The vast farmland southwest of Tournai

You walk from the agricultural commune of Rumes through a border area where nature reigns supreme. To the west is Flanders, in the south of France and in the north of Tournai. This geographical location has made our village of departure a historical transit point.

The path folds through the countryside. You often walk unpaved on wide paths of all kinds of surfaces. The Hell of the North of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race is not far away. A few large cobbled sections will undoubtedly remind you of this memorable cycling classic. In wet weather, it can become muddy and soggy and a walking stick as additional support against slipping near puddles is recommended. On sunny days, you can enjoy a sunbed, because except for a few forest edges and green tunnels, there is practically no shade.

You also cross small rural hamlets where the ribbon buildings have hit ugly: Rumes (starting village), Taintignies (afternoon stop), La Glanerie (morning), Esplechin (afternoon). The bell towers of Froidmont (afternoon) and Willemeau (afternoon) can be used as small markers that protrude from the treetops.

Wide fields generally refer to large (square) hooves, such as the Ferme de la Motte (La Glanerie), the Ferme du Marais (Willemeau), the Ferme de la Pannerie (Froidmont), the Ferme du Baron (Esplechin) and the Ferme de Quatre-Chins (Esplechin). In the vicinity of the hooves, you walk several times along the meadows where cows consider you an attraction. Cows, indeed, you might have already wondered why so much corn is grown here.