Soft links

The valleys of the River Aa, forgotten country lanes, converted railway lines... the Communauté de Communes du Pays de Lumbres (CCPL) has launched a vast programme to weave a genuine network of soft links across its territory. The aim is to provide safe routes that are accessible to everyone, whether you're a cyclist, walker, horse rider or just a Sunday stroller.

Faced with the challenges of ecological transition and opening up rural communities, the CCPL has chosen to invest in sustainable soft mobility infrastructure. The approach is based on reclaiming rural roads and disused railway lines, transforming them into routes that can be used in complete safety, while preserving existing agricultural uses.

The result: 8 structuring cycle routes, all converging on Lumbres, which irrigate the whole of the inter-municipal area and allow villages to be linked together without having to get into a car.

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Remilly-Wirquin - Lumbres, via Wavrans-sur-l'Aa and Elnes - a journey through the heart of the Aa valley, with its wet meadow landscapes and views over the hillsides.

Esquerdes - Lumbres, via Setques - a route that skirts the banks of the Lys canalisation and offers a plunge into the Audomarois countryside.

Zudausques - Lumbres, via Quelmes - a discreet route linking the heights of the region to the town centre, through hedged farmland and orchards.

Coulomby - Lumbres, via Seninghem and Bayenghem-lès-Seninghem - a route through picturesque villages with Romanesque churches and brick farmhouses.

Bonningues-les-Ardres - Lumbres, via Clerques, Audrehem, Journy, Alquines, Bouvelinghem and Acquin-Westbécourt - the longest link in the network, starting in the Ardres area and gradually descending towards the heart of the region.

Escœuilles - Lumbres, via Surques, Rebergues, Haut-Loquin, Alquines, Bouvelinghem and Acquin-Westbécourt - a route that shares part of its route with the previous one, ideal for reaching Lumbres from the north-west of the region.

Vaudringhem - Lumbres, via Nielles-lès-Bléquin and Affringues - a rural route starting from the heights of the Boulonnais area, with beautiful views over the plain.

Acquin-Westbécourt - Lumbres via the Golf course - the shortest route, offering a beautiful entrance to Lumbres via the green spaces of the Golf du Pays de Lumbres.

These routes are aimed at all users of soft mobility: conventional or electrically-assisted bicycles, walking, running, and even horse-riding on certain sections. They are designed as practical alternatives to the car for everyday journeys - to work, to school, to the shops - as well as invitations to take a stroll and discover the local heritage.

The CCPL also offers electrically-assisted bicycles for hire, as well as assistance with the purchase of a bike, to remove disincentives to cycling and encourage as many people as possible to take to the road in a different way.

The current network is only the first step. The CCPL is continuing to build up the network, with the aim of gradually interconnecting these 8 routes to form a coherent network, linked to the major regional greenways and cycle routes in the Pas-de-Calais department.

So, are you ready to get on your bike or lace up your walking shoes? The paths of the Pays de Lumbres are waiting for you.