Pleasant Canal Stroll

A pleasant stop to let Ralph stretch his legs. Picturesque, even in the wind and rain with a river on one side of the path and the canal on the other. Interesting to see the barges and the cormorants. A good walk for this time of year (January) as not too muddy, would have explored further in the better weather.

Best Autoroute Services

I love this place, as there is so much here although it gets pretty busy during school holiday periods. A great place to stop in either direction. Lots of outside seating for picnics, once you have bypassed the main building, where the dog can be off-lead and then woodland walks directly from the services. What’s not to love?

Great Lakeside Walk

Lovely stop for a lakeside walk, although it would take a while to walk all the way round it. We were here in January so fairly quiet. I imagine it would be heaving in the summer months, although there seems to be plenty of parking. We initially steered clear due to the height and width restrictions but after the disappointment with the Arcelot walk, we thought we would give it a punt. Luckily for us the height restriction is now 2.1m and our Ford Kuga with a roof box just squeezed under with millimetres to spare! Will definitely return.

Disappointed

It may be because we were walking in the winter rather than the summer but there were no picnic benches to be found and the area next to the car park a little run down. Perhaps it is better in the summer. The alternative lake walk at Arc-sur-Tille was much nicer although I imagine heaving in the summer months.

DwD Team - we were there in the summer, and it's mch better then.

Disappointed with walk 2

We were walking in January, so the abbey was closed. We took walk 2 but the sign in the photo above has now been removed. We followed the track uphill as suggested coming to a T junction. At this point there was a sign stating that it was private property and entry was forbidden. We were unsure whether this applied to the right or left track, there were some locals out with their guns shooting rabbits and as it had started to rain we decided just to retrace our steps (didn’t want to stray onto private land and risk the dog being shot). At least Ralph was able to have a run off lead after the crossing but personally I preferred the Bourlon walk from junction 8.

Great Off-lead close to M4

Only 2 mins from motorway so brilliant for a quick pit stop. We stopped off here to give Ralph a run before braving M25 on way home. Small car park, low height restriction (no roof boxes) but there was also parking on the opposite side of the road. Lovely off-lead walk, running alongside a lake, picnic benches and a pub close by, if you want to stop for a bite to eat. Recommend highly.

Off Lead at Moto Services

This walk is very convenient if you want to stop at motorway services and this is one of the few where you can let your dog off lead safely. The walk is clearly signposted between the Travelodge and services. There is a large field where you can let your dog off the lead but unfortunately the picnic table is no longer there and the field was rather stubbly and full of thistles probably due to all the hot weather at the time we were there. Not one of the best stops we’ve been to and wouldn’t want to spend more than half an hour there but fine for a coffee or a quick bite to eat and allow your dog to have a run before getting back in the car.

Pretty Stop for Lunch

We stopped off here for an early lunch on the way back to Calais from the French alps. It is about a 5-8 mins from the A5 near Troyes. We grabbed a cold drink from the supermarket where we parked and then crossed over the road to the grounds of the chateau. We sat on a lovely bench by a little stream overlooking the fields and the chateau to eat our picnic lunch whilst Ralph amused himself off lead. We then walked over the fields to the woods and did a loop back, all off lead. Nice mix of open fields and woodland for sun and shade in the warmer months. Would highly recommend.

Gréât first stop after the tunnel

Brilliant off lead walking, very close to the motorway. We parked at the Canadian war memorial and took the left hand path past the resistance memorial and then on to the Canadian cemetery where we turned right and followed the path a little way before retracing our steps. We sat on the wall by the cemetery to eat our breakfast but there are also seats by the parking place at the Canadian memorial. Pertinent reminder of the losses that were suffered in WW2 and that sacrifices made by those that fought alongside us.

Perfect Stop

Fantastic place to stop. 6 mins from exit 24 and miles of off lead through the forest. We saw a deer cross the main path and then realised why on the way back as there was a tiny baby fawn hidden in the long grass. Luckily Ralph was impeccably behaved. We found some logs to perch on at the first main cross section of paths where we stopped and ate our sandwiches bought from Paul at the Châteauvillain service station just before exit 24. When looking for the parking place described it is on the right hand turning after the right hand bend marked by the red and white posts (not the first road on the right marked by red and white poles). This will definitely be our regular stop from now on and we will make time to explore Châteauvillain next time.

Stop with a view

Lovely views from the picnic bench although there is only one. Quite a low height restriction 6’ 6” which meant that we had to park on the grass verge outside as we had a roof box on the car. Good walking with the dog although we only let ours off near the picnic bench while we had our lunch as the sheep were in the next field where the walks begin. Not my most favourite stop but would stop here again if needed a stop in that area.

Great picnic spot

Great picnic spot with a dog exercise field and very close to the motorway. There is the option to walk further afield but we didn’t as our dogs love the water and may have attempted to jump in the canal. It was a tight squeeze under the height restriction with a roof box on the car but we just made it. Will definitely return,