The Gorges Bleues trail in Mont-Bernanchon

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.

Details

12846142
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 25 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 19 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park between the town hall square and Mont-Bernanchon primary school.

(S/E) Turn left towards the Canal d'Aire à la Bassée via Rue des Écoles.

(1) Turn right onto a gravel and grass path and pass under the Pont de Suppli bridge. Shortly afterwards, turn right towards the bird observatory.

(2) Retrace your steps and continue along the canal to the Pont d'Hingues.

(3) Pass under the bridge, turn immediately right and climb the stairs to reach Pont d'Hinges, which will allow you to cross the canal. Turn right, go down the stairs, turn right again and reach the other side of the canal.

(4) Follow the edge of the canal until you reach a fork.

(5) Turn right onto a path that runs alongside the Bois du Pacault and arrive at Rue des Chênes, where you will find numerous stables. Follow this street and then the path that crosses the woods. At the exit, join a street.

(6) Turn left onto Chemins des Échevins and continue along Rue du Pont Suppli, which leads to the towpath.

(7) Turn right to reach Pont de Suppli.

(8) Turn left to cross the bridge and continue along the street.

(9) Turn right at the hairpin bend to return to the canal and follow the same route back.

(1) Walk up Rue des Écoles to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 24 m - Car park between the town hall square and the school.
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 20 m - Edge of the - Canal d'Aire
  3. 2 : km 0.93 - alt. 21 m - Bird observatory
  4. 3 : km 3.29 - alt. 21 m - Hinges Bridge
  5. 4 : km 3.37 - alt. 19 m - Edge of the Aire à la Bassée canal
  6. 5 : km 4.13 - alt. 20 m - Fork
  7. 6 : km 5.95 - alt. 20 m - Intersection with Chemin du Bois
  8. 7 : km 7.37 - alt. 20 m - Towpath
  9. 8 : km 7.7 - alt. 25 m - Suppli Bridge
  10. 9 : km 7.9 - alt. 22 m - Canal
  11. S/E : km 8.72 - alt. 24 m - Car park between the town hall square and the school.

Notes

Bring a pair of waterproof shoes on rainy days.

Worth a visit

Observation hut at the Mont-Bernanchon bird sanctuary.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
cess62
cess62

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

  • To reach the bird observatory, do not turn as indicated just after the road bridge, but continue straight ahead until you reach the observatory, where a small wooden bridge has been built over the stream, which is less dangerous than the route indicated on the map.
    • At the end of the route, when you reach the canal towpath, take this path back without hesitation; the explanations on the map are a little confusing.

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Corinne débutante
Corinne débutante

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

First walk and I loved this route. Easy to follow and well marked, which is reassuring 🙂
Along the canal, enjoying the sight of barges and geese. A section along the edge of woods and fields, which was just as pleasant and prevented the walk from becoming monotonous. Fortunately, it hadn't rained recently, so the last part was dry.
I'm happy with my walk.

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Ginoutaktou
Ginoutaktou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful discoveries

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caticat62
caticat62

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant walk along the canal, birdwatching spot; suitable for families, with a dog.
Easy forest walk.

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BVK
BVK

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very muddy for the first part on the day I did it, with a canal bank without a path and churned up by horses.
A bit monotonous, as perhaps is to be expected from a canal bank, which makes up most of the route.

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immercurien
immercurien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route completed in the morning in warm weather.
If you are not using the app, it is well signposted and there is little risk of getting lost from the village school.
Thank you for sharing.

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