Mont Noir trail

A bucolic tour through the wild hyacinths and wild garlic blooming in late April and early May.
Discover the Mont Noir and Flanders (Saint-Jans-Cappel, view of Mont des Cats and Bailleul) through undergrowth, forest paths and small roads.

Technical sheet

9038883
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 117 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 117 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 138 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 28 m

Photos

Description of the walk

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).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 31 m - Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Saint-Jans-Cappel)
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 44 m - On the left opposite N°438
  3. 2 : km 0.72 - alt. 34 m - Crossroads, right
  4. 3 : km 1.27 - alt. 40 m - Houblonnière" sign, left
  5. 4 : km 1.81 - alt. 56 m - Entrance to - Étang des Trois Fontaines
  6. 5 : km 2.14 - alt. 90 m - Small wood, right
  7. 6 : km 3.07 - alt. 121 m - Right towards - Cimetière Britannique (Saint-Jans-Cappel)
  8. 7 : km 3.45 - alt. 106 m - RD223
  9. 8 : km 4.11 - alt. 87 m - Carrefour, on the right
  10. 9 : km 5.28 - alt. 52 m - Crossing, straight on
  11. 10 : km 6.46 - alt. 44 m - Hommelhofstraete, right
  12. 11 : km 7.23 - alt. 28 m - Chapel, right
  13. S/E : km 10.55 - alt. 31 m - Saint-Jans-Capell church car park

Practical information

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

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 5537378

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

An interesting route offering beautiful views of the region.

Automatically translated

Ginoutaktou
Ginoutaktou
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The route is well signposted, but it's a shame we don't get to see more of the Mont Noir, as we only pass along the edge of the mountain.

Automatically translated

jfcastelain
jfcastelain
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Automatically translated

pierduq
pierduq

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk in the undergrowth at the start and beautiful scenery

Automatically translated

jfcastelain
jfcastelain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Busy, yes, but very good.

Automatically translated

Lesfillesde DK
Lesfillesde DK

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Incomplete signposting: we went round in circles. The suggested description lacked precision (even the postwoman had trouble helping us).
Fortunately, the hyacinths and wild garlic made us forget the planned route and we wandered "haphazardly" back to the starting point.
A very nice hike, but take another route. Thanks to the owner of the Etang des 3 Sources, who helped us find our way back.

Automatically translated

Quentin pomme de pin
Quentin pomme de pin

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Busy trail : No

I would have liked to spend more time in the mountains and less in the fields.

Automatically translated

Julie B80
Julie B80

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We finished the loop in 1:59, walking at a leisurely pace. The start of the hike, at Mont level, is very pleasant! After that, there's not much point as you get further away.
The hyacinths aren't in flower yet, but that's a matter of days now.

Automatically translated

thorwordor
thorwordor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk to discover the Mont Noir and part of Flanders.
We did it after the snow had melted and there were showers, and some of the dirt paths were muddy. Good shoes are essential.
We'll do it again in spring or summer for the magnificent views and the flora.
Thank you very much.

Automatically translated

jackichang
jackichang

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

domage à la fin de la ballade il nous fait prendre a gauche sur le chemin du moulin on atterit sur la rd 10 assez dangereuse alors que si nous allonsont tout droit sans tourner au chemin du moulin un peu plus court mais mieux cordialement

Automatically translated

ZEBULON DE LILLE
ZEBULON DE LILLE
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It was a lovely 2-hour walk that allowed me to discover the Mont Noir in all its diversity, with its "Countryside" and "Forest" sections, as well as some beautiful landscapes and panoramic views.
Contrary to some opinions, I also enjoyed the last part.
As far as the road sections are concerned, it's not a problem as the roads are not very busy.
In addition to the map provided on the website, the signposts are invaluable. However, you can still find your way around when they're missing (although I did make a small diversions at the end because of a missing sign and the impossibility of finding the path indicated on the site map).
NOT TO BE MISSED: 1) the panoramic view at the end of the climb (near the Maison Yourcenar) 2) the fishing ponds of the "étang des 3 sources" (accessible free of charge / fishing is subject to a fee / note the bar-restaurant and toilets on site)

Automatically translated

MEURISSE
MEURISSE

I didn't do the Mont Noir circuit but the Jacinthes hike.

Automatically translated

Premgun
Premgun

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A popular route at the summit of Mont Noir and Parc Marguerite Yourcenar, much less so in the countryside.
Especially remarkable and magnificent at this time of year when the undergrowth is in bloom with wood hyacinths and wild garlic.
Less interesting after point 9. On the other hand, between points 5 and 6, don't hesitate to follow the PR towards Belgium and visit the Broekelzen nature reserve (follow the "milestones" of the Franco-Belgian walking network).

Automatically translated

Chonchon59160
Chonchon59160

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very interesting route, easy, well signposted with beautiful views of Flanders.
Highly recommended

Automatically translated

Kaeliss
Kaeliss

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The route is interesting up to point 9, but beyond that it's completely uninteresting and even dangerous because you have to walk along roads where cars are limited to 70 and even 80 km/h! I'll leave you to imagine their real speed... We had the impression that beyond point 9 it was really just a case of saying that the walk lasts 3 hours... Another negative point for this part of the route is that there are no markings at all, so without the app, it's impossible to know where to go.
Then, points 1 to 3 are nice but nothing more and 4 to 9 become really great, in the forest, it's very pleasant and very beautiful.
So we tried out the app, which is free and pretty good.

Automatically translated

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.