Cap Blanc-Nez and the heights of Sangatte

An invigorating seaside walk to the heights of Sangatte, via the cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez. A walk combining nature and culture, in a place that has been awarded the Grand Site de France label since 2011. Numerous relics of the Second World War bear witness to the past, amid breathtaking scenery.

Technical sheet

202092
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 226 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 219 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 149 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 17 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Haute-Escalles car park (along the D243 between Escalles and Peuplingues).

(S/E) Take the path on the right before leaving the car park. At the end, continue along the lawn to the barn. At the rubbish bin, walk along the side of the road for 50m before crossing the D243 carefully.

(1) Continue right along the sidewalk towards the village centre. Cross the Restaurant du Cap car park and take the lane on the left to reach the village square.

(2) In the village square, take the crossing in front of the point info-tourisme, then continue to the right on the pavement. Pass in front of the L'Escale restaurant. At the next crossing, cross the D940 opposite the Escale hotel and continue left to the Ferme du Chat Perché.

(3) Fork right into Rue de la Mer, continue towards the beach to Cran d'Escalles and join the car park.

(4) Take the path that rises to the right at the bottom of the car park and follow the red and white markings of the GR®120 (coastal path).

Warning, the coastal path has been retraced as part of the Opération Grand Site des Deux-Caps. The actual marked path is not shown on the base map. It has been laid out in such a way as not to erode the limestone of Cap Blanc-Nez. The route of the walk represents the current path.

(5) At the end of the path, turn left onto the tarmac road. Take the left-hand path around the obelisk (Dover Patrol) and enjoy the viewpoints from the top of Cap Blanc-Nez. Back at the obelisk, take the path on the left to return to the tarmac road. Follow it to the left.

(5) Turn left to pick up the GR®120 and continue for about 3km.

(6) Turn right and follow the fields to the D940.

(7) Turn right and walk along the roadside. Carefully cross the road at the cross. Turn left onto the road behind the cross, then quickly right onto the path to Les Noires Mottes. Pass the 30-hectare Fond Pignon artificial lake on your left.

(8) At the crossroads, turn right (chicane) and follow the yellow PR® signs. Cross the groves and continue straight ahead towards the large communications antenna at the top of Mont d'Hubert.

(9) Cross the chicane and head to the Thomé de Gamond restaurant.

(10) Opposite the restaurant, take the path down to the right. You'll have views of village of Escalles. Continue downhill, passing the small wooden barriers to reach the Haute-Escalles car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 49 m - Parking de la Haute-Escalles
  2. 1 : km 0.37 - alt. 43 m - D243, continue to the right after crossing
  3. 2 : km 0.64 - alt. 39 m - Place du village, pedestrian crossing, right
  4. 3 : km 0.86 - alt. 36 m - Fork, turn right towards the beach
  5. 4 : km 1.54 - alt. 25 m - Parking du Cran d'Escalles, GR120 to the right
  6. 5 : km 2.71 - alt. 120 m - Tarmac road, turn left - Cap Blanc-Nez
  7. 6 : km 6.3 - alt. 17 m - To the right, along the fields
  8. 7 : km 6.44 - alt. 21 m - D940, right towards the calvary
  9. 8 : km 8.3 - alt. 133 m - Crossroads, right
  10. 9 : km 9.06 - alt. 143 m - Chicane, to restaurant
  11. 10 : km 9.17 - alt. 147 m - To the right, descent from Mont d'Hubert
  12. S/E : km 10.22 - alt. 49 m - Parking de la Haute-Escalles

Practical information

The car park at the start is free and open to light vehicles, coaches and campervans.
Picnic table in Escalles village center, near the town hall.
On-site catering or takeaways along the way.

In the nearby area

- At low tide, walk down to the Cran d'Escalles beach (4) to discover the great limestone cliff of Cap Blanc-Nez from below. For geology buffs, this cliff is rich in fossils from the Cretaceous period (ammonites...). However, it is forbidden to scrape the cliff to extract them!

- At the top of Cap Blanc-Nez: the Dover Patrol. This obelisk was erected as a tribute to the soldiers who fought in the Pas-de-Calais Strait during the First World War.

- Numerous World War II bunkers and pillboxes remain, forming part of the Atlantic Wall, as well as craters left by bombing raids in both wars.

- The "Fond Pignon" artificial lake: during construction of the Channel Tunnel, as the tunnel progressed, the millions of cubic meters of blue chalk removed were wetted and pumped into this 30-hectare basin. It was here that the Germans had built the Lindemann Battery, designed to bombard England during the Second World War. It is now completely submerged.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 40 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
bernard222
bernard222

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice hike
Stuck in one place

Automatically translated

doyen
doyen

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Thank you for the great tour

Automatically translated

saturnview
saturnview

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

very busy up to the Dover Patrol lookout as it is very touristy, then quieter for the rest of the walk; beautiful views of the English coastline and the many boats of all kinds (including huge container ships).

Automatically translated

Agnes84
Agnes84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk

Automatically translated

mich59242
mich59242

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Superb hike with wonderful landscapes, you should allow 2h30 with a good pace
Be careful though, it's a climb 😜

Automatically translated

Fremel57
Fremel57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very fine route, very busy on the first part. Magnificent views, including of the English cliffs.

Automatically translated

Van62
Van62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

This route would offer better views if the loop were done in the opposite direction.

Automatically translated

µµ
µµ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very, very nice itinerary, the opposite of the usual one. We didn't meet many people.

Automatically translated

les tourterelles
les tourterelles

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk. Great photos to take, with a view of England.
A few climbs but nothing difficult (a picnic area on a table in the village).

Automatically translated

nowan
nowan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Beautiful scenery and fine weather

Automatically translated

dlamouline
dlamouline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant walk with beautiful scenery.

Automatically translated

adav59
adav59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk.
Difficulty finding the starting point.
And you have to be careful at the restaurant (closed) because the flow of hikers and the road invites you to go in the opposite direction.

Automatically translated

Daniel Tielie
Daniel Tielie

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

no information on the car park at the start, we made a mistake, so bad information at the start. "right hand" "left hand" not specified

Automatically translated

Daisy Cliq
Daisy Cliq

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

When you get to the top of Mont d'Hubert, near the communications aerial, you tell us to head for the Thomé de Gamond restaurant, but we can't find anything like that when we get to the top. Is it the establishment behind the car park that's closed? In any case, when we get there we don't know where to go.
Sincerely

Automatically translated

randofamars
randofamars

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Automatically translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.