Méricourt walks

A lovely urban walk that will take you through places you’d never have imagined.

This itinerary takes you to Europe's longest slag heap, which stretches over 2km and fills an ancient valley. You'll enjoy views over the coalfield and the Artois hills. At times, you'll have the impression of walking along a mountain ridge. An entirely wooded terril, it is a reserve for numerous species.

Starting from Étang du Brochet, this hike will take you up Terril du Lavoir, before crossing the Méricourt mining village and then the necropolis of 10 March 1906, a memorial site following the mining disaster that claimed 1,099 lives.

This walk, starting from the Étang du Brochet, will take you through the Cité du Moulin and then past the former 6/14 trench at Courrières. You will then arrive at the necropolis and follow the Path of Remembrance.

This route will take you to the top of the flat 80 slag heap (shaped like a plateau), offering a beautiful view of the mining basin and the Artois hills. The rest of the route follows the course of the Souchez river in a green and peaceful setting.

This short hike around Vimy, between the town, voyettes (small streets in local dialect) and plains, will give you a different perspective on our beautiful region, its heritage and its memory of the Great War

Venez découvrir les villages de l'Artois par Farbus, Willerval et Vimy. Randonnée entre bois et plaine avec vue sur les terrils de Loos-en-Gohelle

Jolie randonnée qui vous conduira tout d'abord dans la campagne entre Vimy et Farbus, puis vous fera monter à Thelus avant de rejoindre le Mémorial Canadien et la Forêt de Vimy.

This local hike will introduce you to this charming village in the community of Lens-Lievin. It took in the wounded during the Battle of Lens in August 1648 and many other battles, including the Battle of Vimy Ridge from 9 to 12 April 1917. The ponds around Vimy are former shell holes. Even today, unexploded ordnance can still be found.

This walk, starting from Place de la République, will take you to the Canadian Memorial. It then follows a descent through Thélus and Farbus via the Bois du Goulot. You will pass by the Saint-Ranulphe Fountain. The whole route is on good paths.

This hike between woods and town will take you past the former Fosse n°6 in Liévin, the Bois de l'Abime and Givenchy, before climbing the Terril de Pinchonvalles on good paths. It is a remarkable route for its biodiversity.

Pour cette randonnée vous passerez sur les bords de la Souchez et par le Parc de la Glissoire sur des chemins tranquilles et piste cyclables.

Petite randonnée sur les deux terrils, le premier assez facile mais un peu plus difficile que le Terril de Pinchonval ; entre bois et rivière en passant par le site du Percot et ses étangs.

Belle balade sur les bords de la Souchez et lans e Bois de Riaumont, à faire en famille ou entre amies et amis

A circular route around Farbus, allowing you to explore the village and the surrounding countryside.

Belle randonnée à faire en famille entre terrils, étangs et points de vue.

This short hike starting from Liévin will take you through the gardens of the Louvre-Lens Museum and the Bollaert Delelis Stadium. You will cross the skate park before reaching the Jean Perrin public garden via well-maintained paths.

A route that takes you through the Fouquières marshes. You'll climb the wooded slag heap 83, offering a view of a mysterious artificial valley. You'll then head for slag heap 94 (staircase slag heap), passing the schlamm bins (storage of mining waste) and the Harnes fishing pond. Return along the path that runs alongside the Lens canal.

Slag heaps are not just piles of dead rocks; reactions are still taking place at their core. As evidence of these reactions, gaseous fumaroles escape from them. To see this for yourself, head to Harnes, starting from the Bois de Florimond, and make your way towards the slag heap. Then follow the signposted path known as the “Sentier des Fumerolles” (Fumaroles Trail), marked by concrete posts, which will take you to Slurry Heap 230. It is a surprising journey offering a wide variety of landscapes and points of interest: views of fumaroles, a viewpoint over the south-east of the mining basin, a viewpoint over the canyon, and more.

Cette randonnée est une variante de la Vignette depuis Givenchy-en-Gohelle. Au départ de Givenchy-en-Gohelle, vous montez au Mémorial canadien, avec passage dans la Forêt Domaniale de Vimy, puis vous passez le long des tranchées. Avec un peu de chance, vous pourrez voir les moutons.

Peu de goudron sur ce parcours qui permet d'arpenter les chemins du Bois des Bruyères et de faire le tour du Terril de Pinchonvalles. J'ai dû changer le départ car le beau chemin qui partait à gauche dans la Rue de l'Église est pour le moment (???) en chantier : nouveau lotissement en construction. Malgré toutes les promesses, on continue à bétonner les villes. Prions Ste Godasse et St Croquenot pour que ce chemin réapparaisse après les travaux.

There are very few roads on this countryside route, which becomes quite challenging in wet weather. Although the elevation gain does not seem significant, the Sentier de la Vignette, on the northern edge of Vimy Wood, is very undulating, with steep slopes that will give your calves a good workout. You can, of course, go down into the trenches and wander around this labyrinth for a while. Late October 2026: following the storm, there are fallen trees on the Sentier de la Vignette (between markers 8 and 9). The first one is quite difficult to get over, but it is doable.

À la decouverte des villages de Thélus et Farbus, en passant par le Bois de Berthonval.

A countryside walk near the town of Arras.Plenty of paths and small roads that are barely passable by car. To spice up the route a little, I’ve added a section of the Sentier de la Vignette (going in the opposite direction, so there are no signposts), which takes you round the Bois de Vimy. This section is quite challenging but very enjoyable and is now well maintained. Late October 2026: following the storm, there are fallen trees on the Sentier de la Vignette (between 15 and 16). The first one is quite difficult to get over, but it’s doable.

You will discover the villages of Thélus, Willerval, and Farbus. These three villages are less than 10 km from Vimy and its Canadian First World War memorial, which is well worth a visit to complement this hike.

This flat hike will take you from Bailleul-sir-Berthout to the villages of Gavrelle and Oppy, along good paths. Bailleul was completely destroyed during the First World War. In 1833, Minister Guizot passed a law requiring all municipalities to have a school.

This site represents Canada's most impressive memorial to its citizens who fought and gave their lives in the First World War. A strategic high point, offering breathtaking views of the coalfield and Artois hills.

Starting from the Jardins du Louvre nursery, this round trip will take you along Eurovélo 5, through woods and town, to Saint-Auguste Church, where you will turn back.

An itinerary that will take you to Europe's king of slag heaps! You'll first discover the former 11/19 base with its headframes and mining buildings currently being converted. You'll also enjoy a few pleasant passages through the undergrowth.

A walk through the Arras countryside. In this area, during theFirst World War, the armies clashed, as evidenced by the military cemeteries in the region. Vimy is regarded by Canadians as a national historic site. Canadians and Britons associate poppies with Armistice Day commemorations. You will see them laid at the memorial and in Givenchy-en-Gohelle.

Starting from the pond, this walk takes you around the Bois de l'Abîme via Givenchy-en-Gohelle. After a short climb, the walk takes you back down through the Bois des Bruyères.

This walk, starting from the old ponds, will take you to the Pinchonvalles slag heap via the woods of l’Abîme, les Bruyères and Givenchy, all along good paths, before returning via the Ancienne Fosse N°6 in Liévin.

Très belle randonnée dans le Bois de l'Abîme à Givenchy avec sur le parcours une stèle à la mémoire de deux soldats morts lors de la première guerre mondiale.

A beautiful walk that will allow you to discover Loos-en-Gohelle, passing by the Canadian Memorial, the 11-19 base and other sites.

This walk will take you to the foot of Europe’s tallest slag heaps, rising to 187 m and offering a 360° view. The more adventurous can climb the slag heap

A very beautiful hike to the highest slag heaps in Europe with a view of the Flanders mountains on a clear day.

This short hike starting from Loos-en-Gohelle will take you to the slag heap and the 11/19 site. On the way back, you will cross the British Military Cemetery and the Canadian Memorial at Hill 70, all on good paths.

This short walk will take you on a tour of Angres and Liévin, passing through the housing estates of Rollencourt and Le Caumont, not forgetting the indoor sports hall. The walk follows a mix of tarmac and dirt tracks.

The route starts from the town of Angres (in the Lens district), one of the former mining towns of the Hauts-de-France region. After a few hundred metres, you’ll leave the main urban ring road behind to enjoy the plains, valleys and forests of Artois. You could also start this circular loop from (10) N-D de Lorette, or from (3) Aix-Noulette, or even from (14) Souchez. There are restaurants at each potential starting point. (See the practical information below).

A route that will take you to the Sainte-Henriette slag heap, the landmark that marks the entrance to the mining basin when approaching from Paris, visible from the TGV line and the A1 and A21 motorways. You’ll climb its neighbouring ‘little brother’ and enjoy a superb view. Not to be missed.

Short and easy hike through the mining wasteland, slag heap and railway embankment, with a wooded section.

This walk, starting from Angres, will take you through the Bois de l’Abîmes and Givenchy, passing over the Pinchonvalles slag heap. Angres was inhabited during the Gallo-Roman period, but is best known for its mining industry (from 1907), with pits No. 6 and No. 6 bis. These were destroyed during the First World War. Mining resumed in 1920, before closing down permanently in 1984.

This hike, starting from Angres, will take you through the Bois de l'Abîme and the Bois des Bruyères before descending to Souchez. You will then pass through Prés Molaine and Ablain-St-Nazaire before climbing to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, the highest point of this hike, before a more leisurely return.

Explore the Parc de la Deûle by mountain bike. This is a suburban park built around the Canal de la Haute-Deûle. It was created to protect the irreplaceable water-capturing fields in the south of the Lille metropolitan area.Numerous facilities welcome visitors, encouraging them to respect the fragile environments.A pleasant ride along the Deûle and the Wavrin Marshes. An easy route offering a mix of riding on stony paths, towpaths and through the park.

Cette randonnée vous emmène sur les trace de la Grande Guerre.

Cette randonnée vous emmène entre champs et marais, avec des passages insolites autour de Bénifontaine et Wingles.

Belle randonnée entre plaine et marais, et leurs biodiversités.

Jolie petite randonnée qui vous fera passer par la base de loisir et la plaine environnante

This walk, starting from Hulluch, will take you to the former Lens 13 bis pit, then on to Benifontaine. A bit of history: Hulluch is a town in the mining basin listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This walk, starting from the 9-9bis Mining Centre, will take you across both slag heaps without much difficulty, offering beautiful views of the slag heap range. The walk follows very good wooded paths on the first slag heap of the route. It is advisable to do the walk in the morning. You can extend the walk by crossing the Bois des Hautois, but there are a great many fallen trees.

A short walk around Fampoux, best done when the sun isn’t too strong!

Hiking through the marshes of Biache - Saint-Vaast, Plouvain Roeux and Pelves.

Climbing a slag heap offers the chance to gain a bird’s-eye view and appreciate the ever-changing nature of the surrounding landscape, whilst observing the traces of both the past and the present. This circular route, linking Parc de l’Horloge and Terril 107 in Carvin to Parc du Téléphérique and Terril 115 in Libercourt, allows you to explore two protected natural areas, developed around two spoil heaps, which symbolise the regeneration of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin.

The route takes you first past the water point at the Carvin leisure centre. You’ll then enter a woodland just before the climb up the slag heap (a fair climb). From the top, you’ll have a view over the mining basin.

A route that will take you to the summit of slag heap 107, a fully wooded slag heap. You will follow old mining sidings, which are former railway tracks. You will walk alongside ponds with a bucolic charm, then cross through wild woods or farm tracks with unobstructed views.

A short, picturesque round trip along the towpath.

A short, semi-urban and leafy walk that will take you across the new footbridge between Arras and Saint-Nicolas.