Circular route between Fouquereuil and Bruay

Start from Fouquereuil, at the car park at the end of Rue des Poteries.

(S/E) Take the footbridge southwards (GRP®). Go under the motorway and continue straight on until you reach a slope.

(1) At the fork, take the right-hand path and, at the bottom, follow the wide track continuing southwards. 200 m further on, you will come to another fork.

(2) Leave the GRP® and take the path through the undergrowth to the left (marked MTB trail). At the next fork, take a path on the left to reach a well-surfaced track. Follow it to the left. After it curves to the right, you’ll come to a fork. Take the track on the right (a bit muddy at the start) and follow it to rejoin the GRP® at Emmaüs. Follow the GRP® to the left across the grassy plain to reach a small road (you can also head towards the river on the left and follow it).

(3) Cross it to take the path opposite (end of the GRP®) along the river. Follow the course of the Lawe as closely as possible until you reach a footbridge.

(4) Cross it and head left between the river and the gardens. Continue to the very end to reach Rue des Peupliers. Follow it to the left. At the T-junction, take the street on the left and you’ll immediately find a path leading uphill on the right.

(5) Take this and, just before reaching a housing estate, take the path on the right. A lovely walk through the woodland leads to the foot of the Donjon de Labuissière.

(6) Take the street on the left and, at the junction, take Allée Marguerite Yourcenar on the right. At the very end, turn right, still through the woods, keeping as close as possible to the street on the left, and look for a flight of steps leading to Rue Wallard. Cross the road (take care) and take Rue Florent Évrard opposite to reach the entrance to the Florent Évrard car park.

(7) Take the street on the right towards the car park and look for a path that leads to the bus lane. Follow it to the left. A little further on, cross the road and continue along this lane. Just before reaching a bus stop, look for an opening in the hedge on the right. Do not take this one, but take the second one, which is much more passable.

(8) A short descent leads to Square Fernand Capet. Cross it on the right to find a flight of steps leading to Rue Bouillez. Follow it to the right until you reach the roundabout, take the second exit on the left, then turn right onto Rue Cail.

(9) Just before the bridge over the Lawe, take the path on the left and walk between the lake and the river. Follow the river, staying on the same bank (yellow PR® markings). Reach the Bruay exit at Rue d’Hulluch (D302) and cross it.

(10) Take the path going uphill opposite to reach the Parc de la Lawe. You will arrive opposite a lake.

(11) Take the path on the right. Continue along the path between the river and the lake.

(12) At the end of the pond, turn sharply right to reach the riverbank. Continue along the riverbank until you reach a footbridge. Cross it and turn immediately right to follow the river in the opposite direction.

(13) You will reach a path that winds its way uphill; continue straight on, still following the river. You will eventually reach Avenue Paul Plouviez. Cross with great care! and follow the yellow PR® markings opposite. After a few metres, you will find a path branching off to the left.

(14) Follow it and, at the fork, take the right-hand path to reach the banks of the Biette. Walk along the river and reach a T-junction. Turn right and reach a fork. Take the right-hand path, which climbs steeply, and at the top continue straight ahead.

(15) You will soon spot a path branching off to the left. Follow the path through the woodland, which eventually leads to the Monument du Mineur. From there, head towards the main road.

(16) Cross it and head across a grassy area. Reach and cross Rue Gaston Blot to find a flight of steps; continue along the old bridle path until you reach an impressive staircase. Go down to reach Rue Bonnet. Follow this to the left and ignore the first street on the right.

(17) Follow the second street on the right (Rue de l’Esplanade, marked in yellow). Take the first street on the left (Rue de Brest) and continue straight on until you reach Rue de Nantes. Follow it to the left and take the first street on the right (Rue de Cannes) to reach Boulevard Émile Basly. Before reaching the end of the street, veer right to go alongside the building and reach Rue Desseilligny.

(18) Follow it to the right along the bus lane. Further on, just after the bus stop, cross Rue de la Cavée and a few metres further on you will find a good path on the left (yellow markings).

(19) Take this path, which, a little further on, turns left before reaching Rue de Philippeville.

(20) Just before the road, take the path on the right through the woods which leads to the D188.

(21) Cross it with great care! There are no safety barriers. Follow it for a few metres to the right. Turn left onto Chemin des Berceaux. 200 m further on at the junction, take the path on the left.

(22) Head uphill to reach the Bois des Dames. Reach the edge of the woods and continue straight on, following the yellow markings. Ignore the paths branching off to the left. You will reach a fork.

(23) Leave the GRP® and take a path on the right (Yellow Cross).

(24) At the first junction, take another path on the left to reach a T-junction. Continue to the right.

(25) About 250 m further on, look out for and take a rough path climbing up to the left. Reach a T-junction. Follow the path to the right and arrive at a crossroads. Turn right to pass in front of the forest house.

(26) A little further on, take the^{third path} on the left and continue straight ahead to reach the slag heap. Turn left and go round the left-hand side of the barrier to begin the ascent. Once you’ve almost reached the top, veer right to reach the edge of the amphitheatre. Continue along the edge and reach the exit barrier.

(27) Go through the gate and take a hairpin bend on the left (coarse sandstone at the start). At the first fork, turn right

(28) At the second fork, turn left. Continue along the right path (which is damp in places) until you reach a junction.

(29) Take the path on the right. A little further on, you’ll find a new track on the right (marked with a red post at the start). Follow this path, keeping to the edge of the woods, and finish with a descent towards Emmaüs.

(30) Follow the small road on the left (a rather unpleasant stretch but there is little traffic) and arrive at a crossroads (old Chartreuse on the right).

(31) Take the road on the left (barrier) towards the entrance to La Sablière. Just before the barrier, you’ll find a path on the right leading to a few houses on the heights of Labeuvrière.

(32) Take the path on the right which crosses the Bois de la Sablière (often in very poor condition but passable). Pass close to the British military cemetery and arrive near the motorway. Then head left under the motorway to reach the starting car park. (S/E)

Wear sturdy footwear, as there may be muddy sections.

Tough route: use of the app is highly recommended!

At point 2: it is possible to continue on the GRP®, but you may encounter a nasty cesspool at the end of Emmaüs.

At point 8: if the slope seems too steep, continue to the bus shelter and turn right to reach Rue Bouillez.