The Platier d'Oye Observatory

The trails are well-marked. All through the year, they're accessible, and this walk allows you to discover our beautiful northern beaches.
Itinerary to be adapted, some areas may be off-limits, see notices .

Technical sheet

245706
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 8 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 8 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 13 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the main observatory car park at Platier d'Oye, Oye-Plage.

Take the grassy path on the left up to the observatory.
After taking a few minutes, or even hours, to observe the plain, the ponds and the various species of birds, continue along the signposted path on the left (path suitable for people with reduced mobility).

(1) At the first junction, turn right onto the path leading slightly up the dune, or continue straight on to the beach at the coastal shelter. Pass another observatory on your right. After a few hundred metres, the path becomes grassy and sandy.

(2) Exit onto the beach and walk around the dune. You can also cross the dune, at your discretion and depending on the tide. Continue along the beach, past the bunkers and on to the Ecardines footbridge.

(3) Fork right at the footbridge, continue on and turn left towards the duck pond.

(4) At the fork before the pond, take the left-hand path to the numerous ponds. Go around the ponds, then turn right and rejoin the road.

(5) Follow the road to the right, turn right at the fork and continue towards the next crossroads.

(6) Turn right at the crossroads, then right again to reach the duck pond (stop to observe). Continue to join the fork in the road.

(4) Turn left along the car park, leaving the footbridge path on your right.

(7) Pass through the turnstiles and at the fork, follow the concrete path to the left. Continue along the path through the rosehips.

(8) At the junction, turn left towards the rabbit observatory. Then turn right and continue around the observatory plain to return through a meadow (often partly covered by water) to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - Platier d'Oye observatory car park
  2. 1 : km 0.88 - alt. 6 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.65 - alt. 5 m - Unloading on the beach
  4. 3 : km 3.46 - alt. 11 m - Ecardines footbridge
  5. 4 : km 3.8 - alt. 4 m - Fork, turn left towards the ponds
  6. 5 : km 5.74 - alt. 4 m - Road, turn right
  7. 6 : km 7.07 - alt. 4 m - Right towards the duck pond
  8. 7 : km 7.61 - alt. 5 m - Turnstiles
  9. 8 : km 8.52 - alt. 4 m - Left to the rabbit station
  10. S/E : km 9.35 - alt. 5 m - Platier d'Oye observatory car park

Practical information

The beach is accessible in many places, but please respect the passageways.

Dogs are only allowed on a leash so as not to disturb the wildlife.

Part of the route was modified in 2015 to allow access for people with reduced mobility.

In the nearby area

The Platier d'Oye nature reserve is the first feeding area on the Channel/North Sea coast encountered by migrating birds on their way to their winter quarters.

The Platier d'Oye is one of the premier ornithological jewels in the Pas-de-Calais département.

Occasionally, a little black muzzle with a moustache emerges from the waves, and we stand there silently watching it.
Mr. or Mrs. Seal are watching us. Quiet!

You can do this walk with young children - it's very well signposted.
Take binoculars, boots in wet weather and some stale bread for the duck pond.

Have a good hike!

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 37 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Dalpo
Dalpo

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

At least 20% of the route is on roads with no dedicated track.

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Lebellesai
Lebellesai

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk, top signposting, but part of the walk was not accessible (at the ponds and duck pond) due to building work.

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RomDuke
RomDuke

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Great tour, take your binoculars!

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MicMaD
MicMaD

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Like everywhere else, there are some incivilities in certain places, and in the observation posts (but this is France, land of freedom!). Otherwise, the route through the dunes among the scrubland becomes monotonous, whereas the route along the beach is more pleasant.
Done in autumn, this one deserves to be done in spring.

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Brigitte A1.
Brigitte A1.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The site of the polder is strangely beautiful. A walk well worth taking.

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hugues lenquette
hugues lenquette

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Some improvements to be made to the accuracy of the theoretical route and the reality. The path suddenly came to a halt, so we made a 1/2 turn and at the finish it was impossible to pass through a pool of water, a loop of about 1km through fenced meadows.
I have to admit that this is the first time in the three years we've been using viso that we've been confronted with these conditions...
Thanks to your teams and see you soon
Cdt Hugues

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na3green
na3green

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This walk was very interesting, with nature, animals, the beach, cows, and not too many people.
However, I think the route needs to be revised, as one section is closed off so as not to bother the animals.
I had the app and the map and we weren't able to follow the route.

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sportplus
sportplus

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We were only able to walk on the beach and in the dunes, as the signposts led to an overgrown path.

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daninou62
daninou62

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : May 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We got lost and couldn't find our way around the route.

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Texas62
Texas62

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Hello,
The GPX tracks are no longer up to date on 2 occasions, so there have certainly been changes to the itinerary. The site is splendid and the walk very pleasant. With a good GPS, it's easy to find your way around.
On the way back to the car park, we had to hope for good weather because part of the path was flooded, so plan B (going over a fence), but this in no way spoiled the walk.

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NathetDams
NathetDams

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

It's a nice start with the very first observation site, although the variety of birds varies according to the season. The path is well marked out and takes us to the beach where the view is pleasant. Leaving the beach, the path becomes similar over a long stretch with a limited view of the landscape and few birds to be seen in February. The return journey is a little monotonous, but on the whole the site is worth seeing, perhaps at another time of year.

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Premgun
Premgun

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The route description was certainly difficult to put together, particularly in the beach and wild dunes sections.
Result: a few extra kilometres on the clock!
Magnificent scenery despite rain and grey skies.
A very fine route

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LN59
LN59

it says: Take binoculars, boots in wet weather and a bit of stale bread for the duck pond.
Just to say that bread is toxic for ducks ... prefer pieces of apple!
thanks for them ;-)

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Michèle62185
Michèle62185

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very nice, relaxing walk. The only drawback is the part where you have to take the road.

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jemfleur5
jemfleur5

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We got a bit lost, especially at the start from the apricot tree car park. We did a lot of beach (magnificent) and then picked up the hike again. It was a very pretty walk, with a change of scenery, but the starting point on the left was not very well signposted;;;:

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