Wissant Bay

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Surrounded by the two capes of Gris Nez and Blanc Nez, the bay of Wissant offers beautiful panoramic views along its kilometres of dunes.

Details

n°13416439
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.27 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 35 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 33 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 42 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4 m
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Photos

Wissant Bay

Description of the walk

Tardinghen car park

(S/E) Take the Route du Châtelet, which extends from the car park and leads past a few farms to the hamlet of Le Châtelet.

(1) Turn right towards the car park and follow the path that runs alongside it on the left, then continue along the Dune du Châtelet. Turn left to reach the beach.

(2) Turn right onto the beach and walk along it for about 1.4 km, alongside the Dune d'Aval.

(3) Leave the beach before Wissant by taking a sandy path that climbs to the right and follow the signs for "Motte du Bourg" along a pleasant shaded path. Cross the small tarmac road and continue along the path opposite.

(4) Turn right to reach and cross the car park. Carefully cross the D940 and take a path opposite, slightly to the right, which leads to a wide track (bicycle crossing). Follow it straight ahead to Haut de Tardinghen.

(5) Turn right towards Tardinghen via the D249. In Tardinghen, turn left onto the D940 before turning right onto Route du Châtelet and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 28 m - Tardinghen car park
  2. 1 : km 1.27 - alt. 7 m - Turn right along the car park.
  3. 2 : km 2.36 - alt. 6 m - Beach
  4. 3 : km 4.01 - alt. 14 m - Turn right before Wissant.
  5. 4 : km 4.87 - alt. 20 m - D940
  6. 5 : km 6.62 - alt. 42 m - D249, on the right
  7. S/E : km 7.27 - alt. 28 m - Tardinghen car park

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
DUFOUR PAUL
DUFOUR PAUL

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you

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fil 59140
fil 59140

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

at the end of the beach, take the stairs. Walk past the campsite, leaving it on your left.

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MAMIEJO
MAMIEJO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant morning walk, combined with LES HAUTS DE WISSANT in the afternoon. There are benches around the car park at the start, where you can enjoy a picnic before heading to the start of the second loop in Wissant (by car)

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Le Sys Deux
Le Sys Deux

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a little difficult to find your way out of the dunes downstream. Otherwise, the description is generally well done.

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User 14738520

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery and a fantastic hike. My only regret is that the route was very poorly marked.

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gs
gs

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the sunshine, really very pleasant, and the scenery is well worth seeing.
Please note that at point 3, the path through the dunes no longer exists, as the dune is increasingly being eroded by the sea.
Continue to the stairs leading up to the sea wall, take them, and turn right immediately before the first house to join the path to the village mound.
Don't hesitate to give it a go!

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Baillotin62
Baillotin62

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice course, not too difficult to do again.

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Bropus
Bropus

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice

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William 62
William 62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant hike, but be aware that 800m to 1000m is on fine sand, so bring binoculars for the two bird observatories.

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sousouu
sousouu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and rejuvenating hike, the best part is along the beach (be sure to check the tide times before heading there).
Then you have to join a path inland, which means crossing a road, so be careful and make sure you can see the path you need to take before crossing, as it's not easy to find and the access point is a little hidden.
The most enjoyable part is still the beach section. Take a few minutes to sit down (a picnic would be very nice) and admire the beauty of the landscape, which is truly magnificent. This is a must-do hike if you're passing through!

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Maminouxe
Maminouxe

Due to lack of time and wanting to enjoy the scenery anyway, we only did the part along the coast.

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karomorice
karomorice

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike along the Opal Coast, alternating between countryside landscapes, small clusters of houses and paths running along the coast with unobstructed views of the cliffs. A very pleasant and safe route for families, with the option of stopping for refreshments halfway through... We loved it. We'll be back.
Note that the markings are generally clearly visible (blue route). We were unsure at the start and missed the first turn that allowed us to do the route via the coast first, but it wasn't a problem, we just did the circuit in the other direction.

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verhillevincent
verhillevincent

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A circular loop that can start from the Wissant sea wall, halfway at the Tardinghem car park, where a picnic break is welcome, with a magnificent view of Wissant Bay. The return trip on the beach, in strong winds, heading for 800, is very motivating!

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Other walks in the area

Walking The Crans loop at Cap Gris Nez

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Start on the country side, across a field with Cap Blanc Nez in the distance behind you and the English cliffs on your right, in fine weather. Halfway along, take a break on the beach. Return to the top of the cliffs, where you'll appreciate all the notches and the panoramic view of Cap Gris Nez.26/06/2023 The hike has been modified because the passage is forbidden by the hole at Quette and the crossing of the Châtelet stream cannot be made anymore via the dunes.

Walking Fartz trail

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Located in a protected natural area, the Fartz trail, dotted with bird observatories, lets you discover all the flora and fauna of Wissant bay.

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Walk from Wissant, through fields and hamlets, to discover the coast and hinterland between Wissant and Cap Blanc-Nez. There are lovely views from the various hills along the way.

Walking Les Hauts de Wissant

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This easy circuit will take you to Mont de Couple, at an altitude of 163 metres, which offers a panoramic view of the pretty town of Wissant and the Gris-Nez and Blanc-Nez lighthouses. It uses some sections of the GR®128 and 145 trails.

Walking The Holque trail from Audembert

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Walking Cap Gris Nez from Ambleteuse

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A very pleasant walk with magnificent views of Wissant beach, Cap Gris Nez, Cap Blanc Nez and the English coastline.

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