Hiking Picardy

In the heart of a hundred-year-old forest of maritime pines, poplars and alders, planted from 1855 to 1882 on 800 hectares of dunes, 50 km of marked forest trails are reserved for pedestrians. They allow you to discover, while walking, another facet of Le Touquet under its natural aspect, starting from the Palais de l'Europe. If you are tempted by the discovery of the bay, the Le Touquet villas and the local flora, take the Daphné or La Pomme de Pin trails which will offer you superb views at the price of a few short climbs and winding detours in the shade of the trees. The Feuille de Chêne trail crosses the forest to meet its rich flora and fauna. But the most beautiful walk to be done is certainly the long Argousier walk (plan a picnic!), which crosses dunes and goes along the sea.

A vast selection of different nature outings, all with two things in common: the passion of our guides and the exceptional setting of the Baie de Somme. Depending on your tastes and desires, you can embark on a crossing of the bay (from Le Crotoy or Saint-Valery), meet birds and seals, admire the high tides or, for bird lovers, explore the Grand-Laviers bird sanctuary. In short, an ideal opportunity to discover the Baie de Somme from the delightful angle of nature!

This Voie Verte on the towpath along the Scarpe canal is a real pleasure to ride! Whether on foot or by bike, the Scarpe canal towpath is eight kilometers long. It has a stabilized dolomite surface, suitable for all types of bikes but not rollerblades. It's a safe way to reach these villages, and a number of nature parks will punctuate your strides or pedal strokes.

The Buckthorn is a 13 km walk to discover Le Touquet in natural surroundings. For this you go up the boulevard of La to the park of Canche Bay, where seals like to enjoy. Cross the sea for an hour to reach the dune area, south of the station. You will take a wide winding road that crosses the Dit À, and will bring you back gradually to the city. The plan for this hike is available at the Tourist Office.

Accessible to all for 7 years, only, with family or friends, do not hesitate to discover with the state-patented instructors the joys of this sports hobby. As a result of a quick initiation on a marked route, they will take you to the discovery of the Parc Park and its 25 km of wild beach… And for addicts, through the hikes, technical complements will be brought to improve your level of practice in order to be closer to nature. Ozone also organizes nautical hikes and towed buoy.

During this 15 km loop around Hardelot castle, you will discover: the marshes of Condette, the regional nature reserve and the dune environment of Écault. On the historical side, the castle dating from the 9th century is now home to the Franco-British Entente Cordiale Center. A hike which oscillates between villages and seaside resorts. The whole constitutes a major reservoir of biodiversity and an ecological corridor for the region. There are 345 plant species in the marshes of Condette, several of which are considered as heritage!

Located at Oye-Plage, the Platier d'Oye Nature Reserve is the first French stopover for migratory birds. On this large flat area where dunes, sandy banks and stretches of water mingle, twenty species of mammals, such as the Highland Scottish cow, 230 species of birds and several species of amphibians, including the calamite toad and the green frog, live side by side. The flora is also richly represented, with 361 species, six of which are nationally protected. The hiker will recognize the oyat, a small plant used to fix the dune, the obione, the sea buckthorn or the Curtis violet. A unique place to observe the fauna and flora of the coast and a very nice walk to do with the family. Tip: when the weather is nice, bring a hat and sun cream as there are very few shady areas. And above all, take your binoculars to observe the fauna and flora more closely.

A short loop, very low differences and beautiful views: This is what attracts the most reluctant to walk on foot! The promenade we are offering you is evolving on the Chemin des Dames, the flagship site of the First World War. We are very appreciative of the few interpretive signs that go on the course: if history lessons are a little (too) distant, they remind us of the major points. As you will understand, this discovery tour combines the useful to the pleasant, and is strongly recommended for families with children or adolescents.

Tariff: free.

Distance: 2,5 km.

Duration: 1 h.

Difficulty: very easy.

For you, we have selected two beautiful hikes starting from Fère-en-Tardenois. You can download the information sheet on the website www.randonner.fr : Le grès qui va boire. The walk will take you to the fortress of Nesles and the elegant castle of Fère. The latter is said to have served as a model for the construction of Chenonceau. The Aisne by bike: in the land of the Claudels. From the family home, you will ride down to the ruins of Val-Chrétien. Discover the former abbey of the Prémontrés order. Finally, go to the rocks of the Hottée du Diable.

Leave from the church of Liessies to discover this path that goes around the departmental park of the abbey of Liessies. This path will satisfy both your desire for nature with its wet meadows, the Helpe, ponds and orchards, and your wish to discover the heritage of the region with the foothills of the Ardennes and why not visit the church of Saint-Jean. This route is perfectly adapted to family walks, the circuit can even be covered in a stroller.

A footbridge leads along the canal to the Chaboud-Latour pond. Don't forget your binoculars for bird-watching. The path continues towards the ramparts before returning to the town. The church of Saint-Wasnon, a listed historic monument, is well worth a visit. A little further on, you can see the Château de Baillleul, as well as the belfry and an old watermill. It's a hike that's both sporting and cultural!

A very beautiful and easy hike, easily accessible by bus from Douai: the Terrils of Escarpelle and Pâturelles. Entirely reserved for pedestrians, they are as much a precious testimony of the mining past of the region as a reason to walk in nature (which has reclaimed the place). From the top, you can see the town of Roost-Warendin, but also the headframe shaft which is clearly visible on the horizon. Recommended for families!

A natural site of an exceptional scale, which testifies to the way in which a former industrial environment can become, in the space of a few decades, a Natura 2000 labelled area! Between the ponds and the many migratory birds (which feel at home here), you can still see many traces of the old mine, including the headframe of the old Ledoux pit. Don't hesitate to make the tour of the ponds, a nice hike of 9 kilometers.

A walk on the Argales slag heap (and the surrounding area) is to observe the impressive metamorphosis of a former abandoned industrial site that has become a sensitive natural area. Here, lizards, fishermen and sportsmen have replaced the cars and cranes of yesteryear. It is a pleasure to walk around, to practice a little sport, alone or with the family, in this impressive setting. With facilities specially dedicated to sailing and mountain biking, there are many opportunities to get out and about, for fun and pleasure!

A nice hike through the wood of Lewarde, three kilometers long and that can be done easily in less than an hour: it is the circuit of the Wood of Lewarde. Ideal to discover the wooded and forested side of the region, you just have to follow the yellow PR markings or the (legendary) red and white GR 21 which follows the same route. As you walk along, keep an eye on the horizon: you may see the Centre Minier (mining center) coming into view!

Several walks to do in the surroundings. The Bois Semé circuit starts at the Basilica Notre-Dame de Liesse, passes through the Grand Marais and then from Saint-Boëtien and returns by the village of Missy-lès-Pierrepont and Bois Semé. The circuit of the Ru of the Buze is shorter, it crosses the marshes, along the canals and the ru of the Buze. The hiking of Saint-Boëtien extends from Chivres to Mâchecourt, bypassing the Château-château du Marais and gradually sinking into the funds of the Saint-Boëtien marsh. Finally, St. Augustine's walk, taking to the laonnoise plain, passes through the marshes before continuing in the agricultural field of Sainte-Suzanne. You can choose!

A hike in the Champagne vineyards is a discovery in several stages. Set off on a 44-kilometer hike (approx. 13h) in the heart of the Champagne vineyards. Discover the Marne river, the Dhuys aqueduct, Château-Thierry, the Essômes-sur-Marne abbey church and winegrowing villages. This itinerary takes you to the heart of the wine-growing area closest to Paris, through rolling countryside, picturesque villages and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Enjoy a well-deserved glass of champagne at any of the estates you visit!

Since January 2012, the association has opened an antenna in Guignicourt. A new one that should delight walkers. The association organizes an average of 200 trips per year, but also stays from 3 to 8 days for the most for. Its president, Daniel Kutarasinski, will welcome you with a smile, and you will soon no longer be able to spend the convivial atmosphere in the group of walkers. Go hop, we enflie his shoes, and we go!

On the territory of the municipality, you will find twohiking trails including the "sentier des Marais". Starting from the Place Salengro, this trail allows you to discover Beuvry, a green city and a nautical stopover, or if you have time, to explore the surrounding territory. Two loops are available, one of 6 km or a hike of 13 km of average difficulty. In the woods, in the spring, you are guaranteed to be delighted with the multitude of dragonflies.

The Bellenville estate offers four trails to discover a unique flora and fauna. As you walk along, keep an eye out and you may be lucky enough to discover the very fast kingfisher (it can reach 80 km/h!) or the very elegant grey heron. These wetlands are a precious asset for the region and make this place a major site of the Sensitive Natural Spaces. The four trails are short and suitable for everyone, enough to share a family walk in the heart of this teeming nature.