Let’s wander around the mountain

Start: Godewaersvelde, car park on the Place Verte.

(S/E) From the car park, head north past the school, then enter the green space. Leave it fairly quickly to enter the woodland (gates) and reach the tarmac (another gate).

(1) Turn right towards the military cemetery (marker 22). At the end of the cemetery, the path turns right. Follow it, ignoring the path that branches off to the left. A pleasant climb which, after a right-left turn, leads to a tarmac road.

(2) Follow it to the left. About 200m further on (marker 23), turn left towards the Catsberg inn. At the inn, climb up to the right to reach a small road via a rustic staircase.

(3) Follow it to the left and you’ll immediately reach a junction. Turn right onto the ascending path. Just before reaching the tarmac, turn left (post 26). A descending path takes you back to the tarmac road, which you follow to the right.

(4) When the road turns left (post 25), take the path on the right (Chemin du Bois de la Source).
Reach a tarmac path which you follow to the right to reach a T-junction (Col de Berthen 109m!).

(5) Head right to complete the ascent of the Mont (Auberge du Mont des Cats on the right, monastery opposite, marker 52). At the junction, turn left to pass in front of the monastery entrance, keeping to the left-hand side of the road (beautiful view). You will soon find a signposted path leading off to the left (marker 51).
Follow the fence to reach the Chapel of the Passion. Pass beneath the chapel, continuing to follow the fence. A little further on, turn right to head uphill and arrive at the foot of an antenna (mast 54).

(6) Turn left and enter the woods. Follow the path and the markings carefully (the path is a bit slippery) and, on leaving the woods, you’ll reach a road (marker 34).

(7) Follow it straight ahead. At the T-junction (marker 33), turn right and – a few metres further on – take the path branching off to the left (marker 57). This joins a small road (marker 28) which you follow to the right (Rue des Cinq Chemins Verts).
Ignore a street on the left and continue to a junction. Carry on straight ahead for a few metres before taking the path on the left (marked^PR®). You will reach a junction (post 94)--.

(8) Turn right onto the tarmac road, cross a junction and, immediately afterwards, turn right onto Chemin de Rosendaël. Ignore a turn-off on the left and continue to a junction. Head straight up the hill to reach a T-junction.

(9) Follow the road to the left. At the three-way junction, turn left to find a path leading to the D10 (post 88). Turn right onto the D10 and, a few dozen metres further on, turn left onto a wide track. At the T-junction, turn right onto the small road to rejoin the D10.

(10) Cross it carefully and take the path opposite (slightly to the right). Easy at first, the track becomes a little more difficult and reaches a T-junction. Follow the road to the right for about a hundred metres before turning onto the track on the left (marker 60). Walk for about 1.5 km and join a small road which you follow to the left (marker 57). Then turn onto the first road on the left (marker 33).

(7) Stay on the road which turns left. When you reach the ponds (Meuledick), take the path on the right. After a few sections of soft ground, pass a junction (post 48) to reach a T-junction at Piebrouck.

(11) Turn right onto the tarmac and you’ll immediately reach another T-junction. Turn left, then take the first road on the right (post 68, Chemin du Noyer). Pass the “airstrip” on the left, ignore the turn-offs on the right and reach another T-junction.

(12) Turn right and, 800m further on, take the path climbing up to the right to reach a junction. Go straight ahead to reach a three-way junction immediately.

(13) Take the path on the left which turns right to reach a T-junction. Turn left onto Chemin de Boeschepe until you reach the junction (post 40). Then turn right to head back up towards the monastery and arrive at the property wall.

(14) Head down to the left along the wall until you reach a junction (post 56). Take the path opposite and continue to a T-junction (post 39).

(15) Turn right to reach a junction (post 43). Take the D18 on the left for 250m, taking great care as traffic moves quickly when it’s busy.

(16) Take the first road on the right (Chemin de Flêtre) and follow it for about 800m, ignoring the two turn-offs on the right. Look out on the right for a lovely flight of steps marked with the^GRP® Monts des Flandres sign.

(17) Take this staircase. Descend a little (with more or less controlled skids) before turning left into the woodland (with a babbling brook on the right). At the first junction (post 45, though on the ground as of December 2019), head straight on, still through the woodland (the wettest sections have been improved, but they’re no match for our Belgian neighbours’ facilities!). Leave the woodland and reach another junction (buildings on the left).

(18) Head straight on (slightly to the left) along a farm track in poor condition. It zigzags through the fields and passes a few houses before reaching a T-junction (post 46)

(19) Take the tarmac road to the right. Very soon, you’ll find a superb path leading to the front of the motorway. Turn right then left to pass under it.

(20) Just after the bridge, take a path on the left (off^{the GRP®}) (difficult in September 2021: brambles and nettles, but passable) which runs alongside the motorway to reach a small road at the “Flêtre” sign.

(21) Follow the road to the right and take the first path on the left towards a large farm. Turn right to go past the buildings and continue along the grassy path to a T-junction.

(22) Head right until you reach a T-junction where you turn right again. After a block of houses, you’ll reach another T-junction where you’ll rejoin the^GRP®

(23) Turn left for a few metres before taking the path on the right. Pass a block of houses on the left before reaching a detached house on the right.

(24) Just past the house, take a sharp right onto a small road. 500m further on, this turns right.

(25) Continue along the small road. Reach a T-junction where you turn left until you reach the next junction. Turn right onto the D139 to cross over the motorway and reach a few houses.

(26) Turn left onto the tarmac road. 200m further on, turn right onto the right path (old railway line) which will take you straight back towards Godewaersvelde. You will reach a junction.

(27) Continue straight ahead, staying on the path. You will soon reach Godewaersvelde and the Place Verte (S/E).

As usual, wear good shoes, bring walking poles and take food and drink with you.

The first part of the route is very hilly, the end flatter but with a few tricky sections.

There is a system of waymarkers (poles), but it cannot be found online. I’ve picked up a few from the Belgian network. I’m providing them for information only as I haven’t checked them.

(17) Follow the^GRP® for a few kilometres. I discovered this section recently and it’s definitely worth a detour! The only downside is the proximity of the motorway and the noise it generates. It’s surprising that people can criticise wind turbines and their faint whirring.

Alternative at point 25: take the path on the left. After about 400m, when it turns left, go down the embankment to join the path heading off to the right. You’ll reach a small road (building materials depot). Follow the small road a few metres to the right, then take the path on the left. It turns right and heads straight towards the motorway. After a while, it veers slightly to the left, becomes very narrow and is a series of bumps leading to the motorway (a bit tiring, especially as it was very muddy when I walked it). Facing the motorway, turn right and join the D139 to cross the motorway and reach the (26). Allow for a good kilometre more.

(7) Obvious shortcut By turning right, you ‘bypass’ the entire eastern section.

Another option: By parking in front of the monastery, you can do two walks. The western section (17.5 km) in the morning, the eastern section (11.5 km) in the afternoon (picnic tables near the Chapel of the Passion).

Mont des Cats Monastery.
Chapel of the Passion (and its ruins).
Viewpoint from Mont des Cats.