The Canche from Montreuil

A bucolic hike along the pure, fish-filled waters of the Canche, starting at La Citadelle, whose Royal Castle dates back to the 13th century. You'll start by walking along the ramparts. You'll pass through the marshes and stroll along the banks of La Canche. You may come across fishermen or sportsmen training at the Canoe-Kayak club.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 52 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 53 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 49 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the Pont de la Citadelle in Montreuil-sur-Mer.

(S/E) Follow the path to the left; this is the Promenade des Remparts. You will soon reach the Tour de la Poterne.

(1) Take the path on the right which leads down to the foot of the ramparts. At the junction marked ‘Extra Muros’, continue straight ahead. Further on, at the junction with the Sentier du Bac, follow the path on the right until you reach the road. Turn right to reach La Grenouillère.

(2) Cross the bridge over La Canche and turn immediately right. Follow La Canche. Cross the railway line to reach Rue Saint-Gengoult.

(3) Cross it and continue along Allée du Franc Marais. Turn left to enter the woods and then reach the Pont Routier junction.

(4) Go under the bridge then turn left to follow the D901. At the edge of the woods, reach the junction with a track.

(5) Turn right onto it and follow it, passing a hunting shelter on the right. Cross the footbridge and continue straight on through the bamboo. At the next two junctions, keep following the path to the right to reach La Canche.

(6) Turn right and follow the river. Several hundred metres further on, take the stony path on the right.
Note: in dry weather, continue along La Canche to reach the stony path. Then continue along the banks of La Canche to reach the Pont Routier.
(4) Continue along La Canche until you reach Rue de Saint-Gengoult. Walk past the canoe and kayak club, then turn left, cross the bridge and the railway line to reach the station.

(7) Take the large staircase opposite the station. Cross the road, continue straight ahead and take the path on the left behind the building. Walk along the bottom of the rampart and take the opportunity to admire this high wall built of brick, sandstone, flint and white chalk. You will emerge onto Rue de la Tour-de-Justice.

(8) Immediately take the path leading uphill to the right and reach the junction with Avenue des Garennes.

(9) Turn right onto it. Walk past the motorhome site and the pétanque stadium. Cross Avenue du Général Leclerc via the pedestrian crossing on the left. Continue straight ahead and go down the path between two houses. You will reach the corner of the rampart.

(10) Go round it, then take the Promenade des Remparts to return to the original junction at the Tour de la Poterne.

(1) Turn right to reach the Pont de la Citadelle car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 49 m - Pont de la -  Citadelle de Montreuil-sur-Mer
  2. 1 : km 0.07 - alt. 43 m - Poterne Tower
  3. 2 : km 0.91 - alt. 6 m - La Grenouillère
  4. 3 : km 2.04 - alt. 7 m - Rue Saint-Gengoult - Nocq (canal, chenal et un cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Canche
  5. 4 : km 2.88 - alt. 7 m - Road bridge
  6. 5 : km 3.32 - alt. 6 m - The Marais
  7. 6 : km 5.34 - alt. 7 m - The - Canche (fleuve)
  8. 7 : km 8.02 - alt. 9 m - Gare de Montreuil sur Mer
  9. 8 : km 8.95 - alt. 25 m - Rue de la Tour-de-Justice
  10. 9 : km 9.27 - alt. 42 m - Avenue des Garennes
  11. 10 : km 9.74 - alt. 26 m - Rampart
  12. S/E : km 10.42 - alt. 49 m - Pont de la Citadelle

Notes

(S/E): free public toilets
Drinking fountain at the Citadel Bridge

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Lepontdav
Lepontdav

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but the paths are often difficult as they are very muddy, especially around the marsh. Take care on the way back, as part of the citadel wall has collapsed, making it difficult to get through. The path is supposedly closed, but there are no signs to indicate this. Nevertheless, it remains a beautiful route.

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User 27708750

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Signage missing at point 6, especially since the rest of the hike takes place through woods, causing some uncertainty

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User 15563913

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike.
But between points 5 and 6: nettles+ and mud, even though it hadn't rained recently. So you need walking sticks, long trousers, long sleeves and gloves, which is a shame when it's 28°C!
And at the end of the route: very dangerous: you have to climb over rocks, holding on to them with your hands.

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CHAJOLO
CHAJOLO

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
The description is fairly accurate: a long, somewhat tedious stretch of straight road through the marshes after the road bridge, then along the Canche river, which is quite nice.
The end is quite difficult as there is a ban on walking along the ramparts, which have collapsed over a 200-metre stretch. It's quite dangerous, especially as there could be further collapses... Very slippery...

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User 25060884

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
One section is particularly muddy, even in summer. It's the long stretch parallel to the stream...
In addition, due to the collapse of the walls, it is very difficult to finish the route. You have to use your arms to avoid falling.
Otherwise, the first part is really nice. It was a very pleasant experience.
Enjoy your hike!

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FLORIESTJES
FLORIESTJES

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

For a few kilometres... we found ourselves in a real jungle

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User 8439118

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk completed on 9 May 2025

Be careful at the end of the route, as the ramparts of Montreuil have collapsed.
otherwise R.A.S.
We were able to see the efforts being made to prevent future flooding.

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FLORIESTJES
FLORIESTJES

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk on a sunny day. Of course, Montreuil is always beautiful with its ramparts.

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Errol95
Errol95

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very muddy path between points 5 and 6, so avoid after heavy rain.
This is a very interesting route as it allows you to discover the Canche as you pass by Montreuil and its ramparts.

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patrouchkabol
patrouchkabol

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A great way to discover the Canche valley. The forest section was very muddy from the previous day's rain, but was still usable.

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vivierois
vivierois

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

we parked a long way from the start because of the flea market on the same day, so we walked the flea market and then the course.
the long line in the forest (full of horseflies) to make the loop is very very long but everything else is pleasant to see or walk. to do and enjoy visiting the town centre.

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6511novy
6511novy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent route, especially the return along the Canche and the foot of the fortifications.

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Pat80120
Pat80120

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Yuck, yuck, yuck!!!! Apart from the beginning and the end, there's nothing to see! Tarmac, cars, undergrowth full of horseflies and very dirty water. Very disappointed by this walk. The loop that passes under the bridge (the road) to bring us back to the same spot serves no purpose. That's the downside of this "hike". I gave it two stars for the rest... Thanks anyway for the excellent GPS tracking!

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frimousse59
frimousse59

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Relatively well signposted walk, lots of shady sections (interesting when it's sunny), variety of landscapes (ramparts, Canche banks, undergrowth).

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niroub
niroub

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb summer walk.

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