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.

Details

9038883
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.56 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 384 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 384 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 453 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 92 ft

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 : mi 0 - alt. 102 ft - Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Saint-Jans-Cappel)
  2. 1 : mi 0.28 - alt. 144 ft - On the left opposite N°438
  3. 2 : mi 0.45 - alt. 112 ft - Crossroads, right
  4. 3 : mi 0.79 - alt. 131 ft - Houblonnière" sign, left
  5. 4 : mi 1.13 - alt. 184 ft - Entrance to - Étang des Trois Fontaines
  6. 5 : mi 1.33 - alt. 295 ft - Small wood, right
  7. 6 : mi 1.9 - alt. 397 ft - Right towards - Cimetière Britannique (Saint-Jans-Cappel)
  8. 7 : mi 2.14 - alt. 348 ft - RD223
  9. 8 : mi 2.56 - alt. 285 ft - Carrefour, on the right
  10. 9 : mi 3.28 - alt. 171 ft - Crossing, straight on
  11. 10 : mi 4.02 - alt. 144 ft - Hommelhofstraete, right
  12. 11 : mi 4.49 - alt. 92 ft - Chapel, right
  13. S/E : mi 6.56 - alt. 102 ft - Saint-Jans-Capell church car park

Notes

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
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 5537378

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route offering beautiful views of the region.

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Ginoutaktou
Ginoutaktou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

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jfcastelain
jfcastelain
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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pierduq
pierduq

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk in the undergrowth at the start and beautiful scenery

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jfcastelain
jfcastelain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Busy, yes, but very good.

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Lesfillesde DK
Lesfillesde DK

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

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Quentin pomme de pin
Quentin pomme de pin

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

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

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Julie B80
Julie B80

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

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thorwordor
thorwordor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

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jackichang
jackichang

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

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ZEBULON DE LILLE
ZEBULON DE LILLE
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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)

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MEURISSE
MEURISSE

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

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Premgun
Premgun

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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).

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Chonchon59160
Chonchon59160

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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

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Kaeliss
Kaeliss

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

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