Mont Noir trail

Start: Start from the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church car park in Saint-Jans-Cappel.

(S/E) Join Rue de la Blanchisserie (street) and follow it straight ahead.

(1) At n°438, take Chemin Billiau, on the left, and follow the "Sentier du Mont Noir" signs.

(2) At this junction, take the small path on the right. Pass the Hermitage service road.

(3) At the "Houblonnière" sign, turn left, then right on the road and right again 200m further on to reach the Étangs des Trois Fontaines.

(4) Turn left onto the small woodland path that runs alongside the fence just before you enter the site of the three ponds.

(5) At the top of the climb, admire the view of Flanders. In late April and early May, wild hyacinths and wild garlic are in bloom. You're not allowed to pick them, but you're allowed to admire them! Pass an old farmhouse, owned by the département, go around it and continue uphill.

In the small wood on the left, you can make a short detour to the Villa Marguerite Yourcenar (200m return), or continue directly right into the small wood; there are a few steps to climb and a wooden chicane to go around. Turn right: this is the Parc Départemental Marguerite Yourcenar property.

(6) At this crossroads, turn left after the small chicane. At the next junction, go down the chicane and turn right towards the military cemetery.

(7) Cross the RD223, carefully, and take the dirt track directly ahead (unmarked). Continue straight ahead on Chemin du Tilleul.

(8) At the crossroads on the Poperinghe Cruysse Straete, turn right and cross the RD223 again, a little further on, towards the Chemin de la Glaise.

(9) Continue straight ahead, then turn left onto Chemin du Moulin. Continue straight ahead.

(10) At the crossroads with Hommelhofstraete, turn right, then left onto RD10. Caution__, the roadsides are narrow and vehicles drive fast.

(11) At the chapel, turn right onto Chemin de la Main Bleue. Continue straight ahead at the next two crossroads to reach the Haute Porte junction. Turn right onto Abelstraete, then right again onto Rue Marguerite Yourcenar. Come back to the the village centre and the church car park (S/E).

Start & Parking: Start from the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church car park in Saint-Jans-Cappel.