La Creuse de Boyaval

Sains-les-Pernes, church car park.

(S/E) From the car park, go to Rue de l'Église and follow it a few metres to the left before taking a pretty little lane on the right that joins Rue Colette. Take another little lane opposite that leads to the D 70.

(1) Follow it a few metres to the right, before turning left onto a good path (chapel). Turn left onto the first path and look for a grassy track that branches off to the left. It turns right at a right angle and joins a wide path.

(2) Follow it a few metres to the right before turning left onto a grassy path. At the three-way junction, turn right and follow the D 70 roughly before joining it.

(3) Cross it and follow it on the left before turning right onto Rue de Pernes. At the crossroads, turn right onto a path to join Rue d'Heuchin.

(4) Follow it to the right for about 50 metres, then turn right onto Chemin d'Aire. Follow this long path for about 2 km until you reach a T-junction on the northern edge of Bois de Saint-Pol.

(5) Take the path opposite, which leads to the edge of the Bois de Nédonchel. Turn left, ignore the path on the left, pass under the power line and, at the three-way junction, turn left (Rue du Bois) to reach the D 77. Cross with caution.

(6) Follow it a few metres to the left, then turn right into Rue de Boyaval.
Ignore Impasse du Château, then turn right and continue until you reach a farm. Pass the farm and just after the next building, you will see a path leading off to the right.

(7) 2 options:

1. Take this path (which is the route marked on the map), which is often difficult, and join a small road (calvary). Follow it on the left and reach a fork.
2. If the path seems too difficult, continue along the road until you reach a T-junction. Turn right and follow the small road for about 500 metres until you reach a fork.

(8) At the fork:

Option 1, take the road on the left

Option 2: take the road on the right (this is the route). Continue straight ahead until you reach a wind turbine. Continue on the path opposite (wind turbine on your right). The path is sometimes difficult and continues for about 2 km.

(9) Don't miss the grassy path that descends to the left towards Fond Malon (it is at the end of a hedge and there is a solitary tree on the other side). This section of the path is quite rough and it is sometimes preferable to go through the field that runs alongside it on the right.
At the bottom, turn right onto the path (which can be very wet). About 250 m further on, don't miss the narrow path (actually a passage through the hedge) that leads to the Creuse de Boyaval. (see practical information)
Access can be difficult due to nettles (I cleared the path in mid-August 2025). You will reach a first water retention mound (easy passage on the right). The path is then easier, but there are still two mounds to cross (always on the right) before reaching the small Rue de Quévossart, which leads to the D 71.

(10) Follow it on the left until you reach the church in Boyaval. Cross the small square diagonally to the right and take the right path that climbs up opposite. It joins the Bois de la Bosse and runs alongside it before reaching the D 70.

(11) This is the least pleasant part of the route, as you have to follow the D 70 on the left for about 1 km. Cross the woods uphill to reach a crossroads at an elevation of 167 metres (just before the power line).

(12) Take the right path and reach a wide path that branches off to the right

(13) You have two options:

1. Take this road and join the D 77. Follow it to the right. After 100 metres, turn left into Rue Colette. After about 400 metres, take the road on the left (which you took on the way there in the opposite direction) to reach the car park of the church in Sains-les-Pernes (S/E).
2. This is nicer but more difficult (it's the route). Continue straight ahead, slightly downhill, until you reach a hollow in the middle of the woods (sometimes very damp).

(14) Then turn right onto Chemin Vert. Be careful, the first 150 metres are difficult with a small hill (often
cluttered, but very clean in mid-August 2025). After that, it's easier: my magic stick made short work of the nettles on 24 August 2025 and it should be relatively easy to get through. It can also be quite spongy. Reach the D 71.

(15) Follow it on the right and reach the D 77. Follow it on the right and turn into the first street on the left to reach the
car park at the church in Sains-les-Pernes (S/E).

Hiking boots are essential.
At least one walking stick, if only to knock back the nettles.
I also think it's safer to wear long trousers (I rediscovered gaiters a year ago and they're great!).

If access to the hollow seems too dangerous, continue straight ahead on the path to reach the D 71. Follow it on the left until you reach the church to rejoin the normal route.

Shortcut possible from the start: enter the cemetery and, passing to the left of the church, find a gate. Go through it to find a small road leading to Rue d'Heuchin. Follow it on the left to reach the point (4) (you save about 3 km).