Framezelle (Audinghen) - Boulogne

(S) Start at the junction with the RD191 at the entrance to Framezelle, opposite a café-restaurant. Follow the RD191 down towards Audinghen.

(1) At the junction, turn left onto the Route de Floringzelle and continue to the next junction with the Route du Panche.

(2) Continue right along this road until you reach the junction with a path.

(3) Turn right onto this track (the GR® 120) and continue to a junction with a cross.

(4) Turn left onto Route du Cap; at the junction, continue straight on towards Haringzelles, still on the GR® 120, until you reach a junction with a road.

(5) Turn left towards La Cense until you reach the start of a small signposted path on the right through the bunkers, then join the D940.

(7) Cross it carefully, and continue along the Sentier du Littoral / Les Crans until you reach a junction with a path.

(8) Turn right and continue along this path until you reach the car park at Camping Le Noirda. On the left, take the D940 for about 150m and, at the first junction on the right, enter Audresselles.

(9) Take the street on the right, then immediately right onto Rue des Goélands. At the end of the street, turn left onto Rue des Hauts Claives. Head towards and follow the seafront. After a 90° left-hand bend, the street moves away from the coast; continue to the end of the street. Take the last street on the right (Rue Pierre Harduin), passing under a portico at the bottom of the street. Return to the seafront and turn left onto Allée Maurice Boitel, then continue along the pebble beach. After the last houses, head slightly inland to reach a footbridge over the Ruisseau de la Manchue.

(10) Cross the footbridge, then return to the beach and continue on to Ambleteuse.

(11) Walk up to the top of the sea wall and follow the coastal road.

(12) At Fort Mahon, follow the road as it turns left. Then turn right into Allée du Laboratoire. At the end of the lane, turn left onto the path leading uphill. Cross the first road. Reach a second road, follow it to the right and pass a small square with the war memorial.

(13) Just after the war memorial, turn into the first right and turn right again at the next junction in front of the ESA. At the end of the street, leave Rue Bellevue on your left and follow the path opposite which runs alongside the properties. You will reach a hamlet.

(14) Join the road (D940), then take the first right. The road ends at a junction; continue straight ahead along a path between two hedges. At the end of this, take the road on the right. At the bottom, cross the bridge over the Slack.

(15) Just after the bridge, turn right and cross a car park. Take the paved path at the far end of the car park and return to the beach.

(16) Turn left to continue along the beach. You’ll reach a rocky headland blocking the beach.

(17) Take the sandy path on the left opposite, which climbs up the slope. At the end of the path, continue left along a concrete path that leads to a car park.

(18) Take the path on the right that starts in the middle of the car park and head towards a second car park.

(19) Cross the car park and take the path opposite, which is accessed via a small gate. Then continue along the coast, ignoring the successive turnings. As you approach Wimereux, the path runs between the coast and a sports ground. It turns left to run along the short side of the sports ground and leads onto Rue Dugay-Trouin.

(20) Turn right and walk down this street. Continue along Rue du Tennis, then turn right onto Rue du Docteur Calmette. Return to the seafront.

(21) Walk along the seafront. When the street turns left, cross the bridge to the right and rejoin the seafront promenade on the other side. At the end of the promenade, take the street to the left of the sailing school. After the 90° left-hand bend, take the street on the right. At the roundabout, follow the RD 940 towards Boulogne for a few metres, then take the path on the right.

(22) There are two paths; follow the one furthest to the right. The path returns to the seafront and turns left to follow it. It reaches the Pointe de la Crèche.

(23) Go round the bunkers on the right. The path then descends slightly and crosses another path. Follow this path briefly, going up to the left, then take another path on the right to get back on the right track. The path approaches the road for the first time, moves away from it, then approaches it again. It then runs alongside a motorhome site and leads to a car park. Turn right from the car park onto a path with a potholed tarmac surface on the other side of the barrier enclosing the car park. It leads to a roundabout.

(24) Continue to the right along the cycle path that runs alongside the road and descends towards Boulogne. Further on, go round the sand yachting school on the right to follow the quays. You’ll reach the equestrian statue of San Martin refusing power.

(25) Turn right, pass the National Centre for the Sea, then turn left following the quay, and continue to the first bridge crossing the Liane (Pont Marguet) (E).

If access to the quays is blocked behind the National Maritime Centre, as was the case when I was there, at the statue of San Martin, carry straight on, cross a square and then rejoin the quays.

The trail does not have any dangerous sections; however, it is mostly at height, with a view of the drop below, and may present difficulties for those with a fear of heights.

Rating according to the FFRP: effort = 3; technical difficulty = 2; risk = 2.

In Framezelle (Audinghen): Cap Gris-Nez.
The church at Audresselles.
The former Fort Mahon in Ambleteuse.
In Boulogne: the old fortified town (the ramparts, the belfry, the town hall, the castle and its museum, the Basilica-Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l’Immaculée-Conception, the rampart walk), Saint-Nicolas Church, the National Maritime Centre.