The trail of the Cucq dunes

Come and take a stroll in the Stella dunes, a very fragile Natura 2000 listed natural environment, to be explored with respect. Most of this trail is covered in sand. You'll discover three types of dunes (embryo, white and grey), with lovely panoramic views from the top. You'll walk alongside the sea and discover Bois Joly. A very fine hike, albeit a little physically demanding.

Technical sheet

36791904
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 42 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 36 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 30 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Cucq church car park.

Very poor yellow markings.

(S/E) Head west on Rue des Flaques.
Turn left into Rue des Iris at the 1 crossroads, and continue until you reach Boulevard de France.

(1) Cross the Boulevard and continue straight ahead on this road. You will pass pastures. At the 1st crossroads, continue straight on Rue des Guigneux as far as the bend.

Stay on the road and turn right. At the next junction, turn right onto Rue des Certains.
At the next junction with Rue Jacques Norel, continue straight ahead until you reach Boulevard de France. Cross it again and enter the wood opposite through the passage in the fence to the left of the bench. Walk in the sand for 100m to an enclosure on your right.

(3) At this point, take the sandy path on the left, which climbs upwards. Cross a few dunes. Follow your instincts to stay on the main path, or follow the GPS track! End at Avenue du Château d'Eau.

(4) Turn right and continue to the T-junction with Boulevard Edmond Labrasse. Turn left, cross at the crossing and continue almost opposite on Avenue du Touquet for 150m.

(5) At the bend in the road, continue straight ahead on the wooded path. Then drive along Le Touquet golf course until you reach the wooden gate giving access to the golf course,

(6) Turn left and climb the dune. Here again, you'll have to go by instinct. At the first fork in the road, take the path on the right. You'll see a wooden signpost in the distance.
A little further on, notice a passage on your right through a wire fence. Go through it. Continue straight on towards the sea.
At the Dune de Mayville sign, turn left and follow the fence on your right.

(7) At the wooden barrier, turn left, then immediately right onto the gravel road. At the crossroads, turn right onto Avenue de Paris to reach the seafront.

(8) Here, head due south. You have a choice:
- If you have time, continue your stroll with your feet in the water.
- If you're in a hurry, walk along the esplanade as far as you can and down to the beach.

(9) When you reach Merlimont, take the large sandy path that rises on your left before the first building. Follow the "Sentier des Fauvettes" signs and then the yellow signs.

(10) At the wooden observatory, turn right and follow the sandy path, with the fence on your left. Stay on the main path until you reach the "Conservatoire du littoral" barrier.

(11) Enter the wood on the path to your left. The sandy path becomes a long wooden footbridge. At the end of the wood, turn right at the T-junction. 20m further on, exit through the wooden gate on your left to rejoin the road.

(12) Turn right. Cross Boulevard de Berck and continue straight on Avenue de Merlimont for 600m.

(13) At the left-hand bend, go straight ahead on the gravel path opposite. This path becomes sandy and you cross the last dunes while staying on the main path. Then pass through the grove and rejoin the road you passed on the outward journey.

(2) Take the one-way road opposite and follow the opposite route from the outward journey to reach the church car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Church of Cucq
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 6 m - Boulevard de France
  3. 2 : km 1.06 - alt. 11 m - Curve. Loop crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.63 - alt. 10 m - Enclosure
  5. 4 : km 2.27 - alt. 28 m - Avenue du Château d'Eau
  6. 5 : km 2.88 - alt. 14 m - Wooded path
  7. 6 : km 3.85 - alt. 14 m - Golf barrier
  8. 7 : km 5.03 - alt. 14 m - Wooden fence
  9. 8 : km 5.47 - alt. 8 m - Seafront
  10. 9 : km 7.26 - alt. 6 m - Merlimont
  11. 10 : km 7.96 - alt. 18 m - Observatory
  12. 11 : km 8.74 - alt. 12 m - Bois Joly
  13. 12 : km 9.27 - alt. 10 m - Route
  14. 13 : km 10.01 - alt. 12 m - Le Bout des Certains
  15. S/E : km 12.14 - alt. 6 m - Church of Cucq

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
nini vil
nini vil

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Points 3 and 6 are indeed tricky.
At point 6, I didn't see the marker post: a fence on the right with 2 openings: I selected the 1st and when I got there, I didn't have a map, just an app.

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eric boulle
eric boulle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

on the day of my visit, quite a lot of traces of passage

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venerande
venerande

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb route on a very sunny day

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Claire BASTIEN
Claire BASTIEN

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Very pleasant route, magnificent site ... but a GPS is more useful than a single description, the landmarks are rather "moving"!

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mcdelhoume
mcdelhoume

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk between forest, sea and dunes - a bit physical - we really enjoyed it - a bit short of signposts

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Flore01
Flore01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thank you for this route!

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grossemy
grossemy

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

This is a lovely walk, giving you the chance to explore wild dune areas in complete freedom. The markings are often inadequate and GPS tracking is recommended. I recommend this walk.

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VincePo
VincePo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This was a lovely walk in February, but we'll be doing it again in fine weather.

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schomus
schomus

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

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pchadhefilms
pchadhefilms

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very pleasant walk with a crossing of the Cucq dune park (on the way out and on the way back). It's rare to be able to walk freely in the dunes (not possible on the Slack, for example, where the path is heavily waymarked). Varied scenery, affordable route - definitely worth doing.

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jean-luc C
jean-luc C

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A nice, slightly physical hike in an environment worth discovering.

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KDec
KDec

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk in the dunes with a variety of environments. I recommend it

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