On the plateau between the Lys and the Aa

Park in front of Dennebrœucq church.

(S/E) Head towards the traffic lights. 100 m further on, take the small road on the right (^GR® 127). Ignore the side paths and reach a crossroads at a place called Saint-Aubin.

(1) Continue straight on (leaving the^GR® for a moment) along a dirt track until you reach another crossroads.

(2) Turn right uphill. Further up, the path turns sharply right. Continue until you reach the vicinity of the D133.

(3) Just before the main road, turn left onto the ascending path (back onto the^GR®) and follow it to the D92. Follow it to the left until you reach a junction at the top of the hill.

(4) Turn right onto the ridge path (fitness trail on the right). Continue to the farm (summit of Mont Saint-Liévin). Go round it and take the second path on the left. A slightly difficult downhill path leading to the D158. Cross it and continue along the wide path opposite to reach a fork.

(5) Turn left and, heading downhill, join the D938. Cross it with care and continue straight ahead along Rue de la Creuse to reach a T-junction.

(6) Turn right. 100 metres further on, just after the first house, leave the small road and take the path climbing up to the right. After a steep climb, reach the plateau, which you cross straight ahead until you reach the D928 (in the meantime, the^GR® has turned left towards the church at Merck-Saint-Liévin).

(7) Follow it to the left for about 200 m. This section is a bit rough: take care. At the wayside shrine, leave the main road and take the small road on the right.

(8) After about 250 m, leave it to take the hairpin bend on the left and follow it to reach a small road.

(9) Follow it to the right until, after 1 km, you reach a T-junction. Then turn left onto the track to reach a small road.

(10) Follow it to the right towards the first houses in Maisnil.

(11) At the first house, turn right onto the path and join the D190.

.(12) Follow it to the right for about a hundred metres, then turn left onto a slightly downhill path (Fond de la Grimette, slightly muddy) and join the D133, opposite a wind turbine.

(13) Turn left and, 200 m further on, reach a fork. Leave the road and take the path on the left. Ignore a path on the left and another on the right, and reach Bois Cazier. Continue straight on (due south) and reach the D158. Cross it and continue straight on for another 300 m to the edge of Bois Quartier.

(14) Turn left at the edge of the woods. At the end, at the T-junction, take the descending path on the right (very slippery in early February 2022, see practical information). As you leave the woods, the path improves and joins a small road.

(15) Turn left towards the woods. You’ll reach a T-junction.

(16) Turn left at the edge of the woods. As you leave the woods, turn right and continue straight on, downhill. The path widens and reaches a T-junction.
Turn right, then right again to follow the road, then reach the D 157.

(17) Cross it (Take care!) and follow it for a few metres to the right. Don’t miss the path that branches off to the left just after a house.
Follow this lovely path which crosses the Lys. You’ll reach a fork.

(18) Turn right, then right again to reach the hamlet of Lillette. At the junction, turn right. The small road then turns left and reaches a T-junction at the Riotte mill. Turn left and continue for another 800 m along the small road, following the stream (on the left). Look out for the path leading off to the right (sign saying ‘dogs on lead’).

(19) Take this lovely path and join the D92.

(20) Follow it to the right, cross the Lys again and join the D157. Then turn left to return to the car park in front of the church (S/E).

Of course, good walking shoes are essential and a walking stick or two are no bad idea.

After point (14), it might be worth taking the lovely grassy path just before the T-junction. It seems more comfortable and I think it leads to the southern edge (to be checked!)