Ligny-lès-Aire offers hikers several different points of interest: the Via Francigena, a circular trail between two spoil heaps, and a hike with a stated distance and average duration. When choosing a route, you can therefore consider both the specific trail and the time it takes. The area’s industrial heritage is also visible in the shape and arrangement of its terrils.
Terrils as traces of mining
The conical Terril 34 was formed by the operations of Pit No. 3 of the Compagnie des mines de Ligny-Auchy between 1862 and 1950, and has been preserved. It is part of a series of spoil heaps marking the western entrance to the mining basin; Terril 32 is also part of this series. Terril 31 lies next to Terril 32 and has also been preserved. The industrial heritage can thus be explored through different features: Terril 34 stands out for its conical shape and mining history, while the proximity of Terrils 31 and 32 provides another landmark in the series of spoil heaps.
Hiking trails with different highlights
Ligny-lès-Aire has a hiking trail called the Via Francigena; the GR 145 Via Francigena passes through the town. The “Sentier des Châteaux et Cressonnières” circular trail also runs through Ligny-lès-Aire. Its route offers a specific landmark: after Rue du Transvaal, hikers pass between two spoil heaps. If you choose this route, you can look out for the named stretch of road and the passage between the heaps as distinctive features of the trail.
A hike with a specific time frame
“Un terril à la campagne” is a 14.42-kilometre hike, rated moderate, with an average duration of four hours and 25 minutes. It starts and ends at the Église de Ligny-lès-Aire. The route leads to the entrance of the terril; the climb includes a viewpoint. Its distance, difficulty rating, and average duration give you a concrete framework for planning. The start and finish at the church also help you identify the hike as a loop, without assuming any additional stages or connections.
Trail markers and scenery on Monts et Campagnes
The “Monts et Campagnes” route also passes through Ligny-lès-Aire and is marked with yellow, white-and-red, and yellow-and-red trail markers. It runs between the spoil heaps of Fléchinelle, Estrée-Blanche, and Mont-Pouret, as well as agricultural plots and bocage countryside. Bocage is a cultivated landscape divided by hedgerows. The route therefore combines named trail markings with a description of the landscape, which includes several terrils and agricultural land.
The different landmarks can help you choose a hike: “Un terril à la campagne” provides specific information about distance and average duration; on the “Sentier des Châteaux et Cressonnières,” the passage between two spoil heaps after Rue du Transvaal is a distinctive stretch. On “Monts et Campagnes,” the marker colors can help you find your way. Before hiking the GR 145, check the current trail markings; for the Sentier, it is also advisable to check the current trail conditions and markings.
Discover more destinations: Royon, Bécourt, Arques, Roussent, Beutin, Maresville, Sailly-Sur-La-Lys, Arras.
For the broader travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.
