Haverskerque

Starting from the church of Haverskerque, we walk in the morning along the local hiking trail “Le Sentier des trois Clochers” through or past three quiet village centers, between wide fields on fertile clay soil and along and into the Forest of Nieppe.

Since the 13th century, a winding Leie has been the natural border between Flanders and France, but in Roman times it was also the boundary between the tribe of the Menapians (to the north of the Leie) and the Morini. After the French Revolution (1789), it became the border between the departments of Le Nord and Pas-de-Calais. After just over 9 km, we cross the (canalized) Leie in St. Venant at a picturesque little harbor.

“Le Sentier des Sorcières” leads us towards S(treek)GR Tour de la Lys, which we follow for 9 km through farmland and along the right bank of the Leie. Back in St. Venant, we change departments again, leave the SGR, and walk along a beautiful grassy path along the left bank of the Leie to our starting point, Haverskerque.

We walk for just over half of the time on traffic-free gravel paths and forest trails.