Ligny-Lès-Aire: Discover Hiking Trails and Mining History

Ligny-Lès-Aire offers several hiking routes as well as a specific chapter of mining history. Named landmarks and trail markers help with navigation along the routes; Terril 34 can be placed in its historical context by its period of origin.

Hiking in and through Ligny-Lès-Aire

The Via Francigena is named as a hiking trail in Ligny-lès-Aire; the GR 145 Via Francigena passes through the commune. The “Sentier des Châteaux et Cressonnières” circular trail also passes through Ligny-lès-Aire. On this circular trail, hikers pass between two slag heaps after Rue du Transvaal; Église St-Pierre is also one of its route points. The street name and the passage between the heaps provide specific navigation details along the route, while the church is another named landmark. Before setting out, check current trail conditions and markings; for the Via Francigena, you should also check which services are currently available.

Trail Markers and Landscape

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. Its landscape includes the Fléchinelle, Estrée-Blanche and Mont-Pouret slag heaps, as well as cultivated plots and bocage countryside. Bocage refers to a cultivated landscape divided by hedgerows, making it a distinct landscape feature alongside the slag heaps and agricultural plots.

A Hike with Specific Timing Information

The “Un terril à la campagne” hike leads to the entrance of the slag heap; the route includes a viewpoint on the way up. A route description updated on May 9, 2025, gives a distance of 14.42 km, a moderate difficulty level and an average duration of 4 hours 25 minutes. The hike starts and ends at Église de Ligny-lès-Aire. The average duration of 4 hours 25 minutes provides a specific timeframe for planning your day; the hike is also rated moderate.

Slag Heaps and Mining History

Terril 34 is a conical slag heap formed by the operation of Fosse No. 3 of the Compagnie des mines de Ligny-Auchy between 1862 and 1950. It has been preserved and is part of a series of slag heaps marking the western entrance to the mining basin. Terril 32 also belongs to this series. Terril 31 lies next to Terril 32 and has also been preserved. For Terril 34, the focus is on when it was formed and its place in the series of slag heaps; for Terrils 31 and 32, it is on their proximity to each other.

Include Hiking Trails in Your Travel Plans

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Ligny-Lès-Aire, the hiking trails can help you structure your travel plans. Decide whether to focus on the circular trail with its slag-heap passage and church landmark, the Monts et Campagnes route with its markers and landscape features, or the “Un terril à la campagne” hike with its stated distance and duration. This way, you can make your choice based on clear route features and your own schedule.

Discover more destinations: Montcavrel, Arques, Hauteville, Inxent, Loison-Sur-Créquoise, Fressin, Reclinghem, Marquise

For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.