La basse vallée du Crinchon à Wailly

Departure from Wailly cemetery.

(S/E) Take the path that heads north-east to the right of the cemetery. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead on the grassy path and you will reach a road at a T-junction. Follow the small road on the left and cross over the Rocade Sud.

(1) Immediately turn right to follow it. About 500 m further on, the path branches off to the left and eventually joins a T-junction. Turn left and you will reach a main road at Les Tilleuls.

(2) Cross it very carefully and take the path that branches off to the right and runs alongside it.
Shortly after passing a business, turn left and continue until you reach the railway line. Cross it and follow the path on the right. Join the D60 and follow it to the left until you reach the roundabout.

(3) Cross just before the roundabout and take the path on the right (gateway). About 300 m further on, take the path on the left to the edge of the woods at a crossroads.

(4) Take the path opposite (barrier) through the undergrowth. Pass a crossroads and arrive near the Citadel.

(5) Turn right with GRP®. The path runs alongside the Citadel (not very visible) and reaches a T-junction.

(6) Take the path on the right. Reach a small road and follow it for about ten metres straight ahead.

(7) Turn left to cross (footbridge) a small stream. Immediately turn right to follow the stream and reach Rue Lucien Distinghin. Follow it to the right. At the fork, take the street on the left and cross the railway line to reach Rue du Belloy. Follow it a few metres to the left.

(8) Then take the path on the right that leads to the allotments. At the first crossroads, take the path on the left to reach the Crinchon. Now follow the well-marked GRP® de l'Artois trail on the right to Wailly, following the Crinchon, until you reach a roundabout.

(9) Cross over to the right bank (you are now in Achicourt). Stay along the river and reach the D60 in Agny.

(10) Cross the Crinchon to reach the left bank. Stay on this bank until you reach a house.

(11) Then cross back to the right bank and reach a small, inconspicuous footbridge.

(12) Do not use it. Leave the GRP® and stay on the right bank. Pass under the Rocade Sud. Further on, you will reach a new footbridge.

(13) Take it and follow the Crinchon on the left along a narrow, tricky path. You will reach Rue du Faubourg in Wailly.

(14) Follow it on the left. A little further on, turn left onto Rue des Alouettes and reach a crossroads.

(15) Turn right. Shortly after a playground on the left, you will reach a crossroads at a large calvary.

(16) Continue straight ahead on the path. Keep going in the same direction, ignoring the paths on the right and left, until you reach a T-junction and the D 34 near Rivière in a place called Le Blanc-Mont.

(17) Follow it to the right until the next crossroads and turn left. About 300 m further on, turn right and you will reach a crossroads.

(18) Take the grassy path directly opposite and you will reach Rue d'Arras. Follow it for a few metres to the right, then turn left. Stay on the road (or better still, climb up onto the grassy verge on the right) and you will arrive near the castle.

(19) Take the path on the right (Rue du Château) which runs alongside the castle grounds. You will arrive at a house (with a black façade) at a T-junction.

(20) Suggested small circular dotted with information panels that will help you discover Rivière and Le Crinchon.
Just before the house, take the path on the left that leads down to the river. Cross over and a little further on you will reach Rue du Fermont. Follow it to the left. About 400 m further on, walk past a beautiful farmhouse. Look out for a path starting on the right (to the right of a wire gate, it is difficult to see).

(21) Between the buildings, don't miss the narrow path that branches off to the right and climbs up to Rue de Grosville. Follow it to the left. Ignore the street on the left and continue for 100 metres.

(22) Turn left onto a path that descends towards the river. Cross it, then turn left. You will reach Rue du Crinchon. Take the path opposite (slightly to the right) and return to the intersection you passed earlier.

(19) Turn opposite and, as on the way there, follow Rue du Château and return to the other intersection you passed earlier.

(20) Continue straight ahead, first on a road, then on a path until you reach a small road. Follow it to the left and you will reach a T-junction at a road.

(23) Turn right and walk a few metres, then take the path going up on the left. At the fork, take either the right or left path and walk up to the water tower. Continue straight ahead for a few more metres.

(24) Then take the path on the right. Keep going in the same direction until you reach the cemetery (S/E) in Wailly.

There is little elevation gain, but it is a fairly long walk.
Good equipment required.