In the footsteps of Saint Benedict

The Ternois is a beautiful region in northern France. There used to be an abbey where good cheese was made, and there is still a shop selling local products.

Details

119043
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 127 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 128 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 154 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 78 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Troisvaux (62130)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 50.416362° / E 2.33821°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2305E, 2305O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at Belval Abbey.

(S) With your back to the abbey, turn right onto the D87 and follow "Les traces de Saint-Benoît" (there is a first sign on the road to the shop).
Ignore the next two streets on the right and continue to a crossroads in the hamlet of Belval. Continue straight on to Béthonval. Ignore the first street on the right in the hamlet and continue for another 100 metres to the next fork.

(1) Turn right onto the road, which turns into a path. After 400 metres, turn left at the fork and continue across the fields. The path veers to the left and joins a road in Conteville-en-Ternois.

(2) Turn right onto the road to the church (signposted) and the presbytery where Saint Benedict lived for a year.

(3) Retrace your steps and turn onto the first road on the right, the D88, which you follow for about 600 metres.

(4) Just before reaching the D99, look for a path that branches off to the right and follow it along the Le Galafe stream. After a small house, the path branches off to the left at the edge of a copse and joins the D99.

(5) On the D99, turn right and follow the road for about 150 metres.

(6) Just after the meadow, a sign indicates to turn right. At the fork that follows immediately, also turn right (don't miss the sign on the left). Continue along the edge of the woods, ignore a path on the right that enters the woods and continue along the edge, going around it on the left to reach the road.

(7) When you reach the road, turn right as indicated by the sign and follow the road until you see a sign telling you to take the path on the right at a bend. Take this path for about 450 metres until you reach a crossroads.

(8) At this point, there are no signs, so turn left and then right to reach the D88.

(9) Turn right for 300 metres, and don't miss the sign telling you to take the path on the left. Continue for 400 metres until you reach a crossroads.

(10) Ignore the "larks" flying overhead and take the road on the left as indicated by the sign.

(11) When you reach the chapel, turn left onto Rue Bazin, which is not very clearly signposted. In the village, a sign will tell you to turn right. Follow Rue Principale until the next fork.

(12) Just before the bend, turn right onto Rue Mère Jean to join theGRP® (there is a sign). Continue straight ahead, ignoring the other paths.

(13) When you reach the road leading to the shop (D87), turn right and continue to the shop car park. You have arrived.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 92 m - Parking - Abbaye de Belval
  2. 1 : km 1.48 - alt. 78 m - On the right at Béthonval
  3. 2 : km 3 - alt. 139 m - On the right Rue Principale
  4. 3 : km 3.43 - alt. 143 m - Church of Conteville-en-Ternois
  5. 4 : km 4.23 - alt. 96 m - Path on the right
  6. 5 : km 5.35 - alt. 123 m - Turn right onto the D99
  7. 6 : km 5.52 - alt. 133 m - Leave the road, turn right
  8. 7 : km 6.33 - alt. 134 m - Turn right
  9. 8 : km 7.1 - alt. 150 m - On the left along the path
  10. 9 : km 8.34 - alt. 150 m - Turn right onto the D88
  11. 10 : km 9.17 - alt. 151 m - On the left
  12. 11 : km 9.93 - alt. 148 m - On the left after the chapel
  13. 12 : km 10.32 - alt. 147 m - Leave the D88, turn right
  14. 13 : km 12.32 - alt. 97 m - Turn right onto the D87
  15. S/E : km 12.66 - alt. 92 m

Notes

Route that can be done by mountain bike.

Parking next to the abbey shop.
Catering available for groups at the abbey (contact the shop on +33 (0)3 21 04 10 10).
Picnic area nearby.

You can visit the abbey (contact the shop):
Belval Abbey
437 rue principale
62130 TROISVAUX

Worth a visit

The Saint-Benoît we are following in the footsteps of is not Saint-Benoît de Nurcie, who lived in the 6th century and wrote the monastic rule that bears his name today. He is Benoît-Joseph Labre, born in 1748 in Amettes (Pas-de-Calais), who died in Rome in 1783, was buried in the same city in the church of Santa Maria dei Monti and canonised in 1881.

The church in Conteville is worth a visit, as is the house opposite where Saint Benedict lived for a year with his uncle, the parish vicar.

In fine weather, you can admire the beautiful landscapes and small villages you pass through.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Jean-Mi 62550
Jean-Mi 62550

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with stunning scenery... we followed the route using the IGN map on our smartphone and had no trouble finding our way... the sun was shining and we saw very few vehicles, mostly just tractors
I encourage you to try this hike if you are visiting the area.

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Bouli62
Bouli62

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Lovely walk, shame the sun didn't shine.
Very good description and the map accurately reflects the terrain.

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ellivuen62odnar
ellivuen62odnar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant surprise: the signposting has been improved since the description was posted online.
A beautiful hike with varied landscapes.

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CatherineCouillet
CatherineCouillet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant hike with some fairly steep climbs – just what we were looking for. However, for photography enthusiasts like us, there wasn't much to get our teeth into. A word of advice: if you want to do this hike and you're not from the area, check out the Belval Abbey website, which looks like a wonderful place to visit, but isn't open every day.

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Emile26
Emile26

Hello

Apologies for the late reply, I have only just seen your message.

Thank you for your comments, they encourage me to keep going!

Please feel free to let me know what could be improved!

I am planning a new hike in Hamel and Lewarde.

Best regards
Emile

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kraidas
kraidas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A big thank you to Emile for his remarkable preparation work. Everything is perfect; truly professional work!!! We recognised this route without any problems by following all your instructions. Next step: we are going to add it to the SOUCHEZ-RANDOS club calendar. This way, we will soon be able to share this beautiful walk in the Ternois region with many club members, hopefully in the sunshine...
Best regards.
kraidas

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clemichele
clemichele

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello

A beautiful, hilly and wooded route in the Ternois region; a hike that the Dainville group will not forget.
Thank you
Clemichele

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