In the footsteps of Stevenson, starting from Hautmont

In 1876, Stevenson travelled from Antwerp to Compiègne by canoe with his friend. Follow in his footsteps by bike from Hautmont to Étreux.

Details

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  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 55.38 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 14 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 18 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 142 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 122 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Avesnois
  • ⚐ District: Hautmont (59330)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 50.249847° / E 3.916579°
  • ⚑
    End: N 49.990773° / E 3.654876°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2706OT, 2707E, 2707O, 2708E, 2708O, 2806O

  • ◶
    Type of surface:
  •  
     
     
     33% Road  34% Byway  33% Path
  • ⇧
    Bike carrying: Not specified
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the route

Depart from the car park on the banks of the Sambre, on the opposite bank to the marina, at the end of Ruelle de Biérent.

(S) Take the towpath along the Sambre towards France.
(1) At the Boussières-sur-Sambre marina, continue straight ahead on the towpath.

(2) Pass the Pantegnies nature reserve and continue along the riverbank to the Quartes lock at Pont-sur-Sambre.

(3) Continue for a few metres, then cross the bridge over the Sambre and continue along the towpath on the other bank, following the meander of the Sambre. Pass under a road bridge, then under a footbridge, and you will reach the Pont-sur-Sambre bridge.

(4) Cross the bridge over the Sambre with caution to rejoin the towpath on the other bank. Pass the lock keeper's house no. 5 in Pont-sur-Sambre and continue with the river on your right.

(5) Pass the Aymeries Marshes, home to many birds. Information panels. Continue along the towpath to the Berlaimont Lock.

(6) Continue along the towpath.

(7) At the Leval backwater, continue straight ahead (you can take a quick circular detour around the backwater). Head for the next lock.

(8) Continue with the Sambre on your right and, in the distance, you will see the Mormal Forest on your right.

(9) At the Hachette lock, you will see the Robert lifting machine on your right, then continue along the towpath to a bridge over the Sambre.

(10) On your left is the village of Maroilles. Cross the road and take the towpath opposite, heading towards Landrecies.

(11) On the way, observe the wetlands such as the Marais des Étoquies, continue straight ahead and then at the next lock, cross to the other bank and continue along the edge of the waterway.

(12) At the Sambre-Oise Canal bridge in Landrecies, cross the road and continue opposite, keeping the Sambre on your left.

(13) Near Ors, about a hundred metres to the right, you will see the British military cemetery. Continue along the towpath, cross the road at Ors and take the next turn on the right.

(14) You can leave the riverbank to visit the grave of the famous British poet Owen, who was killed in action at Ors, just a few metres away. Then continue along the Sambre.

(15) At the Catillon-sur-Sambre lock, cross the road and continue straight ahead.

(16) At the Rejet de Beaulieu lock house, take note of the fishermen's huts. Cross opposite the lock house and take the right bank. Please note: do not continue on the left bank as the path is no longer passable.

(17) Go under the road bridge and continue straight ahead towards Oisy.

(18) Cross the road and continue along the towpath towards Étreux.

(19) At the Étreux boating stop, continue along the edge of the canal and note the seven successive locks. Head to the car park, then climb up onto the road bridge and cross it to reach Étreux Town Hall Square (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 128 m - Car park, Ruelle de Bierent near the - Gare de Hautmont
  2. 1 : km 2.97 - alt. 126 m - Boussières boat stop - Sambre à finaliser
  3. 2 : km 4.82 - alt. 127 m - Pantegnies Reserve
  4. 3 : km 9.15 - alt. 127 m - Quartes lock at Pont-sur-Sambre
  5. 4 : km 13.53 - alt. 131 m - Bridge at Pont-sur-Sambre
  6. 5 : km 14.86 - alt. 128 m - Aymeries Marshes
  7. 6 : km 17.23 - alt. 130 m - Berlaimont lock
  8. 7 : km 20.19 - alt. 130 m - Leval backwater
  9. 8 : km 23.38 - alt. 130 m - Towpath
  10. 9 : km 26.25 - alt. 131 m - Lifting machine
  11. 10 : km 27.65 - alt. 135 m - Pont Hachette
  12. 11 : km 32.07 - alt. 132 m - Marais des Étoquies
  13. 12 : km 33.77 - alt. 134 m - Bridge over the - Canal de la Sambre à l'Oise
  14. 13 : km 38.21 - alt. 133 m - Cimetière militaire britannique 1 (Ors)
  15. 14 : km 39.43 - alt. 134 m - Centre d'Ors
  16. 15 : km 42.16 - alt. 136 m - Catillon-sur-Sambre lock - Canal de la Sambre à l'Oise
  17. 16 : km 45.63 - alt. 139 m - Rejet de Beaulieu lock keeper's house
  18. 17 : km 47.52 - alt. 140 m - Head towards Oisy
  19. 18 : km 49.67 - alt. 142 m - Head towards Étreux
  20. 19 : km 52.61 - alt. 140 m - Étreux boat stop
  21. E : km 55.38 - alt. 124 m - Étreux Bridge - Noirrieu (rivière) - Affluent de l'Oise

Notes

(6) You can leave the towpath to visit Berlaimont Church.

For more information, download the Baladavesnois app before you set off
https://www.parc-naturel-avesnois.fr/blo...
Once installed, it works without an internet connection.

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