Les deux terrils de Nœux-les-Mines

Park on Rue Voltaire in front of the park in Nœux-les-Mines.

(S/E) Head south. At the fork, take the street on the right and continue along the very good path until you reach a crossroads

(1) Turn left. Ignore the path on the right and continue to a T-junction.

(2) Cross the road and find a small passage leading to a basketball court. Go around the court on the left and take a good path on the left. At the end of the grove, turn right onto a large grassy area. Continue on the grass along the grove.
Reach a path on the right in the undergrowth.

(3) Take this path, which descends to a wide track. Follow this track on the left. Pass a crossroads and you will reach the^{first houses} .

(4) Take a path on the left through the wasteland and join the D937. Cross it (be careful! There is a protected crossing on the right) and take the path opposite (slightly to the right). After about 500 m, you will reach a fork.

(5) Turn left to reach the ring road. Cross it carefully and take the path opposite. At the T-junction, turn right onto Rue de l'Épée and continue in the same direction until you reach a roundabout. Just before the roundabout, take the street on the left towards the new housing estate (see practical information). Turn into the^{first street} on the right and, at the end, continue straight ahead to reach the edge of the woods.

(6) Turn left at the edge of the woods. Follow the path towards the slag heap.

(7) Turn left, then immediately right (stairs: steep climb) to go around the slag heap on the left on a pretty path. Find a very steep staircase on the left (dangerous in December 2025 because the handrail has partially disappeared: I have reported this to Suricate). Before going down, you can go to the end of the path to take a look at the ski slope. Go down the stairs to find a^second, slightly less steep staircase. Join Rue du Général Moussy.

(8) Cross and take the street on the right. Go to the right-hand bend and take the path on the left towards the woods to find a white barrier and a hiking post. Go through the barrier and follow the path until you reach some old reservoirs. Go to^{the second} reservoir.

(9) Take a path on the right leading to the top of Terril No. 1 (difficult ascent and descent as the steps are badly damaged). Make the round trip (panoramic view) and descend to the reservoir. Turn right onto the main path and arrive above the road. Then take it on the left to reach the swimming pool. Follow the avenue on the left and join the roundabout on Rue Nationale. Cross it at the pedestrian crossing on the right to arrive in front of a building. Go around it on the right to reach Avenue du Général Sonis.

(10) Follow it on the right before turning left onto Rue de l'Amiral Courbet. At the next crossroads, take the street on the right and reach a T-junction. Take the street on the left and pass in front of the beautiful shoe repair shop before reaching a crossroads.

(11) Turn right onto Rue Pasteur (no entry). Walk past the school and continue to a crossroads.
Turn left onto Rue Salengro, then left again onto Rue Jules Ferry. Turn right before reaching a T-junction. A quick left-right turn will take you to Rue Calmette. Follow it to the right until the end and turn right to return to the car park on Rue Voltaire in front of the park (S/E).

The paths quickly become muddy, so make sure you wear suitable footwear.
Be careful when going down the stairs, as the wood is slippery.

You can also continue to the roundabout and climb the embankment on the left (not too difficult) to reach the woods and return to point (6).