📌3H drive per day over 3 to 4 days

👍The plus: nature-oriented family activities, beautiful beaches and exceptional panoramas

📍Stages: Les prés du Hem, Bailleul, Les Monts de Flandre and the Westhoeck Reserve

ROAD TRIP: LILLE → LES PRÉS DU HEM → BAILLEUL→ MONTS DES FLANDRES → WESTHOECK NATURE RESERVE (4d/3 nights)

For this first road trip north of Lille, we're heading for Flanders. On the way to Mont des Cats and Mont Noir, the road is as green as it is hilly. The Monts de Flandres have no shortage of panoramic viewpoints, and the stages on the way there are enough to make you succumb to Flemish charm: the picturesque villages of Cassel, voted “France's favorite village” in 2018, and Steenvoorde offer you a naturally folkloric break. The journey begins amidst hills and forests - Prés du Hem, Bailleul, Monts des Cats and Mont Noir - and continues to the dunes, between land and sea. On this last stop, you'll discover the gentle Bray Dunes and the Westhoeck Nature Reserve.

To recharge your batteries, keep going: it's right here >

DAY 1 : DISCOVERING FLANDERS AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES IN THE HEART OF NATURE

LILLE → LES PRES DU HEM (approx. 25 min - 14km)

For this road trip, which aims to be close to nature and rich in scenery, we

recommend taking a longer route than a main road, but one that is more visually pleasing. Here are the different points of your road trip and the activities you'll find along the way:

TYPICAL VILLAGES OF FLANDERS

We prefer to follow the river Lys along the D941 towards Lambersart / Verlinghem and take in the typical villages of Lompret and Verlinghem along the way. You'll then reach Houplines on the D22. The Les Prés du Hem leisure center is located in Armentières, a former textile town. This park stretches along the shores of a lake, in the heart of 120 hectares of nature. It's the ideal place to spend a good time with the whole family, enjoying a range of fun and sporting activities: a playground with orienteering courses, kayaking, water rides, swimming and visits to discover the flora and fauna (by electric train, for example); there's plenty of time for a fun afternoon of exercise or relaxation. A program to entertain children and adults alike! For a snack, gourmets will be happy to find food trucks (Chez Georges specialties) and picnic areas ��

After this busy day, you can quietly head towards Bailleul via Houplines / Deûlémont.

👉 Tips for finding wild spots to spend the night :

Use the Park4Night and Bivouac Huttopia apps
Search via satellite or Google maps for meadows and other isolated spots
Drive along Le Lys/Deule and land away from the roads / or southwest of Bailleul to reach pretty bocage meadows / south of Bailleul (15-20min)

DAY 2 : VISIT THE TYPICAL VILLAGES OF FLANDERS AND HIKE IN THE MONTS

→ BAILLEUL (CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL BOTANIQUE) → MONT NOIR → MONT DES CATS (approx. 45 min - 32 km)

We advise you to get to Bailleul by taking the back roads, or take the D945 or D22 if you want to get there quickly! (approx. 20km)

Sunny mornings promise new adventures. There are so many paths to take that here at Blacksheep, we advise you to follow the one where the unpredictable invites itself.

👉 Suggestion of things to do

Stop off in Bailleul to visit its famous Belfry, a massive Flemish neo renaissance tower rising to 62 meters. At its highest point, you can see the Flanders Mountains.
You can also head south to visit the National Botanical Conservatory. Nature lovers will be delighted, surrounded by medicinal plants and greenhouses where biodiversity flourishes before the astonished eyes of visitors. The 25-hectare park is ideal for a relaxing stroll

If you're a gourmet and want to discover local produce, there's the Bailleul market every Saturday on Place Charles de Gaulle.

→ TOWARDS THE MONT DES CATS / MONT NOIR

There are many trails around Bailleul leading to the Monts. Depending on how you feel, you can go on foot or by bike, choosing to do a longer or shorter loop. You organize your time as you see fit, and it's this

freedom that we love about the van: no pressure, you adapt your program as the day goes on and the places you visit change.

Here are a few ideas for itineraries to discover these long-awaited and so beautiful Monts.

The Mont des Cats Abbey

This hike is a must! the first loop allows you to walk around the abbey while enjoying superb panoramas of the Mont des Cats. It's a short, easy 4km walk (approx. 1h15).

Departure from Saint-Jans-Cappel

For a more sporty and complete hike, you'll make a departure from Saint Jans-Cappel to climb to Mont Noir and then Mont des Cats via the Boeschepe mill. This route takes you through the countryside.

Balade des Katts

A family-friendly route that goes fairly quickly (1h30 - 5 km) and guides you up to Mont des Cats, passing through hamlets and really pleasant wooded corners.

Tour du Mont Noir

You can take this route on foot or by bike over 18 to 25 km. The start is in Bailleul and the difference in altitude is 279 m. The panorama, between France and Belgium, is unobstructed, and you can even stop off at the Marguerite Yourcenar park or the equestrian farm.

Our recommendations for outdoor activities at Mont Noir :

Stroll along the forest trails, a hiking or mountain biking itinerary that forms a signposted loop in the Mont Noir woods
Horse or donkey rides from St-Jans-Cappel or the educational farm
Enjoy the panorama and open-air spaces of the writer's park

👉 WHERE TO SLEEP ?

Explore the surrounding area, and you'll find plenty of spots off the beaten track. The forest edges are home to some really nice spots. You'll find quiet places to put the van down via forest paths, around Saint Jans-Cappel or Berthen for example

Use Google Maps
Around Mont Noir and Mont des Cats, there are vegetated areas along the banks of streams. Pleasant, refreshing spaces!
Get closer to Steenvoorde and Cassel, the two villages that will be your next stops

DAY 3 : LEAVE THE MONTS AND JOIN THE DUNES

LES DEUX MONTS → STEENVOORDE → CASSEL → BRAY DUNES (approx. 1h - 56 km)

From the Mont des Cats, take the D18 towards Berthen (approx. 10 min - 7 km) then the D16 towards Steenvoorde. Once there, you can take a stroll through the Helleketelbos reserve, or start hiking towards Cassel (3h40 - 12 km). Your starting point is Ryveld, heading north-west. This route takes you through woods and meadows on small country lanes. To get to Cassel by car, follow the D55 and then the D652, which takes you through the Flemish countryside for 9km (approx. 10 min).

👉 THINGS TO DO :

Musée de Flandre, 26, Grand' Place, 59670 Cassel. Great for discovering Flemish art!
Climb Mont Cassel, a 2.9 km climb of 115 meters
Stride the alpine ramp, a path that leads from the Place to the top of the Mont Get lost in the streets of this picturesque village

👉 WHERE TO EAT ?

L'art Doize, 41 Grand Place. Hotel-restaurant with Accueil Velo label serving traditional dishes

La Casseline, 28 rue d'aire. Bar-pub crêperie and regional products. You'll fall in love with this place where you can have a drink while enjoying an exceptional panorama. Catering only on Sundays.

T'kasteel Hof, 8 Rue Saint-Nicolas. An estaminet at the top of Mont Cassel offering typical Flemish cuisine!
Le Panoramic, 4 bis Grand Place. A restaurant with a breathtaking view of Flanders and a menu based on local produce!

→ TOWARDS BRAY DUNES

So, with a full belly, you can continue towards the seaside resort of Bray-Dunes by taking the D652 towards Wormhout and then the A25 towards Dunkirk, exiting at Bray-Dunes on the D60, a coastal road.

Here, outdoor activities are an integral part of the tourist charm. Arriving inland, you'll find the Dunes

Marchand and Dunes du Perroquet circuits, which are simply sumptuous, made up of wooded and dune environments.

The Marchand Dunes are located to the west. It's quite possible to hike in the direction of Zuydcoote and then make a loop around the Dunes Reserve. The hectares of flora and fauna that make up this nature reserve are a delight to stroll through. The diversity of species and environments makes this a site full of discoveries. It's a great way to introduce youngsters to the wonders of nature and raise their awareness of the need to preserve biodiversity!

The Dunes du Perroquet lie to the east. The GR120 trail crosses this area. Starting from the Bray Dunes esplanade, you can begin a wild hike in the heart of the coastline. Stroll, relax on the beach or go sand yachting. There's no shortage of sporting and family activities along the coast.

To spend an unforgettable night in this dream environment, the best thing is to find a wild spot near the Dunes.

👉 WHERE TO EAT ?

Les Baraques à frite chez Norbert and chez Irène, typically Ch'ti!
L'Art de l'Eau, 989 Av. du Général de Gaulle, 59123 Bray-Dunes
La Grande Marée, 147 rue du Valenciennes, 59123 Zuydcoote
La Maison de la Dune, Camping du Perroquet, 59123 Bray-Dunes

👉 WHERE TO SLEEP ?

Parking du chemin des Dunes ou sentir du perroquet. Located at the end of Bray-Dunes towards the Belgian border. You get there by taking the rue des Goélands

♥️ Tip:

Settle in late afternoon and enjoy the sunset on the sandy beach
Organize a picnic near the van
Wake up facing the sea to see the sun sparkle on the waves.

DAY 4 : SEA AIR AND SANDY BEACHES

BRAY DUNES → WESTHOECK NATURE RESERVE

After completing these two itineraries, head for the jewel of Flanders: the Westhoeck dunes. Covering more than 345 hectares, there are a thousand different itineraries to choose from: ponds, hiking trails, cycle paths and other wild paths will give you the chance to gain height and a breathtaking view of the North Sea. This unique experience in the heart of the Reserve will allow you, weather permitting, to swim on the beaches that stretch out to the Westhoeck: Plage de Panne Beach, Plage St. André, Coxyde beach...

👉 TO DO :

Waymarked route from the Duinpanne visitor center and adjacent parking lot. This trail takes you on a 7 km panoramic tour (approx. 2h) “Houtsaegerduinen” cycle path, a mountain bike route that crosses the reserve of the same name and that of Oosthoekduinen. It's a mix of sandy paths and tarmac roads with coastal scenery (15 km). In the Westhoeck, there's plenty to do, whether you're into nature or not. You can also stroll, have fun or visit cultural sites to discover Flemish heritage. It's a great way to round off your road trip in this region with its fine traditions and bucolic landscapes (and attractions!).

Farm Fun, adventure at Watou
Bellewaerde, amusement park
7 hiking trails through the Westhoeck :

🍀Ypres Salient East

🍀De Blankaart

🍀Heuvelland

🍀Hoppeland

🍀Ypres Salient South

🍀Yser Valley

🍀Littoral Occidental

For the return journey to Lille, you can choose to take your time and take a longer route through the countryside with great views, or go for the faster route. Here are our two suggested itineraries:

→ The fastest:

Dune du Perroquet / La Panne → Ghyvelde → Hondschoote

Then towards Bergues
Take the D916 → Cassel
Continue on the D933 towards Bailleul

Then join Lille via the A25 or the departmental road (D933 or D617)

→ The prettiest:

Westhoek → Ghyvelde / Zuydcoote (10 km - 10/15min)

Bergues → Cassel (20 min - 20 km)
Cassel → Lille (D933 or A25) (40 min - 45 km)

After these landscapes of Flemish mountains and meadows, the drive back to Lille is a smooth one, with your head full of wild images and your heart already set on the next escape in your favorite van.

Book the perfect van for your road trip from the agency of your choice :