The Saint-Quentin Canal, Bois Chenu and the banks of the Scheldt

Departure from the car park at the Cantimpré river port, Place Marcelin Berthelot in Cambrai.
The route follows the Saint-Quentin canal dyke, takes the Chemin Noir and makes a circular loop through the Bois Chenu, then returns to the starting point along the canal and the Scheldt.
If you enjoy peace and quiet, avoid doing this route at the weekend: there are lots of sports enthusiasts in the morning and lots of families out walking in the afternoon when the weather is fine.

Details

941025
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 49 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 45 m

Description of the walk

Park in the Cantimpré river port car park.

(S/E) Head towards the river port harbour master's office.
Go around it on the right and take the metal footbridge (former railway line) to cross the canal.

(1) When you leave the footbridge, turn left, go down the towpath via the access in the railing, turn left and follow the canal. Continue to the Allée Fénelon crossroads.

(2) Continue along the Saint-Quentin canal. You will reach Rue Maurice Camier.

(3) Turn left and follow it for about 150 metres to reach the Chemin Noir crossroads.

(4) Turn right onto this path and continue to the footbridge over the Scheldt.

(5) Cross it and enter Bois Chenu. Walk around the woods in either direction. Return to this crossroads.

(5) Turn left and head towards the canal. Follow it, turning right to reach the crossroads with Rue Maurice Camier.

(3) Turn right again and continue until you reach Rue François Mitterrand.

(6) Turn left onto this street, which is on the Scheldt dyke. Follow the Scheldt to reach Allée Fénelon. Turn left onto this street to reach the Saint-Quentin canal again.

(2) Turn right and follow the towpath until you reach the first crossroads.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the path until you reach the Cantimpré lock.

(7) Turn left onto the bridge over the canal to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 47 m - Cantimpré port car park
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 47 m - Footbridge - Canal de Saint-Quentin
  3. 2 : km 0.64 - alt. 46 m - Fénelon crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.79 - alt. 47 m - Rue Maurice Camier
  5. 4 : km 1.93 - alt. 46 m - Chemin Noir crossroads
  6. 5 : km 2.83 - alt. 48 m - Footbridge over the Scheldt
  7. 6 : km 6.88 - alt. 47 m - Dike - Escaut (fleuve)
  8. 7 : km 8.88 - alt. 45 m - Cantimpré lock
  9. S/E : km 9.02 - alt. 47 m - Cantimpré port car park

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Rania
Rania

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Short hike that is very easy to follow and do

Machine-translated

michel_fontaine
michel_fontaine

Hello,
Indeed, there are often a lot of people along the canal at weekends, especially when the weather is nice:
- in the morning: joggers, cyclists, mountain bikers;
- in the afternoon: families out for a stroll, groups of friends, etc.
In the summer, it's best to do this route during the week if you want some peace and quiet... provided you can! I've just added this to the route description.
Best regards,
Michel Fontaine

Machine-translated

j.fidji
j.fidji

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We left at 1:30 p.m. and there was no one there, but on the way back, an hour and a half to two hours later, we saw lots of people along the canal.

Machine-translated

dd 59
dd 59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very clean very

Machine-translated

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