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 in the road, take the street on the right and continue along the very good path until you reach a junction

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

(2) Cross the road and find a small path leading to a basketball court. Go round the court on the left and take a good path on the left. At the end of the copse, turn right onto a large grassy area. Continue across the grass, skirting the copse.
You’ll come to a path on the right through the woodland.

(3) Take this path, which leads downhill to a wide track. Follow this track to the left. Pass a junction and reach the^{first houses} .

(4) Take a path to the left behind the houses and join the D937. Cross it (Take care! There is a pedestrian crossing on the right) and take the path opposite (slightly to the left). After about 500 m, you’ll reach a Fork in the road.

(5) Turn left to join 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 approach 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, carry on 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 (staircase: quite a climb) to go round the slag heap on the left along a lovely path. You’ll come to a very steep staircase on the left (dangerous in December 2025 as part of the handrail has disappeared: I’ve reported this to Le Suricate). Before going down it, you can walk to the end of the path to have a look at the ski run. Go down the staircase to find a^second one that’s slightly less steep. Join Rue du Général Moussy.

(8) Cross the road and take the street on the right. Continue to the bend on the right and take the path on the left towards the woods, where you’ll find a white gate and a hiking marker. Go through the gate and follow the correct path until you reach some old reservoirs. Continue to the^second reservoir.

(9) Take a path on the right leading to the top of Slope No. 1 (the ascent and descent are difficult as the steps are badly worn). Walk there and back (to enjoy the view) and head back down to the reservoir. Turn right onto the main path and arrive above the road. Then turn left onto this road to reach the swimming pool. Follow the avenue to the left until you reach the roundabout on Rue Nationale. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing on the right to arrive opposite a building. Go round it on the right to reach Avenue du Général Sonis.

(10) Follow it to the right before turning left into Rue de l’Amiral Courbet. At the next junction, take the road on the right and continue to a T-junction. Take the road on the left and walk past the lovely cobbler’s shop before reaching a junction.

(11) Turn right into Rue Pasteur (No Entry). Walk past the secondary school and continue to a junction.
Turn left into Rue Salengro, then left again into Rue Jules Ferry. Turn right before reaching a T-junction. A quick left-right turn takes you onto 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).