Slag heaps 2, 3 and 122 in the ‘Pays à part’ region

Park at the foot of the Terril Volcan, at the junction of Rue de Béthune and Route d’Houchin in Haillicourt.

(S/E) Take the path heading north, in the opposite direction to the^GRP®. Follow the path to the edge of the woods at the junction with the Falandes slag heap.

(1) Turn left; you’ll then enter a flat slag heap offering a view of the Terril Volcan.
Continue along this path to return to the road leading towards the slag heap.

(2) Turn left onto Rue des Fauvettes, then continue along Rue Diderot. Turn left onto Rue du Général Koenig to return to the starting point.

(S/E) This time, turn right onto the path heading south without following the GRP^®.
The bridleway descends to the D188.

(3) Cross the road and continue along the same path opposite.
Join the D86 E4, cross it and, via the footbridge opposite, head into the Bois des Glachoires.

(4) Turn right onto a narrower path that climbs into the woods. Leave the bridle path here to reach a car park.

(5) Turn left onto the path towards the twin slag heaps to reach the crossroads at the foot of the first slag heap.

(6) Walk round the first slag heap on the left; you’ll come to a flight of steps leading to the top.

(7) Go back down the same flight of steps. Turn right to pass between the twin slag heaps and return to the previous crossroads.

(6) Follow the same route as on the way there to return to the crossroads by the car park.

(5) Keep to the right on the footbridges from start to finish, without going through the small wood, to return to the car park on Rue du Général Koenig (S/E).

There’s plenty to see along the footbridges or at the top of the slag heap. Don’t forget your binoculars.
Make sure you wear sturdy shoes.

The “volcanic” slag heap is so called because it’s still smouldering, so you may spot fumaroles at the summit. Access to it is, in fact, prohibited. On its southern slope, vines have been planted (yes, really! You’re not dreaming).
The ‘cavaliers’ (old mining tracks) are often at a higher elevation, where you can spot animal and plant species specific to this environment.
The twin slag heaps of the ‘Pays à part’ are the tallest in the mining basin after those at Loos-en-Gohelle. They offer an exceptional view.

Special note: if you want to take part in the ‘Défi Terril Unesco’ (51 slag heaps to climb) or just for fun, you can take a selfie at the top of the slag heap and share it using #defiterril and @defiterril on Instagram or by email at defiterril@gmail.com
You can also add a stone to the cairn at the top of the slag heap.