Marais Trail in Nortkerque

This path takes you to one of the four villages of the Pays du Brédenarde, Nortkerque, which can be translated as ‘church of the North’. Geologically, the former Pays du Brédenarde consists of a layer of clay resting on chalk that overlooks the coastal plain. It is a landscape of hedgerows, fruit trees and livestock farming. In the past, the Brédenarde also included the municipalities of Audruicq, Zutkerque and Polincove.

(4) Please note: the footbridge no longer exists; access is impossible until further notice (see practical information).

Details

n°2802796

Creation:
09 Dec 2019

Last update:
14 Apr 2026

Last review:
14 Apr 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.23 km
Average duration: 2h 40
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 8 m
Descent: - 8 m
Highest point: 10 m
Lowest point: 1 m

Country: France
City: Nortkerque (62370)
Start/End: N 50.875419° / E 2.024473°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2203E
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park opposite Nortkerque Town Hall.

(S/E) Opposite the town hall, turn left for a few metres, then left again to join Rue Edmond d’Artois.

(1) Turn right into Rue de la Liette. Cross the level crossing and, immediately afterwards, take the path on the left which initially runs alongside the railway line before veering away from it.

(2) Turn right and follow the Calais–Saint-Omer canal.

(3) Take Rue Droite, then take the path on the left. Walk past the wooded, private plots reserved for hunting from hides; the area is marshy.

(4) Cross the footbridge and continue straight ahead. Then turn right and cross the bridge.

(5) Just after the power line, turn right onto Rue Ferdinand Piers and continue to the D224.

(6) Turn slightly right and walk along it carefully. Go under the railway line.

(7) At the corner of the garage, turn right and follow the railway line.

(8) Continue left onto Rue Monecove. Once back on the D224, turn right and follow the road, which will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 9 m - Nortkerque Town Hall, car park
1 : km 0.77 - alt. 3 m - Rue de la Liette
2 : km 2.27 - alt. 2 m - Canal de Calais
3 : km 3.61 - alt. 2 m - Rue Droite
4 : km 4.45 - alt. 2 m - Footbridge
5 : km 6.35 - alt. 6 m - Rue Ferdinand Piers
6 : km 6.8 - alt. 7 m - D224
7 : km 7.52 - alt. 6 m - Garage
8 : km 8.28 - alt. 7 m - Rue Monecove
S/E : km 9.23 - alt. 9 m - Nortkerque Town Hall, car park

Notes

To avoid crossing the footbridge at (4):
(3) Take Rue Droite and follow it to the four-way junction. Turn left (Rue de la Liette), passing No. 173, and continue to a small bridge over a ditch, about twenty metres before No. 221. Turn left onto the path and follow it, keeping the stream on your left, until you reach the next bridge and rejoin the original route.
(4) Turn right.

.More info at www.tourismeaudruicq-oyeplage.fr

Worth a visit

Saint-Martin Church and Triumphal Arch
Saint-Martin Church was built in 1838. It was not given a bell tower until 1932. This bell tower is in the Art Deco style. This style is based on the use of simple geometric shapes and volumes. In the cemetery, you can see a triumphal arch dating from 1754, leading to the presbytery (1753). You can also see the war memorial designed by Edward Lauteri (1848–1917).

The Vicomtesse’s Castle
The construction of this château dates back to the 17th century. The Countess of Valois lived there for many years. The proportions of this château reflect the Templars’ golden ratio, with its 18 paned windows and its Masonic pediment, whose triangle signified the warm welcome reserved for visitors of the same faith.

Palme Castle
This château dates from the 18th century. Set in lush greenery, it bears witness to the town’s aristocratic past.

The Calais-Saint-Omer Canal
Stretching 30 km, this canal has linked the River Aa to the city of Calais since the 17th century, shortening the journey for barges that once used the Mardyck Canal and the River Oye. Barge traffic is less frequent than in the past, yet one or two boats can still be seen passing by each day.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5

Route interest
3.8 / 5

Denis26

14 Apr 2026 at 08:49 7200

Thank you for your comments; I have just added a warning to the introduction and suggested an alternative solution in the practical information section.

Machine-translated

User 7247744

13 Apr 2026 at 14:45 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The footbridge destroyed at point 4 three years ago – reportedly by flooding – has still not been repaired.
Worse still, the signposting has not been updated, forcing walkers to make a 1 km detour.
It is possible to take a shortcut via Rue Droite and cross the railway line at point 8 via a pedestrian level crossing, which is not shown on the map.

Machine-translated

User 10620313

17 May 2025 at 08:40 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The footbridge across the canal no longer exists after the floods. So you have to continue on the road for a while.

Machine-translated

Brigitte95

28 Oct 2024 at 12:24 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The footbridge that must be used was non-existent the day we were there.
The route is particularly challenging on small roads.

Machine-translated

tatalia

06 Nov 2023 at 11:32 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

no particular difficulties - the section along the canal is very pleasant - the road crossing sections are less so

Machine-translated

christophebr

23 Oct 2023 at 09:44 7200 • Edited: 23 Oct 2023 at 10:05 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short, half-urban, half-rural circuit.

Start on the road opposite the town hall.

Nice sections along the Canal de Calais.

All in all, a good little walk (you can do it in considerably less time than indicated) in Nortkerque.

Machine-translated

Premgun

05 Nov 2022 at 15:27 3600 • Edited: 05 Nov 2022 at 15:30 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice route with no difficulties. Perfect description and map.
Discover 2 beautiful manor houses.

Machine-translated

BenBay

26 Oct 2020 at 18:52 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Quite an interesting walk, with the presence of 2 classical-style manor houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries at the start of the route, in Rue Edmond d'Artois, which is surprising for a village in the Ardresis!
On the other hand, the last few kilometres are less interesting, as you have to walk along the busy RD on the grassy verges, even though there is plenty of space and little danger from cars.

This route is best done in cool, dry weather, as it takes you for several kilometres through fields on damp, grassy dirt roads.

Machine-translated

Plume123

14 Sep 2020 at 12:07 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There's a slight problem at the start. With your back to the town hall, the road is on the right along the car park.
The least popular part is the departmental road, which is very busy.
Very pleasant and quiet walk. Could be done again with a change to the road section.

Machine-translated

Julien-42

14 Sep 2020 at 10:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Green, quiet, well-described walk.

Machine-translated

MAMIEJO

30 May 2020 at 18:49 7200 • Edited: 01 Jul 2020 at 14:56 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and very easy walk.

Machine-translated

Juju5905

25 May 2020 at 11:32 7200 • Edited: 01 Jul 2020 at 14:56 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very good, well-marked walk

Machine-translated

STaniel

18 May 2020 at 13:56 7200 • Edited: 01 Jul 2020 at 14:56 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A great little hike, ideal for gently winding down!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.

Author

CPETI
12 Walks

Tourist office

PRO

66 place Général de Gaulle
62370 Audruicq
Tel:03.21.00.83.83
Website:http://www.tourismeaudruicq-oyeplage.fr

Machine-translated walk - Original version

Walk map

Bigger map and chart