La Libaude and the Espace Chico Mendes from Marquillies

Starting point: Marquillies, Place de la Mairie on Rue Léon Bocquet.

(S/E) Head south along Rue Léon Bocquet. At the junction, carry straight on and take the street on the right (Rue de la Bourse).

(1) Take this street and, at the end of the sports ground, take the path opposite which leads to Chemin du Cheminet.

(2) Take Chemin du Cheminet on the left until you reach a Fork in the road (water pumping station), then carry on straight ahead. Cross Route de Willy straight ahead and follow the path to Rue de la Ferme des Mottes.

(3) Turn right and follow Rue de la Ferme des Mottes until you reach Rue du Moisnil (D145). Cross it at the pedestrian crossing and carry on straight ahead along Rue de Franquise.

(4) Cross the level crossing and continue for approximately 800 m.

(5) Turn right onto Chemin de la Marquise and continue towards Chemin des Loups (tarmac road). Follow this path to the right until you reach the wayside shrine at the entrance to Hantay.

(6) At the wayside shrine, turn left onto the Voie des Morts, a path that runs alongside the gardens at the back of the houses.

(7) At the end of the path, turn right onto Rue Jean Jaurès, then immediately left onto Rue Rouget de L’isle. When you reach Rue Mirabeau, first turn right then left to follow the street, which turns into a country lane; continue to the end.

(8) Turn right and continue straight ahead along the path until you reach the Canal d’Aire.

(9) Follow the canal to the left until you reach the bridge. Continue left onto Rue du Lieutenant Folliet, then turn right onto Chemin de l’Abbaye until you reach the entrance to the Espace Chico Mendes.

(10) Enter the Espace Chico Mendes and follow the path to the left. Walk round the Espace Chico Mendes in a clockwise direction until 100 metres past the pond (information board).

(11) Turn left onto a narrow path which leads to the towpath through the edge of the woodland. Follow this to the left until you reach the gate (near the entrance to the boat landing stage).

(12) Leave the towpath on the left and follow the country lane to the woods. At the T-junction, follow the path to the right. Walk past Ferme Masure until you reach a Fork in the road.

(13) Turn left until you approach the railway line. Just before it, turn left and follow the PR®-marked path. You’ll reach a junction.

(14) Turn left, staying on the PR® path. The very grassy path bends right twice and soon reaches a Fork in the road. Turn left and, 100 metres further on, you’ll find a very clear PR® signpost.

(15) Leave the track and head straight ahead along the edge of the field. At the end, cross the stream via a footbridge and you’ll find another PR® signpost. Continue straight ahead across the field (a clear path in September 2026). 100 metres further on, turn left and then immediately right to join the D163E2.

(16) Cross the road and take the^{third street} on the right (Rue Émile Bittebière) to reach Rue Jean Jaurès.

(17) Follow it to the right until you reach the D163E2 (M12). Follow it to the left (a pleasant track on the right) until you reach a left-hand bend.

(18) Then leave the main road and take the path opposite. Further on, it turns left towards the railway line. Cross the railway at the level crossing and turn right immediately to follow the path alongside a woodland until you reach a T-junction.

(19) Take the cobbled section on the left and enter Hocron. In the hamlet, don’t miss the path branching off to the right (well signposted in September 2026).

(20) Follow this path for 700 metres until you come to a path that winds sharply to the left.

(21) Follow this path to the road. Follow the road to the left until you reach a junction.

(22) Take the path on the right, cross the D145 (M145) and, continuing straight on, head towards Wicres (Rue du Général Leclerc).

(23) Follow the street to the left until you reach the primary school.

(24) Take the M141d on the left and continue until you reach a T-junction.

(25) Turn left onto the M22 and, 250 metres further on, you’ll find Chemin du Cheminet on the right. Follow it to immediately reach the junction you passed at the start of the walk.

(2) Turn left, heading in the opposite direction to the outward journey, to reach the sports ground. Then turn left to join Rue Léon Bocquet. Follow it to the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Good footwear is essential, especially as the rain is set to return.