 m - Abbaye Mont Saaint-Eloi
  6. 5 : km 5.28 - alt. 101 m - At the crossroads, turn right
  7. 6 : km 5.85 - alt. 78 m - Cimeière militaire d'Ecoivre
  8. 7 : km 6.45 - alt. 74 m - Eglise Saint-Martin(Ecoivres)
  9. 8 : km 8.36 - alt. 89 m - Left towards - Scarpe (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 8.62 - alt. 84 m - Right-hand road
  11. 10 : km 8.81 - alt. 88 m - Village square - Eglise Saint Géry
  12. S/E : km 9.07 - alt. 94 m - Intersection of Rue de la Liberté and Chemin d'Aubigny

Practical information

Accessible to all, short climbs in Mont Saint-Éloi.
Possibility of a muddy section for less than 100m, shortly after the start.

In the nearby area

On the Pierres du diable site, you'll find a historical monuments panel and explanations of this megalithic site.
These 2 menhirs were classified as historic monuments in 1889.

Abbaye du Mont Saint-Éloi

If you like good wine or whisky, stop off at the caves des tours or enjoy a non-alcoholic refreshment at the village café (point of interest 12) at (10)

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Nadette et Francois
Nadette et Francois

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

On this sunny and cold Sunday in March, we enjoyed discovering the Arrage countryside and heritage. It's true that there are a few too many roads; driving along certain parts of this route is sometimes dangerous, even on a Sunday.

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Athesia
Athesia

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk
Beautiful views over the Arras countryside

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Alain fontaine
Alain fontaine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

nice walk too many roads not enough paths

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Olivier K
Olivier K

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely ride. Perhaps a little too much road but pleasant on a fine winter's day.

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christann
christann

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We have changed this route by taking the PR which turns left after the last house before the rue de la cavée, this grassy path up to the road then narrower on the ascent arrives directly at the old abbey, is pleasant and allows you to limit walking on tarmac. This path passes in front of the pumping station (for orientation). There is little difference in the length of the circuit. I therefore recommend this variant.

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jawaff
jawaff

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We were very pleased with the tour, which introduced us not only to the beautiful rolling countryside that glows in the sunshine, but also to a type of housing that we weren't really familiar with and to imposing monuments steeped in history. We met some of the locals and even saw a large herd of cows being herded in (something you don't often see these days in our region). The tour isn't too long for half a day, and we'd recommend it to anyone who likes to combine walking with exploring. Béatrice and Jacques

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Amaury_Laurie
Amaury_Laurie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Country and cultural, this is the second time we've done this pleasant and interesting walk, despite one or two unsafe stretches (it's fast along the main road).

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jacques et mireille
jacques et mireille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We really enjoyed the walk.
Pretty villages, a nice little gradient and above all the ruin on Mont St Eloi is very beautiful.

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jpakh
jpakh

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk with, admittedly, a bit too much road, but we were lucky: not much traffic.

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Djadja62
Djadja62

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

From MT ST Eloi to Ecoivres along the road is very dangerous.

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1311262498069
1311262498069

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Too much tarmac... although there are some lovely historic monuments to discover... white stone houses... but we're looking for more space in the middle of nature where we can let go of looking after our child or our dog.

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PDumas1
PDumas1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I regret that there are a few too many roads on the route.
Otherwise, the site is interesting, with lots of information panels along the way.

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Lelucio
Lelucio

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice route but too much roadside, not recommended with children.

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randonnee76
randonnee76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : N/A

Interesting from the point of view of curiosities (dolmens), landscapes and villages (pretty old houses), but not suitable for walking as there is far too much tarmac. More suitable for mountain biking.

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gregcar
gregcar

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

Tour of little interest.
Too many roads, including 2 fairly busy departmental roads with no shoulders.
The return journey after the abbey is even dangerous with children.
The sites visited are interesting but this tour is not a hike.

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