Moderator’s note added on 3 October 2021: the walk is currently unavailable due to a private property issue
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Park your car at the start of the path or in the car park at Crouy cemetery, just before the bridge.
(S/E) Take the path through the gardens.
(1) Take the path branching off to the right, as if you carry on straight ahead you’ll reach a dead end (Mur des Corbeaux). As you climb up to your right, you’ll see the Beauchamps sugar factory.
(2) Turn left onto the path that climbs for no more than 1 km. Just before the old mast, head into the forest, where you’ll see a large pit where, in the past, beetroot was transported to the sugar factory by minecarts. If you go a little further, you’ll see the remains of an old staircase that led down to the village. Retrace your steps.
(3) After the climb, turn onto the path on your right which runs between the woodland and the field.
(4) You should spot an old building, which was actually a changing room for a football ground in days gone by. Even more surprisingly, there used to be some rather old-fashioned houses here. Take the path that goes round the ruined house to reach a crossroads. Take the path that goes uphill. Take the time to head off to your left towards the cliff; just before the descent, there’s a cave used during the war (when I went on this walk, there was a burnt-out car inside the cave). Don’t go inside as there’s a risk of rockfalls, but you can see the inscriptions.
(5) After the descent, you’ll come to a small spring. If you enjoyed the first cave, cross to the other side of the stream. Just to the right of the small building, follow a narrow path through the trees to reach a second cave. Retrace your steps.
Take the path opposite if you’re returning from the cave, or turn right if you’re continuing the descent.
(6) You’ll arrive at the foot of the church in Bucy-le-Long. Take the path leading down to your right; there’s a railing to hold on to if it’s slippery. Walk through the grass and, when you reach the end, take the path leading uphill to your right. Carry on until you reach a telecoms mast.
(7) Once you reach the mast, head down towards the road. Turn right towards Crouy. If you look out for them before the descent towards Crouy, there are two small concrete blocks on the left-hand side of the road; these are the famous posts that were used for the system of transporting sugar beet to the sugar factory (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
