In the footsteps of Wilfred Owen in Ors

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Let's set off on a forest walk in the Bois l'Évêque national forest, following in the footsteps of the poet Wilfred Owen. Notre-Dame de Bonsecours, the Ermitage fountain and the Flaquet pond sound like magical places from fairy tales!

Details

n°1583016
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.63 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 11 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 11 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 146 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 133 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Avesnois
  • ⚐ District: Ors (59360)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 50.115133° / E 3.62372°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2706OT, 2707O
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Photos

Bois l'Evêque Forest
Notre Dame de l'Ermitage Chapel in Ors
Sambre towpath in Ors
British military cemetery

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Wilfred Owen Forest House in Ors.

(S/E) Take the forest path (south-east).

(1) Turn left, then immediately right and walk along the forest track (straight path). You will come out onto a forest road at the edge of the forest.

(2) Turn right, then right again at the intersection. Leave the forest, ignore the two paths on your right and cross the railway line, continuing straight ahead along Rue d'Houis or Rue d'Ouies. After 300 metres, turn left onto the path leading to the British cemetery in Ors and the Chapelle Sainte-Philomène (1847). Continue towards the footbridge to reach the Sambre-Oise Canal.

(3) Turn right onto the towpath. Note the lock and, on the right, the pheasant farm. Climb onto the Captain Bombey bridge, leaving the canal behind.

(4) Turn right towards Ors Church. Then, with your back to the church, continue straight ahead towards Bazuel along the RD160a, then take the second right onto Rue de la Gare (RD160b). Continue straight ahead. You will see a military cemetery on your right.

(5) Cross the railway line and continue along Rue des Tilleuls until you reach the forest, then enter it.

(6) Once you reach the entrance gate to the former military site, turn right. Follow the fence for 300 metres. Turn right to follow the Ruisseau de l'Ermitage stream and then the edge of the forest. Follow the markings carefully. Cross two streams along the way.

(7) At the corner of plot 21, follow the forest lane on the left that leads to the Notre-Dame de Bonsecours Chapel and the Fontaine de l'Ermitage fountain. This peaceful site was already known to the Nervians, who had made it a sacred place.

(1) Continue straight ahead to reach the Wilfred Owen Forest House (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 144 m - Wilfred Owen Forest House in Ors
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 139 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.17 - alt. 144 m - Edge of the forest, on the right - Cimetière militaire britannique 1 (Ors)
  4. 3 : km 1.94 - alt. 133 m - Towpath - Canal de la Sambre à l'Oise
  5. 4 : km 3.03 - alt. 137 m - Captain Bombey Bridge - Sambre à finaliser
  6. 5 : km 3.83 - alt. 141 m - Cimetière militaire britannique 2 (Ors)
  7. 6 : km 4.5 - alt. 144 m - Entrance gate to the military grounds
  8. 7 : km 5.74 - alt. 137 m - Parcel 21
  9. S/E : km 6.63 - alt. 144 m - Wilfred Owen Forest House in Ors

Notes

Route registered with the PDIPR (Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes).
Follow the yellow markings.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Sabrinadeshauts
Sabrinadeshauts

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I completed the route today in beautiful sunshine (and a temperature of 22 degrees). The route is different from how I remember it from a few years ago (it used to start from the church, but now it starts from the forest house), but that doesn't bother me at all! What's more, I was completely alone on the trail.

However, be careful in certain places, especially on the small bridges in the forest towards the end of the route, as one of the planks on one of the bridges is raised and poses a risk of falling (I almost fell because I don't look at my feet when I walk!).

PS: I'm adding this here, but don't blindly follow the yellow markings, as they are full of small errors (e.g. at the end of the towpath, don't go straight ahead, but turn right towards the church!).

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Madame Dakar Reisen
Madame Dakar Reisen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and interesting route following in the footsteps of Wilfred Owen. Lots of diversity, forest, meadows, streams, the Sambre Canal, etc.

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Caroline du 59
Caroline du 59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and varied route: passing through the forest, the pastures of Avesnois and along the Sambre Canal. We had a wonderful time following in the footsteps of Wilfred Owen...

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Alaing59
Alaing59

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, easily accessible, which immerses us in a moving story, that of the poet Wilfrid Owen, who died with his comrades a few days before the end of the fighting. This route encourages us to discover the beautiful Avesnois region.

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CHILDERIC
CHILDERIC

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

CORRECTION: Wilfried Owen passed away on 4 November 1918.

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CHILDERIC
CHILDERIC

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy walk (*) alternating between forest paths, canal towpaths and village streets. This walk focuses on a historical event from the Great War: the tragic death of British poet and soldier Wilfried Owen on 4 September 1918, aged 25. His grave is located in the second military cemetery on the outskirts of the village of ORS.
(*) Provided you follow the description carefully, as a yellow marking at the arrival point 4 invites you to continue along the canal.

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yannouche03
yannouche03

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk!!!
The cool air of the woods at the start and end of the route was very welcome on this beautiful day.
The landscape is varied, with woods, fields and towpaths.

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