Les Herbus de la Sienne and Le Havre de Regnéville

After an initial section in the Cotentin countryside, the route continues across grasslands, home to salt marsh sheep, along the River Sienne and its mouth.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 26 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 26 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 39 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the church in Regnéville-sur-Mer. Parking is available at the foot of the church or between the church and the ruined keep.

There are several signposts along all or part of this hike, with the entire route marked in green: the markings are discreet and have faded over time. Here and there, you will find signs for the "Circuit des Marais" (Marsh Trail).

Green markings

(S/E) Facing the church, turn right (east) onto the D439 road. Before the Regnéville exit sign, turn left onto Route des Hauts Vents, which climbs slightly. At the next T-junction, turn right onto Rue des Hauteurs. Cross the hamlet of Les Hauts Vents, ignoring a small road on the right.

(1) After the village exit sign, turn left (north) onto a gravel road. When you reach a road, turn right and follow this road for about 200 metres (be careful, this road is relatively busy). Take the first small road on the left towards Grimouville (signposted).

(2) After about 250 metres, take the first road on the right, heading east, between fields, meadows and hedges. At the next T-junction, turn left. Stay on the small road (Chemin de l'Amélinerie), ignoring the side roads, heading generally north despite two left-right bends.

(3) At the T-junction, turn right. At the next T-junction, turn left onto the D376 towards Urville (signposted). At the next junction (metal cross on the right), continue straight ahead.

Green + yellow signposting

(4) At La Campagnette, continue straight ahead (north-northeast). At the next T-junction, turn left towards Grimouville (sign; hiking map on the left). After a few dozen metres, turn right downhill towards "Le Marais / La Sienne" (sign). At the bottom of the hill, go through a wooden gate and then a metal gate (close the gates behind you).

Green + yellow + red and white markings

(5) Turn left immediately after the gate and stay on the south then south-west edge of the grassy area (shown with blue horizontal hatching on the 1:25,000 map). Head north-west along a path that is sometimes poorly marked, with a stream on your right and the Sienne river further away.

(6) Shortly after passing the church of Heugueville-sur-Sienne, on the opposite bank of the Sienne, turn left to go through a metal gate and leave the grasslands. Walk a few metres uphill, then turn right onto a tarmac road with a hedge on your left. Ignore two paths on your right. After an old wash house on the left, turn right onto the D249 (Route du Prey). At the T-junction that follows, turn right (Impasse).

(7) Go through a metal gate and turn left towards "Le Hable" (sign). Stay on a path or trail through the grass, with the Sienne River on your right, then the Havre de Regnéville. Walk south-west, then south after crossing a footbridge.

(8) Go through a metal gate at the houses to leave the grassy area. Take the D156 road on the right and pass the sign for Regnéville. At the junction with the D49 (small car park), turn right towards Montmartin (sign). After a few dozen metres, turn right onto a tarmac road towards a small jetty.

Green + yellow markings

(9) At the jetty, turn left onto a path. Pass under a masonry structure on the left (the Porte à Flots) and continue south. At the end of the path, turn left and you will reach a car park.

(10) Turn immediately right (do not join the road) and take a path bordered by a low wall on the right and running alongside a small campsite on the left. Just before a garden bin, turn left, cross the campsite and then cross the road (take care). Continue a few metres opposite in Rue Le Breuil and turn right into Ruelle du Château. Turn left to pass under a porch, then follow a path between houses and gardens. At the foot of the church, turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 13 m - Église Notre-Dame (Regnéville-sur-Mer)
  2. 1 : km 0.97 - alt. 26 m - Start of the trail to the north
  3. 2 : km 1.9 - alt. 21 m - Start of the trail to the east
  4. 3 : km 2.67 - alt. 25 m - La Hercenterie
  5. 4 : km 3.8 - alt. 26 m - La Campagnette
  6. 5 : km 4.37 - alt. 7 m - Start of the first section on the grasslands of the - Sienne (fleuve)
  7. 6 : km 5.19 - alt. 7 m - End of the first section on the grasslands
  8. 7 : km 6.78 - alt. 7 m - Start of the second section on the grasslands
  9. 8 : km 8.92 - alt. 8 m - End of the second section on the grasslands
  10. 9 : km 9.41 - alt. 7 m - Boarding stage
  11. 10 : km 9.94 - alt. 8 m - Parking
  12. S/E : km 10.47 - alt. 13 m - Église Notre-Dame (Regnéville-sur-Mer)

Notes

In dry weather, good sports shoes are sufficient, but in wet weather, wear waterproof hiking boots.

A 1:25,000 map is useful (at least the one accompanying this description).

Recommendations:
- It is recommended that you do this hike at high tide (or close to it) when you reach the banks of the Sienne and the Havre de Regnévillé, i.e. from (5). Check the tide times for this.
- Do not undertake this hike during spring tides or in very rainy seasons, as the sections from (5) to (8) may be flooded.
- Between (5) and (8), you will cross several gates intended for sheep grazing on the grasslands: close the gates behind you. Dogs must be kept on a leash if there are animals present.

Hike completed by the author on 19 August 2015.

Worth a visit

In Regnéville:
- Church (13th century) at the starting point (S/E).
- Ruins of the castle (14th century), including the keep, near the starting point.
- Porte à Flots after (9): remains of a device for regulating the flow of water into the oyster beds.

Along the way:
- Beautiful houses in La Hercenterie and L'Amélinerie, around (3).
- Herbus, where, in season, salt marsh sheep graze between (5) and (8).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 32 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
CRICRI_55
CRICRI_55

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, great variety of landscapes.

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User 11989188

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

beautiful trails

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Marie O
Marie O

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

from 1 to 5, a small road with little traffic but not very interesting. You could consider doing a round trip along the Sienne. Beautiful scenery. Thank you for this route. Marie O

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lbrouen
lbrouen
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied and easy hike. Beautiful landscapes and even seals. A wonderful photo exhibition at the castle on the Channel harbours

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CLGD
CLGD

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in good weather and at low tide. From the start to point 5, it is mainly a small, quiet paved road. It is advisable to have a GPS to find your way around the circuit. If, like us, you miss the exit from the grassy area at point 6, don't worry, you can exit at Les Vandais.

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jasy19481949
jasy19481949

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike today. Beautiful weather and low tide. There are a few picnic tables near the starting point (castle). In hot weather, bring water and hats. The description is very good. You are in touch with nature and it is very peaceful.

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Xavier95
Xavier95

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through beautiful villages and along the estuary. Avoid at high tide or in wet weather.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Your map was indispensable.

Yes, it is essential to use the description and the IGN-Visorando map together

See you soon

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mcdelhoume
mcdelhoume

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this lovely walk, with sheep and a slight breeze – it was really nice, but luckily we had the map and instructions from Visorando, because this walk starts from the castle ruins (more or less) and you have to follow the green markings. They must have run out of paint... Your map was indispensable. We saw another couple who told us the same thing.
Thank you

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Cochonette
Cochonette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, fairly wild walk with some wonderful discoveries along the way

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mamalou
mamalou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike. Before starting the route through the grasslands, check the tide times and low tide times. Before or after the hike, visit the Rey hot ovens located about 500 metres from the start on the D439.

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SylHouliere
SylHouliere
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike through pretty hamlets and grassy areas offering beautiful views. There was even a bench with a rubbish bin just in time for our picnic (about halfway along the route). One tricky section: crossing a fence via some steps where we had to carry our dog!
Thank you for this lovely walk!

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claudine
claudine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

beautiful hike and excellent explanations

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paulmalo
paulmalo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a pleasant and very easy walk, ideal for families. Children will love running around in the grass!
No particular difficulty. A great way to relax or take some beautiful photos!

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jeanyveslejeune
jeanyveslejeune

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

WE ENJOYED THIS HIKE VERY MUCH. Easy route and well described
Beautiful scenery. Highly recommended.

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