Upper Nave Valley

Park near Bourecq Town Hall, Rue de l’Église.

(S/E) Set off with the church on your right to reach Rue Principale. Follow it a few metres to the left and you will soon find a small path on the right that runs alongside the Nave. Further on, cross it via an unprotected footbridge and reach a fork. Turn left to reach a wide path. Follow it to the left until you reach a junction: turn right into Rue d'Ecquedecques to reach a Y-junction.

(1) Turn left onto a wide path. At the next fork, turn right and continue straight on until you reach the D185.

(2) Cross it and head straight ahead. The tarmac soon ends and a good track leads to a T-junction.

(3) Turn right and reach a road. Follow it to the left and go under the motorway to quickly reach another junction.

(4) Take the path on the right. At the first T-junction, turn left. At the second, turn right.
Follow this uphill path to reach a new Y-junction.

(5) Take a sharp left. Follow the edge of a wood, then turn 90° to the right and follow the fields. At the T-junction, turn right. You will reach a wider path; take it straight ahead to reach Faucquenhem and the junction with the D185.

(6) Follow it to the left, leaving the Chemin d'Auchel on your left, and turn left into Rue du Mont. Join the GRP® de la Lys and follow it to the left for about 200 m. At the fork, take the left-hand path. Continue straight on, ignoring a turn-off to the left. After a slight climb along a somewhat difficult path (which is regularly ploughed), you will eventually reach a crossroads. Turn right. About 300 m further on, you will find a flight of steps on the right.

(7)Please note: as of late February 2025, this path is inaccessible. Therefore, turn left to reach Rue de Ferfay. Follow it for about fifty metres to the right, then turn left to rejoin the route between (8) and (9).
Take this path and, via a pleasant track, reach a wider path at the entrance to Ames. Follow it straight ahead. A little further on, continue straight ahead to arrive in front of the Nave. Walk alongside it, then cross it (footbridge) to reach Rue d’Auchel.

(8) Follow it to the left. Shortly afterwards, as you come out of the bend, turn right into Rue Principale along the Nave. Then take the first street on the right and, about a hundred metres further on, turn left towards the church. Go round it on the left and join Rue du Cimetière. Follow it for a few metres.

(9) Take a path on the left (chapel). Follow this very beautiful uphill path which eventually joins a small road. Follow it straight ahead and join the Chaussée Brunehaut. Cross with great care to take the path opposite. Reach a crossroads, where there is a small chapel. Then turn right and reach another crossroads. Turn right towards the hangars and rejoin the Chaussée Brunehaut. Cross it again with great care and take the path opposite. You will soon reach a fork.

(10) Turn left. At the junction, turn left. 500 m further on, turn left again and reach the D185 at a place called Les Corons de Lières. Follow it for a few metres to the right.

(11) Turn left onto a good path, then veer right and walk gently downhill to pass under the motorway. Continue for a further 300 m or so.

(12) Take the path on the right, cross the Ravin de la Méroise, then climb a short, steep slope (sometimes a bit slippery) and continue straight on to the D91. Follow it to the right, passing under the motorway.

(13) Immediately turn left onto a path. Cross the Nave via a metal footbridge, ignore the turn-offs to the right and turn left onto the first path. You will very quickly reach a small road; follow it straight ahead. Go over the motorway and, shortly after the Church of Saint-Martin de Lespesses, reach the D185E1. Follow it to the right.

(14) Shortly afterwards, turn left onto a well-maintained footpath, following a small stream; there is a sign and hiking arrows at the start. At the end, continue straight on to reach a small road. Follow it for a few metres to the right, then take a wide path to the right. You will soon reach the Nave; follow it along the left bank.

(15) At the fork, turn right, still following the river. You will reach the main street of Bourecq. Cross it and take the street opposite. About twenty metres further on, don’t miss the Sentier de l’Église, which branches off to the right and leads back to the car park at Bourecq Town Hall (S/E).

A fairly easy route, but there are many paths. Walking shoes are therefore recommended.
The first few metres of the walk are along the riverbank and there is no parapet. As the river flows 2 metres below, please take care.