From Saint-Martin-Plage (Petit Caux) to Criel-sur-Mer via the GR®21

(S) From the picnic area, walk down the end of Avenue Rauss to the bridge over a small valley.

(1) After the bridge, "jump" over the low wooden railing and turn left onto the grassy esplanade. Head to the viewpoint a little further down, which overlooks the pebble beach and offers a view of the cliffs to the right and left. Head towards the car park and the top of the stairs leading to the beach and follow the footpath through the lawns to Avenue Marie Alenis. Follow this road downhill.

(2) After a right-hand bend, turn left almost 180° onto the pedestrian ramp leading down to the beach. At the bottom of the ramp, walk up Impasse Morval for a few metres and turn left onto the steps leading up to the end of Avenue des Falaises. Continue climbing to the top of the cliff at an altitude of 100 metres (don't hesitate to turn around to take in the view). Go behind the pylon and continue on level ground.

(3) Turn left onto the road towards the nuclear power station.

(4) Continue to the right, alongside the power station staff car park.

(5) Just before the roundabout, turn right onto a path closed to traffic by a wooden barrier and follow it uphill.

(6) After 300 metres, turn right onto Rue des Pêcheurs and cross Vassonville.

(7) Turn left onto ZA du Bois Nicolas, then quickly right.

(8) At the end of the street after the waste collection centre, turn left onto the RD313. This is the start of an unpaved and unsecured stretch of roadside until you reach Penly. Continue along the shoulder of this road, following the power station fencing, then along the fields. When you enter Penly, walk on the pavement for safety. Pass in front of the church, then the town hall.

(9) At the roundabout, turn left, pass the school and turn left again onto Rue du Bel Air for about 600 metres.

(10) Turn right and follow the markings as best you can (tall grass with no obvious trail when I passed through in June 2022), crossing a small depression. The trail becomes more obvious a little further on, on the "side" of the cliff. This is where one of the most beautiful sections of^{the GR®®21}begins, at the top of the cliff. Continue straight ahead for about 1.5 km, then turn right to join the Chemin de la Mer.

(11) Turn left and, 100 m further on, continue along the coastal path behind the iron barrier, leaving Chemin de la Mer inland. Continue along the top of the cliff, enjoying the breathtaking view. Climb up and down a small depression, then a second, much more pronounced one (Parfondval). Continue along the top of the cliff until you descend to Val Mesnil.

(12) Climb 20 metres to the right, then turn left between the field fences along the coastline. Continue to the area closed to the public due to landslides.

(13) Turn right to head inland and climb up through the undergrowth.

(14) At a fork, take the left path through the undergrowth, then along the tree-lined path. Reach the top of the cliff with a view of the north coast.

(15) Descend to the right, then right again to the T-junction.

(16) Continue downhill to the left, which leads to Rue de la Plage, near the campsite (E).

Red and white^GR®®21markings throughout the route

The stretch between (10) and (15) is absolutely magnificent: it is best to walk it from south to north in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunlight on the cliffs.

The path along the top of the cliffs is always several metres from the edge, so there is no need to worry for those who are prone to vertigo (including myself). Only the climb up Parfondval is a little daunting.

There are no shops along the route.

(E) Two campsites and shops.

(4) Visit the nuclear power plant information centre on Wednesdays from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm.