The beach huts at Gouville-sur-Mer

Park in the town hall square in Gouville-sur-Mer.

Yellow markings.

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, turn right towards the sea via Rue du Nord, then take the second street on the right, Rue de la Vincenterie.

(1) After La Chardotterie, turn left onto Rue du Didody, pass to the left of the water treatment plant and turn right onto the path after it. Continue until you reach the junction with a road.

(2) At the end of the path, turn left onto the D 650. Cross this road carefully and continue straight ahead on Charrière du Pont. Then take the path and turn left at the end towards Le Plein de Mars.

(3) When you reach the road, turn right and follow the road past the campsite and the beach to join the D 268 near the SNSM station.

(4) Cross the road carefully and join Rue des Dunes. There, turn right onto the dune path running alongside the colourful cabins.
At the end of the path, turn right and take a new path straight ahead along Gonneville Beach.

(5) Turn sharply left, pass by the Cabane Vauban and continue to the D 651. Cross this road carefully and join the D 650. Again, cross this road carefully and continue straight ahead to the next junction.

(6) There, take the road on the right and the first path on the right. When the path crosses a road, turn left onto this new road towards Les Forges.

(7) At the edge of the Ruisseau de Gidron, turn right then left onto a road that quickly becomes a path. Ignore the ford and stay on the path.

(8) Turn left to join the D 344. Cross this road carefully and continue straight ahead. Then take the first path on the left to join the D 344E1 (Route de Coutances).

(9) Turn right towards La Maison Piquet. Before you get there, take the first left. Ignore the first path on the left and continue straight ahead. After a left-hand bend, take the road branching off to the right, which quickly becomes a path (Chemin des Jardins).

(10) At the end of the path, turn left towards Moulin du Pont, then turn left onto Village Gouix (D 432). At the fork, turn left to reach L'Hôtel Bichu, then continue towards Le Haut de Gouville.

(11) Turn right towards Village au Roux and, once on the D 432, turn left then left again towards L'Hôtel Foucher. After the road, take the path towards La Grande Yberterie.

(12) At the end of the path, turn left onto Chemin du Mot and continue to Croix du Mot.

(13) Turn right onto this road, then take the first path on the left after the cross, continuing straight ahead on the path, ignoring the several intersections. Leave the path at Rue de L'épine au Rond (near Montcarville).

(14) At the Route de Montsurvent crossroads, turn left to join the D 268. Finally, turn right to return to the starting point of this hike (S/E).

Difficulty: crossing the D 650 road twice.

Restaurants and local shops in the village of Gouville-sur-Mer.
Water point in the toilets.
Public toilets near the village hall and first aid station.

The beach huts of Gouville-sur-Mer
On the crest of the Gouville dunes, you can see the multicoloured roofs of the famous beach huts. They were set up in the 1930s, when sea bathing was popular, by a local hotelier. Although they disappeared during the German occupation in 1940, they reappeared after the Liberation in much greater numbers. Today, they are a symbol of the seaside resort. There are 69 of them left, and it is impossible to build new ones.

The Vauban Cabin
This guardhouse, also known as the "Vauban hut", was built in 1744 from granite and schist to house customs officers. The purpose of the hut was to defend our coasts from English invasions during the 18th century. There were around twenty guardhouses of this type between Mont Saint-Michel and La Hague. Others can still be seen today on what is known as the customs officers' path.

The Gouville-sur-Mer windmill
Built in 1870, this windmill consists of a stone tower topped with a roof that can be turned to face the wind. Left abandoned, it was restored by an association in 2011, allowing the mill to function once again. Tours are organised to discover how it works.

The Sénéquet lighthouse
The Sénéquet lighthouse is located 5 km from the shore on the rock of the same name. Built as a turret without a light in 1857, following the sinking of the aviso l'Antilope in 1858, it was raised and equipped with a light to become a lighthouse. Now automated, it stands 17 m above sea level.

Oyster farming
Oyster farming plays an important role in the communes of Gouville-sur-Mer, Blainville-sur-Mer and Agon-Coutainville. The oysters from our coast are characterised by their salty aroma and strong flavour, due to their exposure to sea winds and powerful tidal currents.