Monchy-le-Preux walks

This walk will take you through the plains and woods of the Arrageois region, which marked the limit of the German advance during the First World War. The marker can be seen on the RD 939. From Monchy, the Germans bombarded Arras, destroying the belfry.

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

Venez découvrir les village de Fampoux, Feuchy et Athies en passant par les bois, étangs et marais.

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

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 walk will introduce you to Arras, starting along the Scarpe river. You will then continue through the town and admire its monuments, from the citadel to the execution wall, the belfry and the main square.

Cette belle randonnée vous entrainera à la citadelle avant de vous inviter à traverser la plaine d'Arras. Au retour vous longerez le Crinchon.

Belle randonnée entre la plaine de l'arrageois et le long du Crinchon avec ses trois clochers achicourt wailly et agny

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

This walk, starting from Sainte-Catherine, will take you to Mont Saint-Vaast via the Chemin des Filatiers, not far from the Fontaine des Trois Louches, and extends into the neighbouring communes.

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

A leisurely walk of less than two hours on flat terrain in a natural, sparsely built-up environment. It partly follows the route of another walk I really like, but in the opposite direction, which offers a different perspective: Hamel and its marshes, a little piece of Canada

Very few roads on this rural route, which becomes quite difficult 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 hilly, with steep slopes that will give your calves a good workout. It is, of course, possible to go down into the trenches and wander a little through this labyrinth.

A countryside walk near the town of Arras.Plenty of paths and small roads that are not really suitable for vehicles. To spice up the route a little, I’ve added a section of the Vignette trail (going in the opposite direction, so there are no signposts) which takes you round the Bois de Vimy. This route is quite challenging but very enjoyable and is now well maintained.

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.

Très belle randonnée autour de Wailly en passant par la Plaine au Crichon.

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 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

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.

A short, relatively sheltered walk through the countryside and around quiet little villages, naturally more enjoyable in dry weather.

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.

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.

An easy walk on decent paths. Ideal for autumn as the paths seem to cope well with damp conditions. A few tarmac sections but virtually no motorised traffic. Passes near the Bois d'Adinfer, which is unfortunately private except for a short stretch of path on the way out of Adinfer. Little elevation gain. This walk can be completed in under 3 hours. The only potential issue is perhaps finding parking at the starting point (???)

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.

Hike through plains and woods, passing by the Canadian Memorial, which you can visit, as well as the museum and the trenches (by reservation).

This local hike starting from La Pyramide will take you around Souchez along good paths. You will walk along the Souchez river and then climb up to the site of Notre-Dame de Lorette before returning to the village via Parc Cassin.

Starting from Place de Souchez, you’ll reach the Canadian memorial. The Battle of Vimy took place in April 1917. From the start of the war, the Germans held the heights of Vimy and the entire mining basin. After numerous unsuccessful attempts by the French and British to recapture these positions, it was the Canadians who drove them back, at the cost of 11,000 dead in their ranks.

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 circular route, steeped in history, invites you to discover a historic site paying tribute to the 11,000 who died during the capture of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. You’ll skirt the Vimy National Forest, where you can see the land scarred by shells. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial also offers a breathtaking view of the mining basin and the Artois hills

This easy circular route takes you on a discovery of the Carency valley and the commune of Souchez.You will appreciate the role of the embankments, which are essential for agriculture, and admire several buildings that were rebuilt identically after the village of Souchez was completely destroyed during the First World War.

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.

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.

A short hike for the whole family. Starting from the old station, you will walk to Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, passing in front of the old church and along the Souchez. This hike can be enjoyed in all seasons.

Set off from Boursies and let yourself be carried away by a rural route that winds its way through farmland and the unspoilt silhouettes of small villages. As you reach Mœuvres, Demicourt, Doignies and then Louverval, each stage reveals a new picture: peaceful lanes, bell towers silhouetted against the horizon, fields stretching as far as the eye can see and hedges rustling in the wind. This route, ideal for exploring on foot or by bike, invites you to savour the gentle landscapes and tranquillity of the less travelled paths. It is a slow-paced journey, where you will be surprised by the simple, authentic details that make the Cambrésis region so charming.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Au départ de lorette, la randonnée passe dans les bois environnant avec de belles descentes et montées.

The starting point is the Notre-Dame de Lorette Memorial, built here to pay tribute to the martyrs of the First World War. You will pass through the beautiful villages of Ablain-Saint-Nazaire and Carency. In fine weather, you’ll enjoy some panoramic views. Allow a good two hours walking at a normal pace without stopping. We hope you enjoy a lovely walk through our beautiful Artois hills.

During this walk, you'll enter a beautiful region that was devastated by the 1st World War. More than 180,000 people lost their lives during the Battle of Artois, which began in May-June 1915. This walk starts at the edge of a cemetery where 44,000 soldiers of all origins are buried. Many more are, and will remain, buried forever beneath the beautiful landscapes you're about to cross.

This circular loop, steeped in history, will allow you to experience first-hand the horrors of war, pay tribute to those who saved us, and reflect on the vital need to maintain peace between nations.

This walk pays tribute to Doctor Ablin Hernu, born in 1849 in Divion and died in 1920. He was the seventh of 10 children. His work covered an area stretching from Arras in the south to Aire-sur-la-Lys in the north and from Béthune in the east to Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise in the west. He was a medical officer during the 1870 war, when he studied medicine. He would walk the 40 km from Divion to Arras.