The Haute Deûle, between canals and marshes

To get to the start, head towards the centre of Pont-à-Vendin. The car park is located near the Town Hall, on Rue Émile Demaret (GPS coordinates: 50°28'27.1"N 2°53'05.3"E).

(S/E) Head towards Rue du Général de Gaulle, head west, cross the bridge over the Deûle and turn right to join the towpath. Stay on the towpath heading north-east for 3.4 km.

(1) At La Briquette, turn left onto the small path running alongside a pond (caution! There are no signs for the^GRP®® Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin route. Only a sign saying ‘no dumping’ can help you find your way). You will enter the Marcel Caribou Nature and Leisure Park. There are numerous dedicated mountain bike trails and it is difficult to describe a specific route. Enjoy these lovely trails and head back to the Leisure Centre on Rue du Clair.

(2) On Rue du Clair, turn right and ride for about 300 m before turning left onto the small uphill path located 20 m past the car park. At the top of the climb, continue left towards the south-west. Stay on this well-marked path until you reach Rue Jules Ferry, then turn right heading north-east. About a hundred metres further on, at the pedestrian crossing, turn right onto the stony path that heads across the fields towards the north-east. You are now on a^{PR®® trail}; follow the yellow markings towards Billy-Berceau and Bauvin.

(3) At the junction with Rue Maurice Ravel, turn right, then left at the T-junction to take the path marked by a ‘No Entry’ sign. Follow the yellow markings along Chemin de Wingles until you reach^{the first} houses, then turn right in front of No. 97 to follow Chemin de Minemmes (blocked by barriers) and head north-east. Continue to the small sewage treatment plant, then turn right at the junction with Rue Digue Gustin. Stay on Rue Digue Gustin for about 600 m.

(4) At the^PR®® signpost (yellow markings), turn left onto the path running alongside a stream. Cross Les Annelles, then about 100 metres before the D163, turn right and then left onto Chemin du Halage Poudrerie, which runs alongside the Canal de l’Aire. Follow the canal, exit before the^second bridge and you’ll find yourself on Rue du 8 Mai.

(5) Head right, cross the bridge over the canal, then turn right at a hairpin bend 150 m further on to join, heading south-east, the Canal de l’Aire towpath, which is then extended by that of the Canal de la Deûle. Stay on the towpath, following the Canal de la Deûle for 6.5 km until you reach the drinking water plant at a place called Les Ansereuilles, just after passing under some high-voltage power lines and a substation.

(6) Turn left onto Rue des Ansereuilles, cycle to the last houses and take the small path between the last two houses (caution! This path is not signposted and is barely visible).
You will cross the Parc des Ansereuilles. After crossing the footbridge on stilts, continue to the right heading north. Cross the Marais de Lattre until you reach Rue de la Passerelle.

(7) Turn right; at the roundabout, take the first exit and continue along Rue Roger Salengro until you reach the sign marking the exit from the village of Wavrin. Opposite the sign, continue along the farm track between two hedges, which heads across the fields towards the north-east (please note: depending on the season, the grass may be tall enough to obscure the path). At the end of the farm track, turn left at a 90° angle and rejoin Rue Grande Gare du Marais. Turn right onto Chemin de la Chasse Lagache and continue to Rue Georges Clémenceau, where you turn right and then immediately left towards the Louveteaux kennels. Pass under the high-voltage power line and then in front of the kennels to continue to the T-junction with Chemin de Beussignies.

(8) Turn right heading east. Cycle to the sewage treatment plant and turn right. Head east until you see the Canal de la Deûle at Maison Monblond (Relais Nature du Parc de la Deûle in Santes). Turn left to join the D63.

(9) Turn right to cross the bridge over the Canal de la Deûle, then continue to the right to rejoin the towpath. Continue in a south-westerly direction for 15 km.

(10) Pass in turn in front of Parc Mosaïc.

(11) The Canal de Seclin.

(12) The Don lock.

(13) La Louvière Park.

(14) The Meurchin Marsh and its ponds.

(15) The Pont-à-Vendin water station.
Continue for 1.2 km and leave the towpath just after passing under the railway bridge. Return to Rue du Général de Gaulle and head for the car park (S/E).

To view the car park and starting point: click here

There are plenty of places to picnic along the route.
Take care to follow the correct direction on the towpaths.

The Marcel Caribou Nature and Leisure Park (2).
Les Ansereuilles Park (4).
Mosaïc Park (10).
Don Lock (12).
La Louvière Park (13).
The Meurchin Marsh and its ponds (14).
The Pont-à-Vendin Pumping Station (15).