From the Ailly lighthouse to Varengeville-sur-Mer via the Gorges de l'Ailly

The route offers views of the Gorges d'Ailly and the marine cemetery where Georges Braque is buried.

Details

2479027
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 149 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 150 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 95 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 10 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To return to the starting point, follow the signs for Phare d'Ailly from Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer. Park in the picnic car park.

(S/E) Follow theGR®21, which follows Route de l'Ancien Phare, then turn right onto Route Vasterival and left onto the wide path. At the small roundabout, take the second right.

(1) Pass in front of the Hôtel de la Terrasse, then continue on Chemin des Deux Gorges, turning right onto the path for a pleasant, shaded walk through the Bois de Vasterival. Join Chemin des Grandes Masures towards the D27.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left towards the Church of Saint-Valéry and the marine cemetery.

(3) At the church, turn back and take the coastal path on the left to the Gorge des Moutiers. You can climb down into the gorge for a view.

(4) From the gorge, continue along the path through the Bois des Moutiers, still following theGR®21.

(5) Shortly after the water treatment plant, theGR®21branches off at the entrance to Varengeville-sur-Mer.

(6) Continue along Rue de l'Aumone, which turns right to enter Varengeville-sur-Mer.

(7) Turn right onto Route de Dieppe (D75) and follow it to Le Mesnil (take care).

(8) In Le Mesnil, turn right at the three-way junction onto Route de Vasterial, then right onto Chemin J.J Rousseau. At the end of the road, turn right onto Route du Phare d'Ailly, which will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 82 m - Picnic area
  2. 1 : km 1.29 - alt. 56 m - Hôtel de la Terrasse
  3. 2 : km 2.19 - alt. 83 m - Crossroads of the D27
  4. 3 : km 2.59 - alt. 80 m - Saint-Valéry Church - Cimetière marin de Varengeville
  5. 4 : km 3.09 - alt. 10 m - Gorges des Moutiers
  6. 5 : km 3.73 - alt. 45 m - Wastewater treatment plant
  7. 6 : km 4.25 - alt. 78 m - Rue de l'Aumone
  8. 7 : km 5.15 - alt. 94 m - Route de Dieppe on the right
  9. 8 : km 6.72 - alt. 87 m - Le Mesnil
  10. S/E : km 8.14 - alt. 82 m - Picnic area

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
kar76
kar76

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, lots of undergrowth. Beautiful views.
In light of previous comments, we decided to turn before point number 7 to avoid the long stretch on the D75, which is very busy and dangerous.
So we turned onto Rue Marguerite Roll (Rue du Musée Michel Ciry) to reach point number 2. Magnificent castles, manor houses and large residences.

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Lientyragus
Lientyragus

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along the Saane river, ending at the beautiful seafront. Although there are cars on this section, it's still a rather pleasant walk.

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MIPO
MIPO

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An interesting route, admittedly passing through areas with cars, but a good and beautiful route nonetheless

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robal1
robal1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The first part of the route is very nice, with beautiful villas and, at this time of year, rhododendrons in bloom. The second part is very disappointing and very dangerous.
You have to walk along a busy road with cars passing by, sometimes with a pavement on the right, sometimes on the left, and then just a grass verge that also changes sides, forcing you to cross the road several times.
It might have been better to take Rue du Musée Michel Ciry (Rue Marguerite Molle), then go back down to rejoin the outward route and then go back up a road to the main road (there may even be a path). This makes the route a little longer, but the section on the main road is only about a hundred metres.

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Clauclo
Clauclo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk

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CAGIMIETLU
CAGIMIETLU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk... Lovely views and beautiful houses...
However, we chose to return to the car park via the church street, which took us back to point 2, and then retraced our steps.
This is located between points 7 and 8, just after the Auberge du Relais on the right. The road is much quieter and more pleasant.
The road to Dieppe is dangerous... lots of traffic!

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matthieusoudet
matthieusoudet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, especially the first five kilometres. Magnificent houses, beautiful panoramic views, charming woodland passages. After that, the return journey along the road, particularly the section along the Dieppe road, is less pleasant. It might even be better to retrace your steps to the water treatment plant. It was a Monday morning in June when I did this walk, and I only came across a few other walkers.

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Elisabeth76
Elisabeth76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is only busy in the immediate vicinity of the marine cemetery; the rest is quiet.
The section on the main road is not very pleasant, but the rest offers a variety of paths, landscapes and potential visits (currently closed due to exceptional circumstances, but otherwise there are many possibilities). There is even a restaurant along the way for those who would like to add fine dining to their hike and visits, as well as access to the sea.
A very pleasant and accessible short hike!

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charles76550
charles76550

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

parish specific to Brittany section on the road to the sea; forced to take a small detour to avoid it

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Kalendrios
Kalendrios

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike.

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jemfleur5
jemfleur5

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well. But at number 1, we missed or couldn't find the way back up (the orange route that goes from 1 to 56).
not very clear at the start of the walk. Otherwise superb

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Virginie B.
Virginie B.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The first part was great, up to the cemetery. Then we turned back to avoid the road. We would have liked to find a way back via the customs officers' path. If possible, it would be nice to suggest it!

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marie.lebruchec
marie.lebruchec

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

we made a slight detour by going along the coastline, walking along the cliffs at low tide

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Gigsan
Gigsan
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

In December, we attempted to take a walk to the Ailly lighthouse but were unsuccessful. We promised ourselves we would return.
We changed our route because the first part of the GR21 was waterlogged. It was difficult for adults and impractical for children, despite the fun aspect. In addition, as announced, the return route along the road is dangerous; I overtook a group of hikers on a bend in Varangeville and thought they were very reckless.
In the end, we set off on the GR21 but headed towards Sainte-Marguerite and the sea. The terrain was more passable.
We went back up another path (at the bottom of the pastures) - no chance to stop for a coffee, but in season, Sainte-Marguerite must be livelier...
We had a great time and discovered some beautiful landscapes.
Thank you for these directions.

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Fred05!
Fred05!

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike combining the sea, woods and countryside! The outward journey is fantastic, the return a little less enjoyable as it's along a road, but it means you don't have to retrace your steps and you can stop for a drink in a café in spring/summer. I highly recommend it.

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