The Three Mountains of Flanders

These three mountains watch over Bailleul, the capital of Flanders between Lille and Dunkirk: Mont des Cats, Mont de Boeschepe and Mont Noir, plus Mont Kokereel. From the top of these small hills (180m), you can enjoy views over the surrounding area.

The route offers several points of interest, including Marguerite Yourcenar's house on Mont Noir, the Boschepe mill in the village of the same name, and Mont des Cats and its abbey of Cistercian monks, founded in 1826.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 351 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 354 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 160 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 40 m

Description of the walk

Start: Park In the church car park in Berthen on the D10 towards Bailleul

(S/E) From the car park, take the Grand Rue (D10) towards Bailleul, heading South-East.

(1) Take the small road on your left that leads to the Étang du Château, and stay on this road until you reach the crossroads. Cross the D318 at Carrefour du Pot au Lait and follow the road opposite. Leave the 1road on your left.

(2) Turn left into Chemin de l'Ermitage, ignore the right-hand road and take the left-hand path.

(3) At the fork, turn left to the North, entering the forest along the GR®128. Turn left at all intersections.

(4) Turn right into Parc Marguerite Yourcenar and immediately left, following the GR®.
There are several ways to reach the D318 due North.
Turn left onto the D318 for 100m.

(5) Take the small dead-end road on the right, following the low wall and leaving the asphalt for the path to the end. Turn left onto the Chemin du Mont Noir. You're back on the GR®128 (which you'll follow all the way to Boeschepe) as far as the small road. At the right-hand corner, continue along the track opposite until you reach the road.

(6) Follow the road to the left as far as the end. Turn right, pass the oratory and turn left again at the junction.

(7) Take the track on the right, rejoin the D10 and go as far as the Boeschepe church.

(8) Turn left at the church into Rue de la Mairie. At the end, cross Rue de la Gare and follow Rue du Moulin opposite. Turn right towards the Moulin and join the D10. Turn left on the D10 for 200m. You are still on the GR®128.

(9) You leave the GR®. Go straight on, leaving the 1st road on your left. Continue to the crossroads at the oratory (49m). Take the road on your left, ignoring two roads on your left, to reach the British Military Cemetery.

(10) Take the road on your right. You're back on the GR®.

(11) Take the lane on your left, join the Godewaersvelde church on your right and turn left at the main street (D69).

(12) Turn left into Rue du Mont des Cats as far as Place Verte.

(13) You'll find the GR® again, which you'll keep to until you reach the Mont des Cats pylon. Fork left, then right, then left again, take the paved road and rejoin the path you took to the military cemetery.

(10) Go straight ahead. Ignore a track on your left and another on your right and rejoin Route de l'Abbaye. Turn left at the crossroads.

(14) Turn left, leaving the asphalt for a track. Turn left into Rue du Moulin for 250m.

(15) Take the track on the right, which runs alongside the forest and rejoins the road. Turn left and stay on this road, passing the Abbaye du Mont des Cats and taking the path parallel to the Abbey road.

(16) 50m after the Chapelle de la Passion, turn right towards the transmitter tower.
You now leave the GR®. Go left, around the cemetery and to the end.

(17) Follow the road to the left (Chemin du Rossignol). Ignore the first road on your left, and take the second on the left (Chemin d'Ypres). Go straight ahead at the crossroads. Join Rue de Godewaersvelde. Continue to the left. Join Berthen.

(1) Go left and follow the Grand Rue to the Berthen church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 59 m - Car Park at Berthen Church
  2. 1 : km 0.11 - alt. 58 m - Looping crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.61 - alt. 40 m - Turn left into l’Ermitage path
  4. 3 : km 3.2 - alt. 73 m - Turn left at junction
  5. 4 : km 4.49 - alt. 103 m - Turn right towards the park
  6. 5 : km 5.1 - alt. 111 m - Small road on the right
  7. 6 : km 6.11 - alt. 81 m - Follow the road to the left
  8. 7 : km 8.11 - alt. 109 m - Track on the right, Mont Kokereel
  9. 8 : km 9.55 - alt. 71 m - Left at the church, towards Moulin de l'Ingratitude
  10. 9 : km 11.25 - alt. 76 m - Straight ahead. End of the GR
  11. 10 : km 13.13 - alt. 49 m - Looping crossroads
  12. 11 : km 13.34 - alt. 42 m - Looping crossroads
  13. 12 : km 14.23 - alt. 45 m - Turn left, Rue du Mont des Cats
  14. 13 : km 14.41 - alt. 44 m - Turn left. Place Verte
  15. 14 : km 16.76 - alt. 123 m - Turn left. Auberge
  16. 15 : km 17.35 - alt. 119 m - Take a right. Abbaye du Mont des Cats
  17. 16 : km 18.27 - alt. 154 m - Mont des Cats
  18. 17 : km 18.7 - alt. 125 m - Follow the road to the left. Chemin du Rossignol
  19. S/E : km 20.55 - alt. 59 m - Berthen Church car park

Practical information

Start: Park In the church car park in Berthen on the D10 towards Bailleul

Facilities: At waypoint (6) you'll find benches in the Parc Marguerite Yourcenar.

Refreshments : At waypoint (12) several restaurants and small cafés.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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