Slag heap 74 and 74A, the highest in Europe

An itinerary that will take you to Europe's king of slag heaps! You'll first discover the former 11/19 base with its headframes and mining buildings currently being converted. You'll also enjoy a few pleasant passages through the undergrowth.

Technical sheet

1933868
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 228 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 232 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 184 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 46 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To reach the car park, follow the "Base 11/19" signs from Rue Léon Blum.

(S) From the car park, head north, leaving the mine buildings behind, to reach the pedestrian bridge over the dual-carriageway.

(1) Once you've crossed the footbridge, you'll arrive at the site of the twin slag heaps. Take the tarmac path downhill to the right. Before the barrier, take a left-hand path that runs into the woods, entering the slag heap site. 200m further on, at the crossroads, go straight ahead and continue for a hundred metres.

(2) Turn left onto a hairpin path that leads up into the undergrowth.
After a final loop, you come to a wider, straight path, a fence on one side, turn left for 100m.

(3) Turn right onto a path that climbs between the slag heap and the plateau.

(4) Once on the plateau, you can climb slag heap 74.
Caution: steep ascent, which may soon be forbidden.
Take the same path back down and walk counter-clockwise around the plateau (table-shaped slag heap). Rejoin the ascent to slag heap 74A.

(5) The path is wider and winds up to the summit.

(6) Enjoy the view, then take the same path back down.

(5) Join a path which, on the left, slopes gently down to the edge of the plateau (opposite direction to your arrival). The path meanders and then joins an undergrowth.

(7) Turn right into the undergrowth. After a while, you'll reach the westernmost point.

(8) Turn left onto a much more open path. Continue straight ahead and catch up with a wider, straighter path that leads back to the spoil heap site you can see on your left.

(1) Rejoin the starting footbridge and cross the 9/11 base from the other side, to the left. Walk clockwise around the two headframes. Return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 75 m - Departure car park
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 75 m - Entrance to the slag heap site
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 46 m - Intersection. Left hairpin.
  4. 3 : km 1.48 - alt. 77 m - Ascent between the slag heap and the plateau
  5. 4 : km 1.72 - alt. 118 m - Ascent of terril 74
  6. 5 : km 3.07 - alt. 117 m - Ascent to the slag heap 74A
  7. 6 : km 3.39 - alt. 184 m - Summit 74A
  8. 7 : km 4.61 - alt. 65 m - Entrance to the undergrowth
  9. 8 : km 4.97 - alt. 83 m - Most westerly point
  10. S/E : km 7.05 - alt. 75 m - Car park

Practical information

There's a lot to see at the top of the slag heaps. Grab your binoculars!

Spend some time in the 11/19 base, with its many refurbished buildings and the @chaîne_des_terrils site. Volunteers will give you lots of information about the history, present and future of the coalfield.

This majestic site is sometimes dirty. Some people mistake it for a rubbish dump, so don't hesitate to take gloves and pick up some rubbish.

In the nearby area

Join the "Défi Terril Unesco" 'Unesco slag heap challenge': 51 slag heaps to climb!

To do so, it's very simple, take a selfie at the top of the slag heap and share it with #defiterril and @defiterril on Instagram or by email defiterril@gmail.com

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
jmrob28
jmrob28
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

There are no markings on the route, and without a GPS I wouldn't have been able to complete the hike as there are lots of trail options along the way. The GPS route is perfect. The access to terril 74A was very slippery during my hike (fog), so my walking poles came in very handy. Otherwise, the hike is very interesting, with passages in the undergrowth at the start and end of the hike. Not to mention the superb 360° view from the top of terril 74A.
I would recommend

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Marc 62
Marc 62

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk alternating between undergrowth and the slag heap section with no vegetation
Very pleasant little climb
Very nice view from the top
Very accessible
Worth doing!

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Lenam96
Lenam96

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It's a very, very windy day, but the weather's finally nice and warm, so we're off to the slag heaps!
The 74A is closed to the public, which is a shame!
Otherwise, it's a nice walk through the undergrowth at the start, then all this view before starting the ascent of the 74 slag heap!
The only downside is that you have to walk along the motorway on the way back, unfortunately...
Thanks for this route!

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chantal.bregnard
chantal.bregnard

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

terril 74 A is no longer accessible to the public

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marcheursderoeux
marcheursderoeux

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It is currently very difficult to follow the route correctly as the site is currently being modified.

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edith et marcel
edith et marcel
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Hello. Thanks to the Visorando app! For the start, don't be afraid to enter the pit lane to park your vehicle easily. Medium difficulty? Yes, except for the slag heaps and especially the 74 if you follow the route. The 74A is a slightly better climb. And thanks again to the app! Because from point "7" to after "8" where "catch up with a wider path..." it would be a good idea to revise the description by giving more details at the "intersections" because there are more paths than are indicated in dotted lines on the map.
But the panorama at the top of the slag heaps is magnificent and worth every effort (mine, for example) to climb them.

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wacheuxjp@gmail
wacheuxjp@gmail

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

In reality, we parked our car on the square in loos en gohelle. We had great difficulty getting to the start of your trail because nothing is indicated in the town (no yellow trail sign...). The mayor should be informed because although the leaflets given to the town hall are good, the trail in the town is not there.

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Rémydef
Rémydef
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A particularly original and super hike.
You need good shoes as the terrain can be a little slippery. I'd also recommend following the trail using the visorando app (if you have a smartphone), as it's not always easy to see the waymark in places on the trail.
The views over the coalfield are truly astonishing.
A must-do if you're ever in the area.

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dominique.pourchayre
dominique.pourchayre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A must do but fortunately visorando was there as there was very little information on the ground.
you have to climb the 2 slag heaps, it's really worth it and it climbs, so don't do it when the weather's too hot - we enjoyed the grey that day.

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MAMIEJO
MAMIEJO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Atypical ride. A little step back in history
Beautiful views from the top of the slag heaps.

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DominiqueFacon
DominiqueFacon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very nice walk. Terril 74 is steeper, for experienced sportspeople as it is a little slippery. Access to the top of terril 74A is easier. The 360° view on a clear day is impressive. I think I can make out the towers of Lille. I'd definitely recommend it.

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