Walk with Jay (2025)

28/10/2025

🌳 A few weeks ago, I shared a walk in Watten. Not far from there, you can also visit La Forêt d’Éperlecques.

It’s a vast forest of around 900 hectares, although most of it is privately owned. About 70 hectares are open to the public, so it’s not a long hike, but still one that’s worth discovering.

What makes it special is its natural diversity. The forest is home to beautiful flora and fauna, and if you’re lucky, you might spot a fire salamander or a grass snake along the trail. The loop itself is quite short, making it ideal for nature photographers who prefer not to carry heavy gear for too long. The quiet atmosphere adds to its charm, perfect for a calm afternoon outdoors.

The landscape is also quite interesting. During World War II, this area was the target of heavy Allied bombings, as it was one of the sites used to launch the V2 rocket. The massive Blockhaus of Éperlecques still stands as a reminder of that period, and along the trail you can still see several bomb craters hidden among the trees.

What I like most about this region is how many short walking routes you can find nearby. Le Sentier de la Montagne de Watten (1.1 km), Le Lac Bleu (1.82 km), Argilière de l’Aa (1.9 km), Étangs du Romelaëre (2.7 / 4 km) and others all offer something a bit different, perfect for exploring during a short road trip.

And for anyone interested in World War II history, it’s definitely worth visiting the bunker itself. I’ve been there a few times as a child and later as a teenager, and the inside is truly impressive. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit it again this time, but I plan to return next year and share more about it on my other page Traces from the past .

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La Forêt d'Éperlecques
https://eden62.fr/espaces-naturels-a-decouvrir/les-espaces-naturels-sensibles-2/foret-deperlecques/

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and follow the page to explore more interesting places in the Westhoek and Hauts-de-France. 👍

24/10/2025

🌳 On this walk, you follow junction points instead of a standard signposted trail. The route takes you through several wooded areas, including Kraterbos, Sanctuary Wood and Armagh Wood. This region suffered heavily during the First World War and still holds many places of historical interest.

The walk starts at junction 43, heading towards ’t Hooge. If you wish to visit Hill 62, you can make a short detour at junction 46, though I chose to continue straight ahead. A mountain bike event seemed to be taking place that day, so I preferred to keep walking before the paths became too crowded. Passing through the quiet Drieblotenbos, the route continues to ’t Hooge, where you can visit Hooge Crater Cemetery and the Hooge Crater museum, both worth a stop.

From there, the walk continues towards Bellewaerde Ridge, a strategically important position because of its wide view over the surrounding landscape. In May 1915, heavy fighting took place here.

The traces of those battles can still be found in the Kraterbos, where 21 large and small mine craters have been preserved. The ground was never levelled after the war and later became forested. Two large German craters along the path exploded beneath the British front line.

At the corner of the forest stands the Royal Engineers Grave, marking the site where twelve soldiers, eight Royal Engineers of the 177th Tunnelling Company and four attached infantrymen, were killed between November 1915 and August 1917 while tunnelling under the hill near Hooge. Their bodies were never recovered, and a memorial was erected after the war.

The walk then continues across open fields towards Mount Sorrel. A short break at Maple Copse Cemetery offers a moment to rest and reflect. During the Battle of Mount Sorrel (2–13 June 1916), Advanced Dressing Stations were set up in this area to treat the many wounded. Numerous casualties were buried here, particularly from the Canadian 3rd Division, which suffered heavy losses. Many of the original graves were later destroyed by shellfire, and only 78 could be identified afterwards.

The area around Mount Sorrel, Sanctuary Wood, Hill 62 and Armagh Wood was at the centre of intense combat. The Canadian 3rd Division, which had little battle experience at the time, held the front line but was pushed back by German forces. A counterattack on 3 June 1916 failed, but a second one on 13 June succeeded and is considered the first major Canadian victory of the war.

The route then leads back through Armagh Wood and the Gasthuisbossen, returning to junction 43, where the walk began.

I will go into more detail about these places on my other page, Traces from the past. If you are looking for a walk through nature with a varied landscape and the chance to learn more about the area’s wartime history, this route is definitely worth doing.

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Follow junction points (9.7km):
43-45-46-74-73-86-19-72-71-70-44-29-30-43

8902 Zillebeke

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21/10/2025

🌿 The Steenakkermolen Path starts at the historic windmill that gives the trail its name, standing next to the Hill 25 Museum, which was closed during my visit. Over its 9.8 kilometres, the trail weaves through open countryside, connecting nature, heritage, and the many layers of history that have shaped this corner of Flanders.

The story of the Steenakkermolen sets the tone for the walk. During the First Battle of Ypres in October 1914, the mill stood on the front line. Its elevated position made it a key observation point, and it was destroyed in the fighting. Wilhelm Schreinen described these battles in "Der Tod von Ypern", giving it the grim nickname “Totenmühle (the Death Mill).” In the 1920s, millwright Jules Lievens rebuilt it, transporting parts from another mill piece by piece with a horse and cart.

Not far from the trail once lay Poelcapelle Ehrenfriedhof II, a German military cemetery with 1,154 German soldiers and around 90 British. Many were killed near the Steenakkermolen on 23–24 October 1914. The cemetery was once considered one of the most beautifully laid-out German cemeteries in West Flanders. Today, nothing remains except a small patch of unploughed ground, likely marking the foundations of the original entrance.

Further along rises the Goudberg, a hill linked to two very different battles. In WWI, on 2 December 1917, British troops fought a fierce engagement known as the “Moonlight Massacre”.

The hill was also the site of the Battle of Westrozebeke in 1382. Rebel Flemish cities, led by Philip van Artevelde of Ghent, faced the forces of Count Louis of Male and his French allies. Confident after an earlier victory at Beernem, Van Artevelde’s smaller militia confronted tens of thousands of troops. On a misty November morning, Van Artevelde’s men advanced from the Goudberg but were quickly surrounded. Many fled, while Artevelde and a core group fought to the death. His body was displayed as a warning. The defeat ended the Flemish uprisings and marked a turning point in medieval Flanders.

During the First World War, the area around the Goudberg and Steenakkermolen became a battlefield of shell craters and mud, with soldiers crossing on narrow wooden duckboards. Today, most scars have vanished, but traces remain. Many farms still carry the wartime names given to them — Hübner, Bray, Quebec, Varlet, and Wi******er.

The Steenakkermolen Path now offers a quiet view of a landscape where nature has returned, and here and there, the past can still be glimpsed.

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Steenakkermolenpad (9.8km)
https://www.langemark-poelkapelle.be/file/download/84cf0e15-8dcd-4660-b32c-f4d6b0d8f20b/539B63FCC2DAF91B79B2013ED8C74D99

👉 Discover more hikes at: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes
and follow the page to explore even more interesting spots in the Westhoek and Hauts-de-France. 👍

17/10/2025

🌿 Watten is a small village just within the borders of the Westhoek. The Windmill of Watten has always felt familiar to me. When I was a child, my parents would often bring me here on sunny afternoons for a picnic. I remember families spread out around the mill, children playing football, people relaxing in the grass, and the calm rhythm of a Sunday afternoon.

Today the place feels quieter. A few picnic benches are scattered around, and although it is no longer as lively as it once was, you can still sense that the old habit has survived. Even now, a few families come here to enjoy lunch outdoors.

This time I did not just want to picnic. I wanted to explore the area on foot. The official walking route starts at the church in the village, but since I wanted to finish at the mill, I parked there instead. A small path leads toward the village, passing by the cemetery. The names on the gravestones immediately reveal that this was once a deeply Flemish place.

Watten has a long and layered history. Its name comes from the old Dutch word watan, meaning “to wade,” a reminder of when the Aa River could only be crossed here. Over the centuries, this small village stood at the crossroads of cultures — Roman, Flemish, and later French — a blend that still defines this corner of French Flanders today. You can still feel traces of that past in the buildings and in the quiet atmosphere that surrounds the place.

I did not go into the church because mass was in progress, so I continued through the streets and back toward the open countryside. The wind was strong that day, so I chose the shorter walking loop that leads back to Watten. For those who want more distance, there is a longer 16-kilometre route that passes through small villages with old, charming churches.

Outside the village, you sometimes share the road with cars that pass a little too fast, which makes the walk slightly less relaxing. Still, the mill is worth the visit. It remains the perfect place for a quiet picnic and a moment to take in the peaceful charm of this village in French Flanders.

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Le Circuit de l’Ange Gardien (6/16km)
https://www.watten.fr/le-circuit-de-lange-gardien-watten-millam-wulverdhinghe/

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and follow the page to explore even more interesting spots in the Westhoek and Hauts-de-France. 👍

14/10/2025

🌿 This weekend, while going through my photos from the past few months, I realized there was one summer walk I hadn’t shared yet: Les Étangs de Corbie, along the Somme River.

During the summer, I enjoy exploring new walking areas, and this year I wanted to get to know the Somme region a bit better.

The trail starts near the lock complex in Corbie and follows a peaceful path along the river. From there, it winds through Hamelet and Vaire-sous-Corbie before looping back to where it began. It’s not a difficult walk, but it offers plenty of calm. Every now and then, you’ll find a bench where you can stop, take a short break, and enjoy the stillness around you.

Here, water is everywhere. The Somme, the canal, and the ponds shape the whole landscape. Boats drift quietly along the canal, and the sound of water is never far away. It gives the walk a relaxed rhythm.

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Les étangs de Corbie (9km)
https://www.somme-tourisme.com/itineraire/les-etangs-de-corbie/

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and follow the page to explore even more beautiful spots in the Westhoek and Hauts-de-France. 👍

10/10/2025

🌿 The Vladslo-Ambachts walking route winds through a region full of history, nature, and local charm. Vladslo was first mentioned as Flordeslo in the year 992, when Bishop Radbod of Noyon-Tournai placed it under the patronage of the Saint Peter’s Abbey in Ghent. The name likely comes from the Germanic Frawaraedas lauka, meaning “a small leafy forest on high sandy ground.”

In the centuries that followed, Vladslo grew into an important rural parish and eventually became part of the Brugse Vrije, a district of the County of Flanders with its own local administration and courts. Within this district, Vladslo formed an ambacht, an administrative area that also included the nearby villages of Beerst, Keiem, Leke, and Schore. The five towers in Vladslo’s coat of arms reflect these five communities.

Along the route, you’ll pass historic farmhouses like the Groote Waere and the Seurinkhoeve. The Eindsdijk area played an important role during the First World War as a logistical hub for the German army, with loading points for materials and a small railway to support the defenses along the IJzer.

Nature is a highlight along the walk. The Broeken van Vladslo, part of the Handzame Valley, is a wetland that attracts a variety of birds in winter. Panoramic views over the farmland give the walk a calm, open feel.

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Vladslo-Ambachtroute (9.3 km)
https://www.bezoekdiksmuide.be/vladslo-ambachtroute
(Photos taken on 24/08/2025)

👉 Discover more walking routes at: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes
and follow the page to explore even more interesting spots in the Westhoek and Hauts-de-France. 👍

07/10/2025

🌳 I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve visited the Provinciedomein Palingbeek , but this time I tried a walking route from the In Flanders Fields Museum app called The Bluff. It is a short 3.02 km trail through the historic war landscape.

The route has 14 stops where you can learn about the battles that took place in the area. Along the way, you can get a sense of the former front lines, pass several war cemeteries that offer a quiet moment of reflection, and read information in the app about how the fighting unfolded at each location.

It is a relatively short walk, but it provides a clear view of the region’s history during the war. The trail winds through the woodland of De Palingbeek, which today contrasts sharply with its past. It is suitable for both young and old and offers a chance to combine outdoor activity with learning about history.

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The Bluff (3.02 km)
Download the app here: https://www.inflandersfields.be/nl/in-flanders-fields-museum/landschapgetuige/museum-in-het-landschap/apps/

👉 Discover more hikes at: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes
and follow the page to explore even more interesting spots in the Westhoek and Hauts-de-France. 👍

03/10/2025

🌿 The Kruiseke Walking Route guides you through a border landscape where the Lys Valley meets the rolling hills of West Flanders, known locally as the Heuvelland. The small hamlet of Kruiseke, once a smugglers’ hideout, has a long and layered history. Its name goes back to the “Kruus an den Eik” (the cross on the oak) – a tree where early missionaries placed a cross to replace ancient pagan worship. Today, the route follows unpaved paths across gentle ridges, opening onto broad panoramas with the Kemmelberg rising in the distance.

History is never far away. In October 1914, during the First Battle of Ypres, Kruiseke stood in the frontline for nearly two weeks. British troops held the Koelenberg and the Amerikaberg, facing relentless German attacks. The Sacred Heart Church in the village centre was later built thanks to British donations, honouring Lieutenant John Eden who fell here. Farms and hamlets you pass along the way were destroyed during the war and painstakingly rebuilt afterwards, now lying in the middle of the peaceful countryside.

Folklore adds another layer to the walk. Local tales speak of witches and a bewitched cat that once haunted the village, remembered each Easter Monday in the “Kattenknippeling.” From the ridge paths you can sometimes count up to seventeen church towers, including the tall Gothic spire of Saint Medardus in Wervik, a town with ancient roots along the Roman road from Boulogne to Cologne.

Step by step, the Kruiseke Walking Route reveals a landscape shaped by battles, history, and traditions, yet today marked by quiet farmland and the gentle rhythm of village life.

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Kruiseke Walking Route (6.3 km)
https://www.visitwestvlaanderen.be/en/kruisekewandelroute

👉 Discover more hikes at: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes
and follow the page to explore even more interesting spots in the Westhoek and Hauts-de-France. 👍

26/09/2025

🌃 On a quiet evening, I wandered through Ghent without following a set route. The calm hour gave the city a different atmosphere and offered a chance to take photos away from the daytime crowds.

Ghent is a city with a rich history. In the Middle Ages, it was an important center of the cloth industry and one of Europe’s largest cities. The towers of St. Bavo’s Cathedral and the Belfry still stand as reminders of that era. Along the Graslei and Korenlei, the historic guild houses tell stories of trade and craftsmanship from centuries past.

In the evening, the city reveals another side of itself. Soft light illuminates the façades, and reflections shimmer in the canals, giving familiar sights a fresh perspective. Walking without a fixed plan makes it easy to discover hidden corners and details that often go unnoticed during the day.

Ghent invites slow exploration, with its mix of history, architecture, and waterways that together shape the city’s unique character.

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Gent
No official starting point. I parked at Parking Savaanstraat.

Discover more hikes at: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes
Follow the page to explore more interesting places in West Flanders and Hauts-de-France. 👍

23/09/2025

🌿 Péronne is a town where history, culture, and nature come together in a quiet, accessible way. The town is known for its architectural heritage, including the Hôtel de Ville and the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

The Château de Péronne houses the Historial de la Grande Guerre, a museum dedicated to the First World War. It offers insights into the conflict from multiple perspectives, including military and civilian experiences, making it a major destination for history enthusiasts.

Péronne was also an important fortified town. In the 17th century, the famous military engineer Vauban worked on improving its defenses, integrating the city into France’s strategic fortification system. Remnants of these fortifications, such as the Porte de Bretagne, are still visible today.

Beyond its history, Péronne offers calm natural spaces. The Hardines gardens, created on reclaimed marshlands, and the Étang de Robécourt and Parc du Cam provide peaceful spots to enjoy water and greenery.

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La balade Péronnaise (3km)
https://www.somme-tourisme.com/itineraire/la-balade-peronnaise/

Discover more hikes at: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes. Follow the page to explore more interesting spots in West Flanders and Hauts-de-France. 👍

19/09/2025

🌳 Sosoye is a charming village in the Condroz region, nestled in the valley of the Molignée. Built mainly from limestone, the village stretches along its main street.

On a small rise, several remarkable buildings catch the eye: the 18th-century Church of the Nativity, the former presbytery, and the 17th-century tithe barn. Together, they form a harmonious historic ensemble.

Your walk can be extended to the Montagne de la Ranzinelle, a nature reserve with remarkable biodiversity. From the top, you’ll enjoy views over the village and the Molignée valley. The trail is quite steep, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

Another distinctive feature of the landscape is the former Tamines–Dinant railway line. Trains no longer pass here, but today you can explore it at a gentler pace on railbikes – a fun way to take in the beauty of the surroundings.

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Sosoye Small Walk:
https://beauxvillages.be/en/randonnees/petite-randonnee-de-sosoye/

Sosoye Long Walk:
https://beauxvillages.be/en/randonnees/grande-randonnee-sosoye/

Discover more hikes at: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes. Follow the page to explore more interesting spots in West Flanders and Hauts-de-France. 👍

16/09/2025

🌿 De Canadian Road to Passchendaele leidt je door de voetsporen van de Canadese troepen die in 1917 de ruïnes van Passchendaele moeten veroveren. Langs deze route van 6,5 km ontdek je het verhaal van een campagne die al snel een van de meest afmattende van de Eerste Wereldoorlog werd.

Na een eerste opmars van Australische en Nieuw-Zeelandse troepen stokte het offensief. De Canadezen namen de uitdaging op en lanceerden hun aanval op 26 oktober 1917. Pas op 6 november werd het vernielde dorp Passchendaele veiliggesteld. De kosten waren verbijsterend: na meer dan 100 dagen had het front zich op slechts 8 km van Ieper verplaatst, met minstens 600.000 slachtoffers, waaronder doden, gewonden en vermiste soldaten. Alleen de Canadese strijdkrachten verloren al meer dan 16.000 man.

Vandaag gaat de wandeling door velden, wegen en kleine dorpjes die ooit de plaats waren van intense gevechten. Gedenkplaatsen en plaatsen zoals Tyne Cot Cemetery en de Passchendaele kerk geven aan waar soldaten vochten en vielen. De Stroroute, nu een verhard fietspad, was oorspronkelijk een spoorlijn tussen Ieper en Roeselare en diende als een van de weinige bruikbare routes over het slagveld.

Terwijl je de Canadian Road to Passchendaele volgt, neem dan even de tijd om stil te staan bij de omvang van de strijd hier en de immense uitdagingen waarmee de soldaten geconfronteerd werden. De route biedt een directe link met de geschiedenis en de offers die zijn gebracht tijdens een van de meest beruchte gevechten van de Eerste Wereldoorlog.

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Canadian Road to Passchendaele (6.5km)
https://www.toerismezonnebeke.be/en/zien-en-doen/canadian-road-to-passchendaele/

https://passchendaele.be/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EN_WalkingRoute_CRP.pdf

Ontdek meer wandelingen op: bit.ly/WalkwithJay-Hikingroutes Volg de pagina om meer interessante plekken te ontdekken in West-Vlaanderen en Hauts-de-France. 👍

Walk with Jay