La Gorgue walks

Set off to explore the public gardens and the River Lys.

Discover the paths and small country roads starting from the hamlet of La Fosse. You will follow and cross the Lawe several times. You can admire magnificent willow trees, gigantic in the middle of their pastures. Several information panels on the history of the area line the route: Pont Riqueult, cemetery, park, village centre, along the Lawe, Pont de la Fosse. Take the time to read them.

This walk will introduce you to the countryside around Sailly and the tranquility of the river Lys.

A short route with very little tarmac, allowing you to (re)discover the old lime tree of Joncquoy as well as the orchards of La Cliqueterie, which are particularly beautiful in autumn and spring.

If you have time, you can visit the museum dedicated to the Battle of Fromelles, which took place in July 1916. Next, you will skirt the village of Aubers, but you will see some of its ponds, which make this village a tourist destination for fishing and camping. You will also encounter the very respectable Tilleul du Joncquoy, which was planted there in 1490.

A short, peaceful stroll along a grassy path beside the Canal d'Aire à la Bassée, taking you past the observation hut at the Mont-Bernanchon bird sanctuary. Stables and a short stretch through the forest. This walk is marked in yellow from start to finish.

A beautiful walk along the banks of the Canal d'Aire in La Bassée. An invitation to stroll through remarkable landscapes such as the Marais de l'Avoué and the Prévôté de Gorre. The British military cemetery in Gorre is a reminder of the Great War.

Short walk in the Flamingue woods and along the Canal de la Nieppe.

Humani Twins Go hike in the town of Nieppe. Nieppe, in the heart of Flanders, where you can see the ponds and Michel Grasset Park. This hike is accessible to everyone and is not difficult.

Hiking in the city and the countryside. In Nieppe, you can stroll around the ponds or along the Lys river. This route is accessible to everyone as there are no hills.

This tour will introduce you to three different settings: the Domaniale de Nieppe forest, the wooded countryside and the Lys river.

The forest edge, the canal banks and the agricultural plain give the trail its contrasting moods. Keep your eyes peeled for birds in the undergrowth, insects on leaves and trees, and the mushrooms that grow here in late spring.

A walk through ponds, canals and marshes, where you'll be surrounded by water in the commune of Beuvry.

Route in an urban area, mainly on paths. It allows you to discover and cross the Domaine de Bellenville, the Terril and the Labourse ponds, as well as the impressive Moulin du Ballon (or Moulin Buret).

This hike crosses Flanders on both sides of the French-Belgian border via tiny paths. And, to gain a little more height, you can try out an unusual means of transport that has been connecting Mont Noir and Mont Rouge since 1958!This hike is accessible to everyone, young and old alike, with a slight incline to warm up your calves!

A bucolic tour through the wild hyacinths and wild garlic blooming in late April and early May. Discover the Mont Noir and Flanders (Saint-Jans-Cappel, view of Mont des Cats and Bailleul) through undergrowth, forest paths and small roads.

Start and finish at the car park on the Grand-Place in Neuve Église, via the Ravensberg countryside in Bailleul. This route passes through muddy paths during winter, so it is advisable to do this hike in dry weather in summer.

Departure and arrival at the car park on the main square in Neuve Église. This route takes you through the countryside around Ploegsteert. The hike crosses a field and follows dirt paths through wet and muddy areas in winter. You can admire the Heuvelland countryside with its vineyards at the foot of the Kemmel and Monteberg mountains.

Start and finish at the car park on the main square in Neuve Église via the countryside around Ploegsteert This route crosses a field and is therefore quite muddy in winter Passes close to vineyards: there are two vineyard plots on this route

Pass Notre Dame Church, follow Bassevillestraat, cross Zuidlindestraat and take Naaikorfstraat. Pass the Cense de l'Alouette vineyard. At the end, turn right onto Rue du Rossignol, then right onto Leeuwerkstraat and continue straight ahead onto the farm track, which can be quite muddy in winter.

Start and finish at the car park of Wulvergem Church or the main square in Neuve Église. This walk mostly follows paved paths and is therefore ideal for winter.

A pleasant route in Belgium. This is the Sentier des Gueux (Geuzen walking route), the end of which I have modified. It uses the same signposting as the Mont Kemmel and Mont Rouge routes. It is an easy walk along small roads, wide farm tracks and some very pleasant paths (including a "paved slanting street"!).

Start and finish at the car park on the main square in Neuve Église via the countryside around Dranouter. This route is mostly on paved paths and is therefore ideal for a mud-free walk in winter.

Start and finish at the car park on the main square in Neuve Église. It is also possible to start from Wulvergem. Passing through Rosenberg, along dirt tracks and through fields that are wet and muddy in winter. The walk takes place near the Cense de l'Alouette vineyard. In the shadow of Mont Kemmel, it overlooks the Douve to the north and the Lys valley to the south.

Departure and arrival at the car park on the main square in Neuve Eglise via the countryside of Ploegsteert and Wulvergem Passing close to the Cense de l'Alouette vineyard. In the shadow of Mount Kemmel, the view overlooks the Douve to the north and the Lys valley to the south. The vineyard was planted in 2018 Passing close to the church of Wulvergem.

Start and finish at the car park on the main square in Neuve Église via the countryside of Ploegsteert and Nieppe The hike crosses a field and follows dirt paths through wet and muddy areas in winter. Pass through the Romarin district, which straddles France, Flanders and Belgium

Start and finish at the car park near Bizet Church via the Ornithological Nature Reserve and Rue de la Howarderie in Ploegsteert. This route crosses a muddy farm track during winter.

Departure and arrival at the car park of the church in Dranouter via Ravensberg in the Bailleul countryside. Pass by the Wijngaard Koudekot vineyard, which produces white, rosé and red wines.

Start and finish at the car park of the church in Dranouter via Monteberg, Lettenberg and Kemmelberg. Pass along the Monteberg vineyard and through the woods of the Kemmelberg provincial estate.

A patchwork of different routes in the area for a long hike that will delight your thighs.As for the mountains, like the Musketeers, there are four (or even five, I forgot the Baneberg near the mill), as you climb Mont Noir twice.In short, a nice climb in the Flat Country on numerous paths and a few small, quiet roads. It's a demanding route, because even between the mountains, there are plenty of small hills. But, as is often the case in Belgium, the trails are well maintained and constantly being improved.

Short route on beautiful, well-maintained Belgian trails with good signage.Simple signposting: there are posts with numbers and an arrow indicating the number you want to go to (not easy to explain but obvious when you're there). In wet weather, some areas may be soggy or even very muddy.

Departure and arrival at the car park of the church in Dranouter via Monteberg, the countryside of Kemmel and Loker. Passing by the vineyards of Monteberg, Kemmel and Loker. Passing by the French ossuary of the 1914-1918 war in Kemmel.

A long stroll across flat land with a nice climb at the end. Only two slightly difficult sections, so it's an ideal walk in autumn and winter. The walk starts on a small road with few houses and therefore little traffic, before crossing Le Bizet via Les Voyettes. The route then continues along the canal and the beautiful Pont Bayart bridge, which is reserved for non-motorised traffic, then past a few ponds with facilities for welcoming storks, before ending at the Bois de Ploegsteert.

Departure from the car park on the main square in Ploegsteert town centre via the countryside of Neuve-Église. Pass by the farms. Dirt track to the border with Neuve-Église. Then a paved path and return via a dirt track. Pass through the Bois de la Hutte at the end of the route.

A circular route through countryside and woodland, taking in places steeped in history.After a somewhat tedious first kilometre, the walk follows a series of paths and quiet country lanes to reach Wulvergem.After a lovely circular route through Wulvergem, you’ll find a wild path at a place called Rosenberg before crossing the Bois de la Hutte. A short stretch then along the Ghent-Wevelgem roads to reach the Christmas Truce Cemetery.You then cross the Ploegsteert Wood to reach the Memorial Museum.

Start and finish at the car park on the main square in Ploegsteert via the Plugstreet Interpretation Centre, the British memorial, the Bois de la Hutte and the countryside around Neuve Église The walk crosses a field of crops and muddy, slippery dirt tracks, especially in winter.

Departure from the car park on the main square in Ploegsteert via the countryside of Neuve Eglise, Wulvergem, the Plugstreet Interpretation Centre and the British Memorial in Ploegsteert. Pass through dirt roads that cross agricultural areas.

Start and finish at the car park on the main square in Ploegsteert via the Plugstreet Interpretation Centre, the British Memorial, Bois de la Hutte and the countryside around Neuve-Eglise. The route crosses a cornfield.

Start and finish at the car park on the main square in Ploegsteert via the countryside of Neuve Église and Rosenberg, the Bois de la Hutte and the Plugstreet interpretation centre This walk crosses dirt tracks and farmland, some of which are muddy during the winter.

Hike starting and ending at the Ploegsteert sports hall

Belle randonnée sans difficulté. Elle vous fait découvrir des chartreuses dans la campagne et les bois environnants.

The two rivers trail from Fouquières-lès-Béthune to Fouquereuil takes you along the Blanche to the Annezin marsh, then along the Lawe before walking above the water under a railway line! This route will take you to the Fouquereuil storage slag heap (the Terril de la Cuisse Maraune) where you can enjoy a superb 360° panorama from the top. The return journey is through the fields.

This beautiful hike, starting from Labourse, will take you through Leo Lagrange Park. It follows a short loop in Verquigneul before reaching Loisne Park and the slag heap, all on good paths and trails.

Start and finish at the car park in front of the British memorial in Ploegsteert. It is also possible to start from the main square in Ploegsteert. The route crosses a field, so check the weather before setting off. Some paths are quite muddy in winter.

Departure and arrival at the car park in front of the British memorial in Ploegsteert via the historic site of the Christmas Truce memorial and the Rosenberg. Pass by Wallonia's only hop farm, called Forrest Farm.

Long route through the urban area. Follow the Lawe and then the Brette to reach the Miner's Monument in Bruay. To return, head to Cité 4 in Bruay before reaching the Bois des Dames by following the PR® du Bois des Dames. Crossing the woods takes you to the slag heap before leading you to Emmaüs. From there, the return journey is via the Bois de la Sablière. There are many paths and "bus lanes" for a route that is passable even in wet weather.

These three mountains watch over Bailleul, the capital of Flanders between Lille and Dunkirk: Mont des Cats, Mont de Boeschepe and Mont Noir, plus Mont Kokereel. From the top of these small hills (180m), you can enjoy views over the surrounding area. The route offers several points of interest, including Marguerite Yourcenar's house on Mont Noir, the Boschepe mill in the village of the same name, and Mont des Cats and its abbey of Cistercian monks, founded in 1826.

Bien sûr, ce ne sont pas les plus hauts terrils de la région, mais les deux terrils de Verquin sont restés très sauvages et, sur celui de Labourse, il y a assez d'espace et de sentiers pour varier l'itinéraire. Ce parcours en 8 peut facilement être scindé en deux boucles de 6 à 8 km. C'est un parcours assez compliqué que j'ai détaillé au maximum. Néanmoins, je recommande d'utiliser l'application surtout sur les terrils : celui de Labourse possède un grand nombre de sentiers et on peut facilement modifier le parcours.

A short country walk in the middle of the Béthune-Nœux-Bruay conurbation.

Another way to approach Kemmel, this time from the east. There are some sections in common with the first hike, but the paths are taken in the opposite direction, which allows you to enjoy them in a different way. And we can thank our Belgian neighbours for the quantity and quality of the trails they offer us.

This walk will take you around the Mont des Cats along paths and back roads. It will reveal its viewpoints, its chapels, its heritage and its gentle slopes.

Departure and arrival at the car park of Loker church via the Westouter countryside. Crossing the Hellegatbos woods with a passage through the Hell Hole of Mont Rouge. Passing near the Baneberg mill in Westouter. Crossing the Douve valley, which forms the border between France and Belgium. Passing into France through the Mont Noir countryside in Saint Jans Cappel and the vineyards of Dranouter.

This is a more family-friendly version of my two other hikes on Mont Rouge. It's short but with a good elevation gain. Half of the route is in the countryside and half in the woods, with a minimum of tarmac. Enough to keep you busy for half a day while getting plenty of fresh air!

Departure and arrival at the car park of Loker Church via the countryside of Saint Jans Cappel and the Marguerite Yourcenar Nature Reserve at Mont Noir. Pass through the Douve Valley, which forms the border with France, and along Mont Rouge.

Departure and arrival at the car park of Wulvergem Church. Passing through Rosenberg, along dirt tracks and through fields that are wet and muddy in winter and close to the Cense de l'Alouette vineyard In the shadow of Mont Kemmel, the view overlooks the Douve to the north and the Lys valley to the south. The vineyard was planted in 2018.

Departure from the car park of Wulvergem church. Pass through Rosenberg, along dirt tracks and through fields that are wet and muddy in winter. Pass close to the Cense de l'Alouette vineyard, which was planted in 2018.In the shadow of Mont Kemmel, enjoy views of the Douve to the north and the Lys valley to the south.

Walk around the Mont des Cats monastery. Peaceful, natural surroundings and panoramic views guaranteed.

Return to Mont Rouge, passing through the Bois du Mont Noir. Enjoy a beautiful stroll through the woods, ending with a superb (and challenging) staircase. Be careful, as soon as it gets a little wet, the paths become very difficult and you can sometimes find yourself with mud up to your mid-shoes. This was the case this morning (19 November 2021).

Up to the entrance to the Bois des Dames, the route is much the same as this hike (there aren't many options in the Bois de Roquelaure), but I took other paths to cross the Bois des Dames. The end of the route passes behind Emmaüs before reaching the Chartreuse des Dames and joining the Bois des Sablières.It's long, winding, almost entirely unpaved and with a significant elevation gain. Very difficult in wet weather.The use ofthe Visorando app is strongly recommended.

When the weather becomes a little wetter, you can still hike on Mont Rouge. This route alternates between small roads (with little traffic), paths and forest trails, which makes it a little less strenuous. It is a winding route, so the app is very useful. There is quite a bit of elevation gain and, in wet weather, the trails are quite slippery. The walk is therefore quite tiring (equivalent to a 25 km route).

This is a route on which I had fun concentrating as many difficulties as possible (more than 400 m of elevation gain). This gives it a somewhat labyrinthine feel, but it allows you to avoid tarmac as much as possible. So you walk from peak to peak on well-marked, clean paths. The use ofthe Visorando app is highly recommended, even though the numbering system is very practical.

A long, slightly winding route to enjoy the beautiful Belgian trails, which are well maintained and clearly marked. Simple signposting: there are posts with numbers and an arrow indicating the number you want to go to (not easy to explain but obvious when you're there). Difficult route, even very difficult in wet weather.

This is an easy hike despite a section on Mont Kemmel with steep slopes and steps. The rest is pleasant, with sections through vineyards and views of the surrounding countryside.

Cette randonnée à partir de la base nautique et de loisirs vous fera passer par le Parc Alexis et les marais à la découverte de la biodiversité sur la commune de Wingles. De nombreux oiseaux sont à découvrir. La trace gpx peut s'avérer utile au vu des nombreux chemins présents.

This hike, starting from the Leisure Centre on Rue du Clair, will take you past the surrounding ponds and woods with their rich biodiversity and a few climbs, not to mention the Flot de Wingles.

A patchwork of the various marked trails in the area for a long stroll, ending at the Bois de Roquelaure. It is a highly urbanised area, but you still feel as though you are in the countryside.

Departure and arrival at the car park of the Irish Tower in the Peace Park in Messines. The Irish Island Peace Park refers to the Battle of the Mines in 1917. At that time, Irish Catholic and Protestant soldiers fought side by side. Young Irish people helped build the tower as a sign of reconciliation. This site offers a magnificent view of the surrounding hilly landscape.

Long route through the Bois de Roquelaure, the Poulouches d'Allouagne and the Vallée Carreau d'Auchel. Return via Lozinghem and Mont Éventé before finishing at the Terril de Lapugnoy and a beautiful path on the edge of the Bois des Dames.Relatively little tarmac (but we are still in an urban area), but in wet weather, some paths can become difficult.

This is a long walk in an urban area, but 90% of it is on paths. Start at the old bridge and its steps, then follow the Biette (a beautiful footbridge restored last year) to Ourton. Next, climb back up (unfortunately on the road) before descending to Beugin. Follow another bridge to the Divion Viaduct. There, a slightly tricky descent takes you back to the banks of the Lawe. Follow it first on the left bank, then on the right bank before following the bus route. And to finish in style, the Bois de la Volville, with a nice climb at the end.

This circular hike offers a superb hike that combines mining history, nature and redevelopment. You will take an old mining railway line (a former railway line used to transport coal) that crosses the Bois des Dames to take you to the Chartreuse des Dames in Gosnay.

This easy hike from Meurchin takes you through towns, marshes and plains. It can be done in all seasons so you can see the biodiversity throughout the year, all on good paths.

Departure and arrival at the car park in front of the church in Wijtschate. Pass through the countryside of Houthem and Hollebeke, along the Kortrijk-Poperinge railway line and along the southern flank of the Palingbeek estate.

Departure and arrival near the Church of Saint-Médard in Wijtschate via the Spanbroekmolen Krater. This is part of the Crater and Mine route, which passes through key battle sites from the 1914-1918 war, including the historic site of the British military cemetery and its crater: Spanbroekmolen. The route also passes close to the British military cemeteries of Lone Tree, Irish House and Wijtschaete Cemetery.

Departure and arrival at the car park near the Church of Saint Médard in Wijtschate via the Wulvergem countryside and the Kampagnebos woods This hike partly follows the route called Craters and Mines