Holiday Rentals in Contes: Marshes and Long-Distance Trails

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In Contes, two different scales of hiking come together: the educational trails in the Marais de Contes and the GR 121 and GR®123 long-distance trails. The GR 121 passes through Contes; the GR®123 runs from here to Carlepont. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the local marshland and the long-distance routes as separate focal points.

The Marais de Contes and its trails

The Marais de Contes is a 63-hectare protected natural area and one of the largest marshlands in the lower Canche Valley. Its ponds were created by peat extraction in past centuries.

There are three educational trails with information boards around the No-Kill ponds. They are between 1.5 and 3 kilometres long. This stated range helps you gauge the trail lengths for your visit; conditions on the trails may change. Fishing in the Marais is permitted only on a catch-and-release basis. Check the latest guidance from the relevant fishing association before fishing.

The Marais also has a fishing platform accessible to people with reduced mobility. If accessibility is important for your visit, check the local conditions at the fishing platform in advance. The Marais is free to access year-round, 24 hours a day; temporary restrictions may apply.

GR 121 and GR®123 compared

The GR 121 is an 11-day, 198.9-kilometre long-distance hiking route from Oisy-le-Verger to Equihen-Plage. Between Cavron-Saint-Martin and Beaurainville, it passes through Contes. Its regional route crosses the Pas-de-Calais département: from the ponds of the Sensée, the trail follows the Canche Valley via Arras towards the hills of the Boulonnais and continues to the English Channel. Route information may be revised; trail markings and local diversions may change.

The GR®123 starts in Contes and runs to Carlepont in the Oise département. It first passes through the Forêt d’Hesdin, then through agricultural plains and wooded hills. Along the way, it passes through the villages of Mouriez, Voisin and Wadicourt. The route is 244 kilometres long, with a maximum elevation of 192 metres. Distance and elevation figures may vary; trail markings and local diversions may change.

The GR 121 follows the Canche Valley towards the hills of the Boulonnais and continues to the English Channel; the GR®123 first passes through the Forêt d’Hesdin and then through plains and wooded hills.

Tailor your stay

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Contes, you can start by deciding what you want to do on your trip: would you like to explore the Marais and its trails, or is a long-distance hiking route your main focus? For a visit to the nature area, the trail lengths and current access conditions are relevant. For a hiking trip, it helps to choose the specific GR 121 or GR®123 route first and keep an eye out for changes to trail markings and diversions.

Discover more destinations: Grand-Rullecourt, Airon-Notre-Dame, Gonnehem, Gouy-Saint-André, Bailleul-Sir-Berthoult, Bermicourt, Auchy-au-Bois, Corbehem.

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

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