Cap Blanc-Nez as seen from Sangatte

Ideal for exploring the coastline and Cap Blanc-Nez!
Moderator’s note Route impassable (7), see reviews and route description at (6)

Details

10111315
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.44 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 210 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 201 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 147 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 17 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Sangatte car park

(S/E) Cross the road and head left (with your back to the car park).

(1) Take the small path on the right which turns left. Follow the path along the coast to Cap Blanc-Nez. It’s straight on all the way! Walk past an area of blockhouses and join a road.

(2) Head towards the car park, cross it to reach a main road (D940). Cross it carefully and continue straight on up the road. You’ll come to a former panoramic restaurant.

(3) From there, take the path that descends into the pastures.
There’s no chance of getting lost: the path is clearly marked and there are small gates to open, which tell you you’re on the right track. Continue to the Escalles car park.

(4) Head left onto a small path marked out on a grassy hillock. Continue straight on until you reach the start of a path on the left. The path is wide, so very easy to spot. You’ll come out onto the D243, which you follow for about ten metres.

(5) Turn left onto a path that climbs, pass an old mill on the right and continue to a crossroads.

(6) Editor’s note: reports indicate that the route is no longer passable between points 7 and 8. An alternative is to take theGR®-GRP® paths to the left here, which lead directly back to the starting junction.

Turn right and continue straight on until you reach a path branching off to the left. The entrance to this path is marked by small wooden posts.

(7) Continue along this same path, which goes round Fond Pignon, an artificial lake created during the construction of the Channel Tunnel. You will reach a pumping station.

(6) Pass this and continue on the D940 to the right.

(1) Head to the Sangatte car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 17 m - Sangatte car park
  2. 1 : km 0.12 - alt. 20 m - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 2.9 - alt. 120 m - Road junction - Cap Blanc-Nez
  4. 3 : km 3.71 - alt. 147 m - Former panoramic restaurant
  5. 4 : km 4.73 - alt. 50 m - Escalles car park
  6. 5 : km 5.17 - alt. 60 m - Junction on the path
  7. 6 : km 6.66 - alt. 134 m - Path junction
  8. 7 : km 7.65 - alt. 116 m - Junction on the path
  9. 8 : km 9.17 - alt. 26 m - Pumping station
  10. S/E : km 9.44 - alt. 17 m - Sangatte car park

Notes

Warning: do not go beyond the path boundaries. The cliffs are fragile, and it is best not to get too close to the edge! The boundaries are there for this reason and to protect the natural environment.

Worth a visit

English coast.
North Sea.
Cap Blanc-Nez.

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

4.2 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
MagB
MagB
• Edited:

A superb hike, both along the cliffs and inland. Gentle slopes that are easy on the legs

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Franreg
Franreg

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk starting from an easily accessible car park that leads straight onto the coastal path.
Climb up to Cap Blanc Nez and descend via the GR paths, as the passage at point 7 is indeed impassable. This shortens the walk but makes it no less enjoyable. You’ll discover many blockhouses and a landscape dotted with old bomb craters, a reminder of a region that was heavily bombed during the Second World War.
It would indeed be worth updating the route description.
Please note: this route is very busy in good weather and during holiday periods.

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Bernard Stefaniak
Bernard Stefaniak

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On 13 July, we set off on this route at 7.30 am to avoid the heat of the day.
We thoroughly enjoyed this short but steep hike, so much so that I would recommend it for the coastal paths and the breathtaking views it offers, particularly of the English coast.
However, I must make a reservation regarding Waypoint 7. This area is now closed off by barriers and should remain so, as it is necessary to respect the enclosures reserved for the many sheep that graze and maintain the pastures.
I therefore suggest that the creator review the route to see if, for example, by going straight on from point 6, we could reach the finish without any obstacles.
Kind regards
Bernard

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Jo2203
Jo2203

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with stunning views!
Please note: you cannot turn off at point 7 as the path is fenced off...

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Premgun
Premgun

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Much of this route is quiet or deserted, with the exception of the area around Cap Blanc Nez and the Dover Patrol memorial.
The scenery is spectacular around Wissant Bay and Cap Gris Nez in the distance... Superb views of the cliffs of Dover.
Don’t miss point no. 7, which takes you back to the car park where you started: it’s 10 metres to the left just before a low barrier on the GR128. Not easy to spot!!!

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Julaiiie
Julaiiie

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike!
No shelter available
The view is magnificent
Elevation gain: I’m at 250m

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