The Bours Keep

A walk starting from the Bours Keep that takes you up onto the plateau with some remarkable views. You’ll then head back down towards the village and finish with a short stroll through the narrow streets of Bours.

Details

3133653
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.17 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 266 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 259 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 581 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 279 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Bours (62550)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 50.454051° / E 2.411303°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2305E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the Bours keep.

(S/E) Head north-west along Rue de l’Église, pass the cemetery and, about fifty metres further on, take the grassy path on the right. Follow it to the junction of the D89 and Rue des Fontinettes.

(1) Turn right onto this street, walk past the ‘Source aux Malades’ (information sign) and continue to the crossroads.

(2) Turn left towards the north-north-east until you reach the next junction, then turn right onto Rue de la Baloche and go under a railway bridge.

(3) At the junction after the tunnel, take the path on the left heading north until you reach the crossroads marked by a wayside shrine.

(4) Turn right onto the track. After the bend, at the edge of the woods, leave the track on your right and continue along the same track, which bends to the right. Cross the Bois Lanoy to reach the next T-junction.

(5) Follow the Chemin du Tabor to the right, passing an isolated farm on the plateau; leave the GR® on your left and turn right to descend to the tunnel.

(3) Take the tunnel and take the first path on the left, following theGR®®127to enter the village of Bours.

(6) At the T-junction, near a wayside shrine, follow Rue de la Cavée to the right, heading west for 200 m, then turn left into Rue de la Chametz, heading south.

(7) Turn right onto the grassy lane and continue along it, turning left onto the path leading to the War Memorial.

(8) At the end of the path, turn right, then right again onto Rue de la Place, which will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 322 ft - Car park - Donjon de Bours
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 318 ft - D89 road
  3. 2 : mi 0.8 - alt. 289 ft - The springs for the sick. On the left after the - Clarence (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 1.11 - alt. 328 ft - Tunnel – Junction of the circular loop
  5. 4 : mi 1.56 - alt. 325 ft - Oratory
  6. 5 : mi 2.77 - alt. 577 ft - Turn right at the fork
  7. 6 : mi 4.47 - alt. 325 ft - Oratory
  8. 7 : mi 4.72 - alt. 325 ft - Path on the right
  9. 8 : mi 4.93 - alt. 351 ft - War memorials
  10. S/E : mi 5.17 - alt. 322 ft - Car park - Donjon de Bours

Notes

Waterproof walking shoes are essential if possible, and a walking stick is strongly recommended.
Don’t forget a small bottle of water and a snack for when you get peckish.

Worth a visit

Bours Keep: Built in the 14th century, listed as a Historic Monument since 1965.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Alik
Alik

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, peaceful country walk with some nice hills. Best avoided in rainy weather (some paths cross fields)

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Lulu2014
Lulu2014

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Under construction

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Alik
Alik

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely hike, quiet spot, great views
Hiking poles are almost essential.
Avoid this hike if it has rained a few days before.

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bottazy
bottazy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Excellent walk Very nice walk

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GabHDF
GabHDF

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well signposted route.
Well-maintained route

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Jls62
Jls62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant trail with a good gradient offering superb views, particularly at the end of the route in a fairly steep downhill section, where the village of Bours with its magnificent keep can be seen below.

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MathSPC62
MathSPC62

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely, easy walk along well-marked paths.
Beautiful views from the highest point.
Pretty keep.

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frimousse59
frimousse59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very nice circuit through woods and small villages, very rural

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hollevoet
hollevoet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike, not easy, with significant changes in altitude but superb views.
At the end, the little tour of the narrow streets of Bours was not very interesting.
That day we had 3 hours of rain and a strong wind. We'll do it again in the sunshine to make the most of the scenery.

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levelera
levelera

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We enjoyed this walk, with a visit to the dungeon at the end.
It was recommended to us by other walkers.
Thank you

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bapfred
bapfred

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk, thank you for sharing.

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vioudunord
vioudunord

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in a pleasant setting, with a variety of viewpoints.

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MARY22
MARY22
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Cool route, great views.

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linlin62122
linlin62122

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route

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michem
michem

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk in very pleasant surroundings. Donjon de Bours is a must-see.

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