The hills of Faux

A beautiful, undulating trail on the Ternois hillsides. Donjon de Bours (keep).

Technical sheet

52305
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 148 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 145 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 177 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 82 m

Description of the walk

Start from Marest, small square on D89, at the junction with Rue de l'Église.

(S/E) Take the D89 towards Bours, cross the Clarence river and pass the school.

(1) Turn right onto Rue de Pernes, which climbs to the D916. Follow it to the right (with care) for about 200m, then turn left towards Pressy.

(2) At the top of the hill, take the path on the left. Pass under the HV power line and, just before the reservoir, take the left-hand path down to the hamlet of Noyelles.

(3) At the T-junction, turn right, then left to go back up to the D916. Follow it for a few metres on the left.

(4) At the fork, turn right into Rue du 8 Mai. Reach the D89, follow it to the right, cross the stream, and reach a crossroads.

(5) Leave the tarmac at this point and take the grassy road opposite, leading to Bours. At the tarmac, turn left, passing the church and reaching the beautiful Bours town hall (keep of the former château).

(6) Then turn right (beautiful square), and reach the D89.
Follow it a few metres to the left and take a small road on the left (opposite Rue de Valhuon) which joins Rue de Chametz near the stadium.

(7) Follow this to the right to join the D89. Turn left and, before the railroad tracks, turn left into Rue Blanche (mud at the farm).

(8) At the end (chapel), turn right on the GR®127, pass under the railroad line and, still on the GR®, turn immediately left. A good climb (now well laid out, with a bench offering a superb view) leads to the high point (elevation 172).

(9) Leave the GR® and continue straight ahead. Pass a farm, then turn left towards Bois Lanoy. Follow this good path (unfortunately often very wet) between the barbed wire. Gradually descend to arrive opposite the railroad (oratory).

(10) Cross it and follow Rue de l'Église back to the starting point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 82 m - Small square before the church. Towards the - Clarence (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 83 m - Three-way junction after school
  3. 2 : km 1.72 - alt. 128 m - Left at the top of the hill
  4. 3 : km 3.35 - alt. 96 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 3.86 - alt. 113 m - Three-way junction on D 916
  6. 5 : km 4.73 - alt. 97 m - Crossroads, grassy path opposite
  7. 6 : km 5.44 - alt. 97 m - Bours keep
  8. 7 : km 6.14 - alt. 99 m - Opposite the stadium, on the right
  9. 8 : km 6.88 - alt. 98 m - Chapel, right
  10. 9 : km 8.09 - alt. 171 m - Abandon GR, go straight on
  11. 10 : km 10.63 - alt. 96 m - Railway line
  12. S/E : km 10.92 - alt. 82 m - Small square in front of the church

Practical information

Good footwear essential, especially in wet weather.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
linlin62122
linlin62122

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice hilly walk

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Cynoq
Cynoq

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk but a bit too much tarmac (this is a personal opinion of course) for the first 4/5 kilometres.

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capauri
capauri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent walk! Well explained and easy to do with a pushchair, although a bit sporty. Pleasant discovery of the voyettes

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Lécheveulé
Lécheveulé
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk, well described....you really have to walk down the rue de Valhuon to find this little window behind the house that will take you to the stadium... A little moment of solitude in the rue Blanche, in front of an awkward gander (or goose).ops(whistle)mdr:

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Elise_T
Elise_T

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant, easy walk, with beautiful views over the valley and the discovery of hamlets with fine houses.
explanatory signs along the way in Bours.
just the passage after the square in Bours to find a signpost: you hesitate because you think you're entering a property, but you have to go behind the houses.
I'd do the walk again (skipping the first loop which is too much on the RD for my liking) and I've already recommended it to a friend who did it this weekend and who also enjoyed the route.
get your shoes on

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philippebriffaut
philippebriffaut

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 22, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great hike this Saturday morning. There is no physical signposting, which may be a pity at the entrance to the grassy paths, which are not easy to find.
Perhaps be more precise in the description at this level.
.:

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grounde59
grounde59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A good hike for a Sunday morning, beautiful scenery and a nice little ascent that crosses other routes such as the sentier du donjon ( 15 kms ) or the sentier de Saint Quirin ( 12 kms ) . We found the village of Bours very pleasant.

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joorange
joorange

I took the grassy path back to Bours yesterday morning. Didn't hear the dogs, they must still be lying down.
In any case, "the dogs bark and the hiker passes".
It is possible to shorten the route a little by crossing the sports field (very easy after a glance at the map) and it is also very pleasant: footbridge to cross the stream, then cross the stadium heading to the left.

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Teneombre
Teneombre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 13, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It was a very pleasant route, without too much mud despite the recent rain (I only had some on the descent through the woods).
As for the course itself, I have two comments on the route. The first is that after the keep at Bours, the route takes the rue de la place before returning along a grassy path that runs behind some houses. This path is bordered by two properties with at least three little dogs barking their heads off as you pass. It's not very well maintained, and the rue de la place, although nice, isn't worth the diversions. The distance doesn't change and the route is probably nicer, the stream being well maintained (rocky bottom which is very much lacking in the muddy north).
The second point is a little advice for you, future hikers on this route, when you take the gr after passing under the railway line; the guidebook says that the (tough ^^) climb has been prepared. And you can actually see some wooden "steps"... So skip the more popular path that cuts across the climb and follow the steps. This is the official route of the gr and is therefore equipped with a small viewpoint and a bench.
Those are my comments. As for my own experience, I really enjoyed this walk. There were some really interesting sections and the scenery was worth the effort in places. Relatively easy route. Enjoy the ride

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patou62
patou62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 04, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Well-detailed route.
Varied scenery with beautiful views and passage through the keep at Bours.
Quite an easy and quick walk
Would recommend :-)

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