Seaside
41,34 Km
2 h 45 min
I begin / Family
From the Bay of Authie to the Bay of the Somme, La Vélomaritime takes you through exceptional coastal parts. Between Fort-Mahon Plage and Quend-Plage, cycle beside the largest stretch of sand-dunes in Northern Europe. At Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont, the Parc du Marquenterre is a fantastic protected area for bird-watching, in the heart of the Bay of the Somme Nature Reserve. The route continues to the resort of Le Crotoy, offering magnificent views of the Somme’s bay. Final stop, Le Crotoy station; here, embark on a trip along the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, aboard an old-fashioned steam train!
The route
Between Berck and Fort Mahon Plage, the cycle path runs parallel to the D940 road, although the path is broken at Groffliers (you have to cross this village on the D940 road) and between Waben and Conchil le Temple.
The link between the counties of Pas-de-Calais and the Somme can present certain difficulties. However, the construction on the county border of the Pont-à-Cailloux bridge across the Authie River should be completed by 2021. From Fort-Mahon to the Parc du Marquenterre, enjoy a track reserved for cyclists. The rest of the way, though, is on roads shared with motorized traffic, except for your arrival at Le Crotoy, where a cycle lane runs parallel to the D4 road.
Train stations (SNCF) :
- Stations serving the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme au Crotoy
- SNCF train station at Noyelles-sur-Mer
- Rue train station, Morlay stop
Don’t miss
Explore:
- Berck-sur-Mer : a lively seaside resort with a huge sandy beach
- The seaside resorts of Fort-Mahon-Plage and Quend Plage and their vast sandy beaches
- The seaside resort of Le Crotoy with its port and fishermen’s stalls.
Nature outings:
- Many nature outings are organized to explore the Bay of Authie by Les sentiers de la Baie, including to observe common seals from Berck-sur-Mer.
- Located between the Bay of Authie and the Bay of the Somme, the Parc du Marquenterre is an exceptional spot for bird-watching and very much worth visiting
Relaxation / activities:
- At Berck, Fort-Mahon-Plage and Quend Plage, water sports can be easily enjoyed, including sand-yachting of course!
- Enjoy an old-fashioned outing on a steam train with the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, travelling between Le Crotoy and Cayeux-sur-Mer via Noyelles-sur-Mer and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
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