The Canche, the moorland and the Ravin des Cavernes

Car park at the town hall in Ligny-sur-Canche.

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, turn left (D111) and immediately right into Rue du Marais. Continue to a T-junction.

(1) Take the road on the left, cross the Canche and reach a roundabout. Turn left towards Frévent. Immediately find a small "road" on the right.

(2) Follow it until you reach a bridge over the old railway line.

(3) Just before the bridge, you will see a difficult staircase on the right and a small steep slope that will take you to the old railway line (GRP®). Follow it to the right. Cross Fortel-en-Artois to reach the D115.

(4) Cross it and continue straight ahead on the old railway line (orchard; in August 2025, you will be walking on apples). Follow it for 3 km until you reach a main road.

(5) Take it on the right and descend to reach a small road to follow on the right. Reach the entrance to Les Riez (sign for Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels).

(6) Take the very grassy path on the left and arrive at a gate. Once through the gate, descend towards the fence and immediately climb back up to find a well-marked path (above all, do not stay near the fence!). By staying almost level on this path (you are practically halfway up the slope), it is easier to cross the moor without any real difficulty. Pass two barriers before reaching the exit barrier after a short descent.

(7) Go through it and continue straight ahead through the grass to reach a wide path and the start of the Ravin des Cavernes. Head right. At the first fork, turn right and, at the second, continue straight ahead. The path is relatively easy to follow. You will reach a blue sign.

(8) Go straight ahead: the slope becomes steeper and you have to slalom between fallen tree trunks. It's a bit chaotic, but safe if you take your time. After a final steep climb, you will reach a wide path (there is a rope on the right, which is more for safety than anything else).

(9) Follow it to the right until you reach the D116. Follow it to the right until you reach the sign for the Boffles town centre.

(10) Take a grassy path on the left. It eventually slopes to the right before reaching a small road.

(11) Follow it to the left. Immediately, at the fork, stay on the left track. About 300 m further on, in a bend, find a path that continues the road.

(12) Take this path, pass in front of a shed and reach a crossroads.

(13) Take Rue des Champs opposite and follow it to a T-junction. Take the road on the left and continue to a junction with the D941 (just before the junction, there is a sandstone cross on the right).

(14) Turn right onto the D941 and, after about 100 metres, find a small road on the left. Follow it to a fork and continue on the left until you reach a T-junction.

(15) Turn right to join the D340. Cross it and take Rue du Bourg opposite for about 100 metres until you reach a small square on the right. Turn right onto the path (be careful, it's easy to miss!). Cross a branch of the Canche before arriving opposite the main course. Cross the small footbridge (GR® signposting) and continue to arrive near the church.

(16) Continue along the path that leaves the church on the right (GR®) and you will reach a T-junction. Turn right and, 50 metres further on, you will reach a fork.

(17) Keep right on the GR®. After 1 km, you will reach a fork at a pasture (on the right).

(18) Turn right onto a beautiful path and reach a track opposite a house. Follow this beautiful track on the right through the woods, rejoin the Canche and arrive near a large house. The track, now tarmac (but you can walk on the grass on the right), joins Rue du Marais at an intersection you passed on the way there.

(1) Follow it to the right and cross the Canche. Immediately after, go through the gate on the left. You will soon come to a fork. Turn left (if you find yourself facing a large metal footbridge, turn back, you have missed the fork!). Follow the Canche as closely as possible without crossing it (but there are numerous wooden footbridges allowing you to cross all the ditches).You will arrive in front of a wayside cross before reaching the D111. Follow it to the left, cross the Canche again and return to the town hall car park (S/E).

The path on the Rietz and the climb up the ravine are difficult. Wear good footwear and preferably take at least one walking stick.

One regret: access to the Riez is really poor.