What to do during a weekend to visit Baie de Somme?
Are you dreaming of a refreshing and exotic weekend by the sea? Then I have just the thing for you! Let me take you on a weekend getaway to the Baie de Somme… Let’s set off to discover this jewel classified as a ‘Grand Site de France’, in the heart of the Hauts de France region!
I’ve already told you about my first adventures in the Somme Bay, which I discovered by bike in 2018… Today, I suggest we venture a little further afield to follow the coastline south of the bay.
So, if you’re wondering what to do if you come to visit Baie de Somme, here’s the programme: the picturesque village of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme, a hike in the bay, a visit to the cliffs of Ault, cousins of Etretat, and finally the charming resort of Mers-les-Bains. Enjoy your trip!
PRACTICAL TIPS TO VISIT BAIE DE SOMME
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How to get to Baie de Somme?
By car: Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme is 1 hour from Dieppe and Amiens and 2.5 hours from Paris.
By train: The nearest station to Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme is Noyelles-sur-Mer, 50 minutes from Amiens and 2 hours from Paris-Gare du Nord. You can hire bikes directly at the station. However, the distances are quite long, and you will need to hire a car in Abbeville or Amiens if you want to get around freely and more easily.
Compare car rentals to find the best price!
By bike: You can rent bikes at several locations in Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme (rentals at the train station and in the town centre, such as the No Shoes shop, the Total petrol station, etc.). For more information on cycling routes in the Baie de Somme, visit www.baiecyclette.com.
By steam train: another way to discover the Baie de Somme area is by taking a ride on the old-fashioned steam train that runs between Cayeux-sur-Mer and Le Crotoy.
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What is the best time to visit Baie de Somme?
The best time to visit Baie de Somme is spring (and also September) for pleasant weather. You will also avoid the crowds. Summer is warmer but you definitely won’t be alone to visit Baie de Somme! I also love the winter season with a beautiful light.
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Where to stay to visit Baie de Somme?
Ideally located at the entrance to the medieval quarter, the guest rooms at La Femme d’à Côté offer very comfortable and elegantly decorated rooms with a local breakfast (from €99 per night).
The lovely owners also run the restaurant Le Vélocipède, which I highly recommend!
Book your accommodation in the Baie de Somme!
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How to organise your time to visit Baie de Somme
In one day, you can discover Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme and go on the bike ride mentioned above. Try to time your visit to Le Hourdel for low tide, when the seals are visible. You won’t be able to see them at high tide, as they go out fishing!
Allow an hour to explore Mers-les-Bains, which is 30 minutes by car from Saint-Valéry.
A long weekend will give you time to tour the Baie de Somme and enjoy both sides of the bay (see ‘Explore the surrounding area’).
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Where to eat in the Baie de Somme?
Here are a few good places to enjoy excellent seasonal cuisine in Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme:
- Le Vélocipède, Rue des Puits-Salés
- Le Jardin, Rue de la Ferté (lunch only)
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What to bring back from the Baie de Somme?
As on the Côte des Havres, salt marsh lamb takes pride of place! You can take some home with you in the form of terrines and preserves. There are also many other seafood products, such as fish-based spreads to enjoy with aperitifs. Another of the region’s flagship products, salicornia is harvested from the wetlands of the Baie de Somme.
On the sweet side, don’t miss out on trying gâteau battu, the region’s speciality! It’s a delicious mix of brioche and kougelhopf (for its texture), with the dough beaten by hand for a long time to make it lighter. Gâteau battu is addictive, you have been warned!
The Baie de Somme is also a tree-covered region, and you can bring back some cider jelly, as well as sea buckthorn jelly. The berries are also available in juice and tea form.
1. SAINT-VALÉRY-SUR-SOMME, A MUST-SEE TO VISIT BAIE DE SOMME
Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme was undoubtedly my first favourite spot during my weekend in the Baie de Somme two years ago. Wandering randomly through its narrow streets, I discovered a colourful village steeped in history, where it’s lovely to stroll around… I was lucky enough to rediscover it with a passionate and fascinating guide, Véronique Lamidel. This local girl tells us about her village with a delightful mix of enthusiasm and nostalgia, taking us back in time to uncover the secrets of Saint Valéry.
The tour is particularly comprehensive and will give you an insight into the history of the town through its different neighbourhoods. Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme was once a major port, particularly for the salt trade, which helped to make the village famous. It’s hard to imagine today dozens of majestic sailing ships filling the port of Saint Valéry!
During this three-hour walk, Véronique shares fascinating anecdotes about each neighbourhood. I rediscovered the beautiful Courtgrain neighbourhood with new eyes, so colourful and photogenic today. It’s easy to linger in front of these pretty, modest houses, without imagining the difficult lives led by the poor families of sailors who once lived there. While the men were at sea, the women worked on the foreshore, in the heart of the bay, sometimes collecting tonnes – literally! – of pebbles that contributed to the region’s trade.
Of course, we also continue our walk to the medieval quarter, which has retained its authentic charm. I am still as captivated as ever by the beautiful mix of flint and brick, which creates stunning contrasts on the facades, unique in their kind.
With the help of old photos, it’s easy to immerse yourself in the secrets of centuries past, which have seen Saint-Valéry evolve into the town it is today… You’ll find all the information about Véronique’s tour in the ‘Practical information’ section at the end of the article.
Practical information: Guided tour of Saint-Valéry: 3-hour tour with Véronique Lamidel – price: €18 (free for children under 16) – Contact: 06 24 96 10 54
2. HIKE BAIE DE SOMME AND WATCH THE SEALS
Now head to the Pointe du Hourdel, at the tip of the Baie de Somme. This is a favourite spot for nature lovers who want to hike in the bay with a guide (and only with a guide!), or observe the seal colony that contributes to the fame of this fabulous Baie de Somme… There’s nothing better than a hike with a nature guide who is passionate about this mysterious bay and its unusual inhabitants!
I was lucky enough to see them quite close up (about a hundred metres away) without a guide in 2018. But the bed of the Somme is constantly changing, and since the beginning of the year, you have to walk quite a long way at the moment (summer 2020) to get close (from a distance) to the seals. But the guide’s telescope is a definite advantage and allows you to enjoy the show, even from a distance!
The hike also allows you to discover more about this unusual environment, where the largest colony of common seals in France coexists with 150 professional fishermen who fish on foot. In summer, there are up to 900 seals, which come to feed and rest on the sandbanks. And for that, there’s nothing like the banana boat, which they particularly enjoy! 😀
In addition to exciting discoveries, the walk also allows you to dip your feet in the water (otherwise, bring boots), which feels great! Contact with the sea is a simple pleasure that can be easily enjoyed during a weekend in the Baie de Somme…
But be careful, this walk is only possible with a guide! There is a high risk of being surrounded by the tide and the Baie de Somme remains a unique environment. Accidents happen every year, so be careful!
Practical information: Guided hike with Rando Nature en Somme: 2.5-hour walk with a guide – price: €13 (€7 for children) – Contact: +33 (0)6 32 70 47 94. Remember to bring warm clothing and waterproof shoes/boots if possible, and binoculars if you have them.
3. RIDE BAIE DE SOMME BY BIKE
Visit Baie de Somme by bike is a lovely idea as the Baie de Somme is particularly well suited to cycling! I particularly recommend cycling from Saint Valéry to Cayeux sur Mer via the Route Blanche. This pretty road (which is actually a cycle path) allows you to discover the flora and fauna of this wild and unspoilt area.
It runs along the dunes and the Mollière pebble beach, a unique site that is truly out of the ordinary!
4. TAKE A BREATH OF SEA AIR IN CAYEUX-SUR-MER
Cayeux-sur-Mer can be the final destination of your bike ride if you take the Gravelot circuit. Although the seaside resort has no particular charm, its pebble coastline is definitely worth a visit! It will also be an opportunity to get a breath of fresh sea air…
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The boardwalk
The Chemin des Planches stretches for almost two kilometres along the edge of Cayeux-sur-Mer. Set on the pebble beach, it offers views of the sea, which is mint green when lit by the sun. The walk is a real change of scenery, and you can even extend it towards Ault. In summer, the boardwalk is lined with cute beach huts, a bit like in Deauville. Unfortunately, they are removed in autumn before reappearing in spring… The coastal path allows you to walk to Ault across the pebble beach.
But without going that far, I recommend you leave Cayeux behind and head towards the majestic cliffs. Imposing and steep, they are immaculately white. They are reminiscent of the cliffs of Etretat… To see them up close, go to the ‘Practical tips – explore the surrounding area’ section.
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The pebbles of Cayeux-sur-Mer
The real treasure of Cayeux-sur-Mer is its coastline, which has made it the world capital of pebbles (no less!). The pebble extraction industry that has sprung up here benefits from the high silica content of the pebbles, which is used in ceramics, paint and special types of concrete. You too can find your own treasures by the sea, as the polished pebbles are sometimes truly beautiful!
5. THE CLIFFS OF AULT NEAR BAIE DE SOMME
The next stop on our weekend in the Baie de Somme is the cliffs of Ault!
I only had the chance to see these famous white chalk cliffs from a distance during my last trip to the Baie de Somme. Majestic and white as snow, they are even more impressive up close! And the cliffs of Ault are every bit as impressive as their cousins in Etretat, located a good hundred kilometres further south.
To admire them up close, head to the village of Ault, where the photo below was taken…
If you have a little time and enjoy hiking, the coastal path between Ault and Mers-les-Bains also allows you to make the most of these magical cliffs. Between the sea and the countryside, it winds its way along the top of the rocks, offering plenty of opportunities for a stop. The Bois de Cise, with its magnificent view of the sea, is a perfect place for a picnic!
Don’t hesitate to take a break at Notre Dame des Falaises, which overlooks Mers-les-Bains. The view of the cliffs and the English Channel is superb. Both places are also accessible by car if you don’t feel like hiking.
6. ADMIRE THE BELLE EPOQUE VILLAS IN MERS-LES-BAINS
Let’s end this weekend around the Baie de Somme on the border with Normandy with a visit to the seaside resort of Mers-les-Bains! As a lover of architecture and heritage, I dreamed of seeing the pretty Belle Epoque villas lining the beach with my own eyes. They remind us of the fashion for sea bathing that took hold at the end of the 19th century…
On the seafront and in the adjacent streets, they dominate the sea in all their splendour. Each one has its own colour, details and pretty name written on the façade. With bricks or half-timbering, they form a cheerful medley of magnificent façades, contrasting with the simplicity of the white beach huts at their feet.
It’s the perfect place for a leisurely stroll to round off a wonderful weekend in the Baie de Somme!
OTHER IDEAS TO VISIT BAIE DE SOMME
Here are some other ideas to visit Baie de Somme:
– Parc du Marquenterre (30 minutes away): in the heart of a national nature reserve, this bird park is ideal for bird watching. If you have the opportunity to visit in spring, you may be lucky enough to see the newly hatched chicks!
– Fort-Mahon (35 mins away): located north of the Somme Bay, Fort-Mahon is worth a visit for its beautiful sand dunes. A wonderful place to recharge your batteries!
– Amiens (55 mins away): capital of the Somme, Amiens is a very surprising city, full of beautiful gems. Between its historic centre, the colourful Saint-Leu district and its magnificent hortillages (floating gardens) that place nature at the heart of the city, it was a wonderful surprise for me! To find out more, check out my dedicated article: 5 Things to See in Amiens, France.
For more information about the Baie de Somme, or if you are looking for other ideas to visit Baie de Somme, please visit the department’s website.
This blogpost follows an invitation from the Somme Tourist Board. However, I remain entirely free to express my own opinions and am completely sincere in my recommendations! A huge thank you to Julie and Justine, who made this trip unforgettable!
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
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