The two Chartreuses in Fouquières-lès-Béthune

Start from the car park at the École Yves Duteil, at the end of Rue Basse.

(S/E) From the car park, walk up Rue Basse to the junction with Rue Henri Barbusse.

(1) Turn left, continue straight on along the path that runs alongside the road, and cross a bridge. Turn left, then pass under the railway bridge. Turn left, and you’ll reach another bridge.

(2) Take the path on the left, then turn right before the railway bridge. At the end, turn left and continue along the footpath to reach Rue du Marais.

(3) Without crossing the railway line, follow the dirt track to the left, running parallel to the road on your left, until you reach the entrance to the spoil tip.

(4) Turn right, then left, 100 metres further on. Turn right – almost a 180-degree turn – and carry on straight ahead until you reach a second junction.

(5) Take the path on the right, then take the first path on the left, and climb to the top of the slag heap. Enjoy the 360° view, then carry on straight ahead.

(6) Keep to the right and carry on until you reach Rue Grard. Cross the road, go straight on and pass under the A26.

(7) Turn right and carry on towards the British Military Cemetery, which will be on your left. Stay on the same path until you reach the Fork in the road.

(8) Then turn left onto the path (watch out for brambles and stinging nettles) and, at the very end, turn left until you reach the road junction.

(9) Turn left onto Rue des Dames, then immediately right, and walk past the Chartreuse and the Château des Dames. At the end, turn left, then, just before the junction with a street, turn right towards the stadium.

(10) Turn left and walk alongside the stadium, then continue along the street on the right until you reach the road junction. Take the road (D181) on the right, and at the next junction (church), turn left, walking alongside La Blanche on your left-hand side, until you reach the^first street on the right.

(11) Turn right onto Rue de la Distillerie; at the end, take the road on the left, the D181. Leave this road 100 metres further on and carry on straight ahead.

(12) Before the cemetery, turn left onto a straight path which crosses La Blanche, then La Lawe.

(13) Turn right onto Rue de Gosnay (stay well on the hard shoulder). Pass under the A26, then turn right until you reach a track on the left.

(14) Follow this path, then, at the end, turn left again until you reach the pedestrian crossing.

(15) Cross the road to the right and continue to the car park (S/E).

Pas de point d'eau.

Chartreuses, Château des Dames (9).

Alternative route between (7): go straight on, then turn right at the end, and join (9).