Let’s go for a walk in the Maisnil-lès-Ruitz woods

Parking at Maisnil-lès-Ruitz: Large clay esplanade just before the bridge over the Rocade

(S/E) Cross the bridge over the Rocade.
Carry on straight ahead, heading due south, until you reach a car park at the edge of the woods.

(1) Set off across the grass to go round the car park on your right (do not take the tarmac track). Then follow the yellow markings (PR® Sentier du Parc). The path is flat at first, then climbs after a left-hand fork. At the top of the hill, you’ll reach a T-junction. Turn left, then immediately right (still on the PR® and well signposted!). You’ll reach a tarmac road near the campsite.

(2) Cross the road and take the path opposite (still the PR®) and follow the fence. When the descent becomes steeper (you’ll see a bubble-shaped structure in the trees opposite), turn left onto level ground. Follow the markings carefully until you reach a wide limestone path.

(3) Take this path, which is very slippery in wet weather (in which case it’s safer to go through the clearing on the right, where you can see orchids). Still following the PR®, turn left uphill, then take the^second path (well signposted) on the right to reach the great plain of Olhain.

(4) Cross it diagonally to the right until you reach a picnic table. There’s a lovely view of Olhain Castle.
Head back to the edge of the woodland. Enter the woodland and follow the path along the edge on the right. Make sure you stay at the edge (a few yellow and yellow-red markings). The path eventually descends to a junction with a signpost.

(5) Turn left and follow the GR®127 (and the GRP®). A little further on, turn right (Via Francigena markings) and walk as close as possible to the golf course. Carry on until you reach the D57E3 (it’s clearly signposted, but if in doubt, stick to the edge of the golf course). This is a very challenging section (steep climbs, steep descents and rutted tracks), especially in wet weather.

(6) Cross over to take the path opposite (slightly to the right) at the edge of the woodland. Staying on the GR®, follow the edge of the woodland. Ignore the paths on the left and continue to a junction.

(7) Continue straight on along the GR® until you reach a Fork in the road with a field on the right. Turn left and stay on the GR® to join the D57 near Verdrel. Then leave the GR® and follow the road to the right as far as a isolated house at the top of the Fresnicourt hill (access to the dolmen is possible on the left).

(8) Leave the tarmac road and head right, opposite the house, along a lovely (though sometimes difficult) path that descends towards Fresnicourt. Reach a small road and follow it to the right as far as the church.

(9) Take the steps on the right to cross the old cemetery. Climb up to the gate and take the path leading uphill (cleared in July 2026). At the Fork in the road, turn right uphill (a very steep section – quite a ‘challenge’ in wet weather). At the top, you’ll reach a T-junction; turn left to return to the first crossroads.

(7) Head straight ahead, then turn right towards the north-east to enter the woods. You’ll arrive near the Cité de Verdrel on the right. Then take the path on the left (in very poor condition in wet weather: see practical information). About 250 m further on, you’ll reach a forest ranger’s house. Take the lovely lane opposite and join the D57 (gate).

(10) Follow the road to the left. Look out for the path which, about 50 m further on, veers sharply to the right into the woods. Walk alongside the tip (sorry about that!) whilst always sticking to the paths under the trees. It can be a bit noisy at times, but the path is pleasant. Make sure you stay at the edge of the woodland, preferably inside it. After a good kilometre, you’ll come to a junction on the left (there used to be a post with a Red Arrow, but I didn’t see it on 14 July 2026).

(11) Turn left (follow the arrow) onto the well-marked path to reach the D57E (the barrier is often open). Cross it ( withgreat care) and follow it for a few metres to the left.

(12) You’ll immediately come to an entrance to the woods. Take the path on the left (unmarked, but clearly defined) heading south-west. A lovely, ascending path that joins a small tarmac road. Follow it to the right for 50 m and you’ll come to a post marked ‘first-aid post’.

(13) Leave the tarmac and take the path on the left (plot marker 12 on a tree). Reach a wide lane, cross it and take the path opposite for about a hundred metres.

(14) Turn right onto the^first path. Stay on this path and you’ll reach the “first aid post 17 63” signpost. Continue straight ahead until you come to a Fork in the road (not very visible). See practical information 1.

(15) Take the path on the right and you’ll immediately come to a wider path.

(16) Take a narrow path straight ahead, the entrance to which is slightly overgrown. Join a wider path and follow it to the left. You’ll come to a track on the right.

(17) Follow it until you reach a wide path facing the great Olhain plain (there’s a bench waiting for you at the edge of the plain). Turn right and follow the path (yellow markings). You’ll come to a signpost.

(18) Take the yellow-marked path to the left. You’ll reach an information board about Nordic walking.

(19) Take the path leading down to the right. Pass close to post 72 (it’s slightly to the right) and continue downhill ( post with a blue grimacing face). Step over or go round a few fallen tree trunks (no problem) and join a small road. See practical information 2.

(20) Follow it to the right and you’ll reach the old car park.

(21) Leave the tarmac and head left along the edge of the woods. Follow the GRP® markings (yellow-red). Turn right and head uphill until you reach the small road.

(22) Before reaching the tarmac, turn left and head downhill along the GRP®. Continue downhill. As you go down, veer slightly to the right (very well signposted) and you’ll reach a roundabout.
Turn left, cross the road (at the pedestrian crossing) and go under the bridge. Immediately afterwards, take Rue du Vieil Houdain on the right. Ignore the road on the left and, about 300 metres further on, look out for the path on the left opposite No. 40.

(23) Follow this path until you reach a large crossroads. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn right. After a few metres, you’ll find an uphill path on the left leading to the footbridge. Reach the D179E1, cross it at the pedestrian crossing and continue straight on along the path. Ignore a path on the left and a street on the right until you reach a Fork in the road. Take the left-hand fork and you’ll reach a car park.

(24) Head right at the fork towards the hedge and find an opening leading to the Étangs de la Fossette. Walk round them on the right-hand side (there is a small, well-maintained viewing point right at the start, offering a panoramic view of the site). Return to the entrance gate.

(25) Head left and follow the clearly visible path that goes round the “amphitheatre”. At the T-junction, take the path on the right and you’ll come to a Fork in the road.

(26) Take the path on the left heading west to reach the gate

(27) Take Rue de Mulhouse opposite. Just before reaching the main road, look out for the entrance to a lane on the left.

(28) Follow it to the end, then turn left towards the stadium (gate). Go round it on the left and, after another gate, you’ll reach Rue du Sars.

(29) Follow it to the left, then turn right and left to return to the car park. (S/E).

Now more than ever, good walking shoes and one or two walking poles are essential.

In wet weather, after the second section at (7) (near the Cité), it is best to continue straight on to reach a wide path. Follow this to the left. At the first junction (first-aid post 17 73), turn right and rejoin the normal route.

Practical information 1: At the point (15), ifyou miss the Fork in the road, simply walk to the wider path and follow it to the right for a few metres to find the entrance to the track on the left.

Practical information 2: At the point (19), you can also continue straight on downhill to reach the area near the old sports hall. Then take a path through the wasteland on the right to reach the slab. Cross it to join a small road, which you follow to the right.

There is a lovely view of Olhain Castle.