Between land and sea in Morsalines

Circular via the coastal path facing Saint-Vast-la-Hougue, then through the countryside overlooking the bay.
Alternating between quiet country roads and shaded paths.
Two imposing churches, those of Morsalines and Grenneville, take us back to the days when the bay was the scene of naval conflicts.

Details

1275249
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 89 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 88 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 83 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park near the town hall (blockhouse) on the edge of the D14.

(S/E) From the car park, walk down towards the church and cemetery (information board). Cross the cemetery and visit the church if it is open. Exit through the small gate at the bottom on the left and take the grassy path on the right, which leads to a small road. Turn left onto this road to reach the coast.

GR®223White and Red markings

(1) Follow this coastal path which runs alongside marshy areas on the right (view of Fort de la Houge).
Pass a memorial to pyrotechnicians who died in a mine clearance accident, then Maison Jacques, which does not appear to be accurately marked on the map. The two fords indicated are not visible on the ground. Look for salt marshes on the sea side. You will reach a small access road to the seafront.

No markings

(2) Turn right onto this small road towards the D14 until you reach the stop sign.

(3) Carefully follow the departmental road on the left, then cross it, again with caution, to take the D14E1 towards Crasville. Turn right at the first road, signposted Église de Grenneville. Follow this uphill road and at the top, turn right to reach the church and its cemetery (information panel and viewpoint over the whole bay).

(4) Retrace your steps, continue right along this uphill road which crosses the hamlet of La Picoterie and arrive at the three-way junction at the hamlet of La Pinoterie.

(5) Leave the road that turns left and continue straight ahead to cross the hamlet. Continue along a wide grassy path lined with copses until you reach a small road.

(6) Turn right onto this downhill road, noting a group of blockhouses on the right and the view of the bay. Pass the entrance to the small Arquets lighthouse (not visible from the road) on your right and reach a crossroads.

GR®223 White and Red markings

(7) Take the stony path uphill on the left and at the top, turn right onto a beautiful tree-lined path that descends straight down to the D14.
Turn right and carefully cross the main road to return to the car park near the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 18 m - Car park near the town hall (blockhouse)
  2. 1 : km 0.73 - alt. 4 m - Coastal path
  3. 2 : km 3.1 - alt. 4 m - Junction with a small road
  4. 3 : km 3.75 - alt. 16 m - Junction with the D14
  5. 4 : km 4.55 - alt. 52 m - Grenneville Church.
  6. 5 : km 5.51 - alt. 74 m - La Pinoterie
  7. 6 : km 6.11 - alt. 82 m - Road on the right
  8. 7 : km 6.94 - alt. 42 m - Path on the left
  9. S/E : km 7.61 - alt. 18 m - Car park near the town hall (blockhouse)

Notes

(4) Picnic table near the church.

Worth a visit

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

4.4 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
JérômeUC
JérômeUC

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

As many comments say, we did it backwards, which I think was much better. Lovely views of St Vaast. Very accessible hike (one pregnant woman and a 5-year-old child).

Machine-translated

Quesnot
Quesnot
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Between the sea and the countryside...👍👍However, the signage is average.

Machine-translated

Iza50
Iza50

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

A lovely route between the countryside and the seaside.
No difficulty with children.
Not signposted, so not always easy to follow.
However, it is worth doing it in the opposite direction to enjoy the view of Saint Vaast la Hougue.

Machine-translated

farcypontain
farcypontain

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

We followed the comments of some hikers on your website and did the route in the opposite direction, and they were right. We saw Tatihou Island from the front for longer, rather than from behind. It would be good to mark the route from start to finish in this direction. Without your description, we would not have been able to do it.

Machine-translated

jasy19481949
jasy19481949

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in good weather but with a pretty strong north-easterly wind. We did the hike in the direction shown, which was a good decision given the wind, but I think doing the route in the opposite direction would have been nicer as you get a constant view of St Vaast and La Hougue (as already mentioned).
The small roads inland were not too busy. The paths were not a bit overgrown, but sometimes the nettles overtook us!
But overall, it was quite pleasant and a good breath of fresh air.

Machine-translated

Axell
Axell

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

In my opinion, only the "sea" part is worth it. The "land" part is too much on the road to be enjoyable. The bay, on the other hand, is magnificent, with a superb view of La Hougue.

Machine-translated

RandoRosy
RandoRosy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very good route, which we did in the opposite direction to enjoy the sea at the end of the walk with a view of La Hougue. We hadn't read the previous comment but we completely agree. Even in the opposite direction, the route is well described. As for the section marked as "difficult" because it is muddy, it's not that bad. It is perfectly passable for anyone who isn't hiking in flip-flops!

Machine-translated

DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very interesting. If we were to walk it again, we would take it in the opposite direction to the description, which would allow us to walk along the shore with the panorama of Fort de la Hougue always in front of us, whereas in the suggested direction, the landscape is less interesting. Note that from the hamlet of Beauvais (7), the path is again marked GR.

Machine-translated

Skocoleuro
Skocoleuro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wonderful hike!!! The description is very accurate and sufficient to follow the route.
The path after the hamlet of La Pinoterie, although passable, is particularly poorly maintained and requires vigilance to avoid falling into ruts and puddles covered with vegetation.

Machine-translated

stéphane 76
stéphane 76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

easy hike

Machine-translated

alaba
alaba

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The trail after point 5 (Pinoterie) is no longer passable. This means you have to return to the road, which is not very interesting.
Overall, it is a pleasant walk between the sea and the marshes, but the second part is not particularly appealing.

Machine-translated

Vivrenature19
Vivrenature19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy hike, except between points 5 and 6, where the grassy path is difficult (tall grass and tractor tracks) and can be dangerous, which is a shame. This can be avoided by taking the road, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of this hike.

Machine-translated

FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello,

I think you are confusing the description with the signposting.

It was clearly stated that the signposting only existed at the start and that the rest of the route was not signposted: it couldn't be any clearer.
Your experience did not match the description. In that case, could you point out the issues you encountered so that I can improve the description?

Thank you in advance.

Machine-translated

rouletacaisse
rouletacaisse

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, no markings after 800 metres from the start. After that, we had to rely on our instincts!

Machine-translated

Jérôme Veron
Jérôme Veron

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful walk along the beach.
I imagine that in good weather, the views of the bay are very beautiful (not the case for us this weekend...).

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.