Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue and Tatihou Island

de fr

A short stroll around the charming port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. Crossing to Tatihou Island and visit to Vauban's fortifications. Although less popular than the neighbouring departments of Brittany, the English Channel offers equally wonderful landscapes that are less populated but wild and varied. If you are in the area, don't hesitate to discover this region, especially its marshes and the headlands and cliffs of the Cotentin Peninsula.

Details

n°36048
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 9 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 14 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Tatihou Island
Amphibious boat
Amphibious boat for Tatihou Island
Oyster beds

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue.

(S/E) Return to the village and take Rue de la Verrue. When you reach Place de la République, continue straight ahead towards Place De Gaulle. Cross it and take Rue de la Vieille Église slightly to the right. You will arrive at the crossroads of Place du Général Leclerc.

(1) Head to the Chapelle des Marins and take the opportunity to visit it.
Turn right to join Route de la Hougue and follow the coastline to reach a picnic area near the sports fields.

(2) Continue until you reach the Vauban fortifications with their tower.

(3) Retrace your steps and return to the initial crossroads, Place du Général Leclerc.

(1) Continue straight ahead to go around the harbour lined with charming little houses. Return to the harbour car park (S/E).

(S/E) Continue on the other side of the port and head to the pier. Board the ferry for a 10-minute crossing to Tatihou Island.

(5) Stop here at the maritime museum located not far from the pier. Then continue along the shore to reach the Vauban Tower.

(6) Then take the same route back to the car park at the port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - Car park at the port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue
  2. 1 : km 0.77 - alt. 5 m - Chapel of the Sailors
  3. 2 : km 1.98 - alt. 5 m - Facilities
  4. 3 : km 3.08 - alt. 7 m - Fort Vauban
  5. 4 : km 6.54 - alt. 5 m - Saint-Vaast pier
  6. 5 : km 7.4 - alt. 1 m - Tatihou pier
  7. 6 : km 8.5 - alt. 4 m - Vauban Tower
  8. S/E : km 10.69 - alt. 5 m - Car park at the port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue

Notes

For more information , visit
Depending on the tide coefficients, it is possible to cross to the island on foot, in the middle of the oyster beds, which is really nice. In this case, the route is slightly different as you need to go to the beach next to the car park (rue de Réville) to start the crossing, rather than the port.
You may come across the strange boat on tyres, which you can take back on the return journey (check in advance for return tickets). The reverse is also possible.
To do this, plan your day according to the tide times and choose times when the tide is at its highest.
Finally, between high tide and low tide, the landscape is very different, so try to be there at both times if possible – it's magical!

Worth a visit

(6) Tour Vauban: enjoy the view of the small island opposite, a bird paradise and bird sanctuary, which I don't think is accessible.
A few kilometres away is Barfleur, a beautiful little fishing port with its church.
Further away is the Gatteville lighthouse, the second tallest lighthouse in Europe at nearly 75 metres, which you can climb to enjoy a breathtaking 360° view. A must-do if you're not afraid of climbing 365 steps or looking out of one of its 52 windows. Part of Jean-Jacques Beinex's film Diva was shot here in 1980.
The Cap Lévi lighthouse is a rather wild spot.
Much further away, on the other side, is Cap de La Hague (Goury), Port Racine (the smallest port in France), the wild and vegetated Ecalgrain Bay (a superb beach at low tide surrounded by moors, heather and gorse), the Nez de Jobourg (vertiginous cliffs) and, I'll stop there for today, the Barneville-Carteret lighthouse on a rocky hill offering a superb view of the Hatainville dunes.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 26 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 27125612

Thank you

Machine-translated

michel tout court
michel tout court
• Edited:

Hello,
If nothing has changed since 2024, crossing at low tide on foot or by bike presented no difficulty. A good blast of water will be needed to wash the salt off the bike!

Machine-translated

User 27125612

Hello,
We’re going on a cycling trip this summer and are planning to cross at low tide so we can stay at a hotel on the island.
Could you let us know if the ground in the oyster beds is firm enough to cycle across? Or is the sand still very wet and will we sink into it?
Thank you in advance for your advice, and happy cycling to all

Machine-translated

michel tout court
michel tout court

Certainly, but if you leave early, at low tide you'll be safe from the tourists arriving by boat

Machine-translated

User 22416305

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

TATIHOU ISLAND IS PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRITTAIN, THE REST IS NOT

Machine-translated

michel tout court
michel tout court

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After arriving on foot at 8:45 a.m., the island was deserted and treated us to a concert of seagulls, a visit to a beautiful museum and the fort, which has a wonderful exhibition on the creation of the English Channel and the interaction between the sea, the land and humans. We returned by boat to finish the hike to La Hougue

Machine-translated

Jairaison
Jairaison

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Don't miss a visit to Tatihou. Make sure you check the tide times for getting to Tatihou and the boat timetable. Given the tide times, we made the return trip by boat
to get to Tatihou, and the ticket price included admission to the museum. It was amusing to see this boat sailing and/or rolling on tyres!

Machine-translated

Agnès D
Agnès D

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and very pleasant trip.
Please note: remember to book the boat.
It is a shame that the gardens on the island are not very well maintained.... Interesting tour.

Machine-translated

charlesmartel
charlesmartel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy walk, ideal as a complement to another hike.

Machine-translated

petitlotus
petitlotus

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a very interesting island that can easily be visited in half a day. Boat crossing must be booked in advance
i highly recommend it

Machine-translated

eljoouri
eljoouri

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy (by boat) and interesting hike between visiting Tatihou Island and Fort de la Hougue. Beautiful views everywhere.

Machine-translated

FC44
FC44

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk that allows you to visit Saint-Vaast and offers lovely views of both the Fort de la Hougue and Tatihou. We didn't go to Tatihou Island as there were no boats at this time of year and we didn't have time for a return trip at low tide. The Hougue fort was also closed, but we walked around it (well, my partner did... it was very windy and the narrow parapet at the tip made me feel dizzy, so I turned back...). Apart from that, it's a very pleasant village with a pretty harbour in the sunshine!

Machine-translated

LILY ET LES 2B
LILY ET LES 2B

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We really enjoyed the tour, with good information about visiting times and walking distances, not to mention the fact that it's more picturesque to be able to choose whether to walk between the mainland and the island on the way there or back. Waterproof shoes are a must, as it's impossible to walk on the pebbles!

Machine-translated

Ghundalinu
Ghundalinu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk. Ideal for a day trip, for example, with a walk there and a return trip by boat. The museum is worth visiting after the walk. Restaurant on site.

Machine-translated

spinoza2009
spinoza2009

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short hike. Don't forget to bring a snack so you can enjoy the view while you eat.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Between land and sea in Morsalines

Visorando member
Entre terre et mer à Morsalines
↔7.61 km ↗+89 m ↘-88 m ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Morsalines (Manche)
Circular via the coastal path facing Saint-Vast-la-Hougue, then through the countryside overlooking the bay. Alternating between quiet country roads and shaded paths. Two imposing churches, those of Morsalines and Grenneville, take us back to the days when the bay was the scene of naval conflicts.

Walking Market gardening countryside and seaside around Montfarville

Visorando member
Campagne maraîchère et bord de mer autour de Montfarville
↔8.48 km ↗+14 m ↘-14 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Montfarville (Manche)
This route around Montfarville offers two very different aspects. Thanks to a microclimate, the countryside is dotted with vegetable fields and beautiful stone houses. The route also follows the rocky coastline lined with beautiful beaches. At the start or finish, don't miss a visit to the church.

Walking River and bocage around Le Vast

Visorando member
Rivière et bocage autour de le Vast
↔7.25 km ↗+88 m ↘-88 m ◔2h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Le Vast (Manche)
This route, marked with fun information signs along trails, gravel paths and small roads, allows you to discover the historical and natural heritage of this commune crossed by the River Saire.This route was inspired by a project by the Cotentin Permanent Centre for Environmental Initiatives.

Walking Around Quineville

Visorando member
Autour de Quineville
↔8.31 km ↗+40 m ↘-43 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Quinéville (Manche)
A lovely walk between the sea and the countryside along paths and small roads. You will discover the ruins of the Saint-Michel de Lestre Chapel overlooking the small Sinope valley. As you walk around the charming little port, you will pass by the floodgates.

Walking Discover Barfleur

Visorando member
Découverte de Barfleur
↔3.22 km ↗+2 m ↘-2 m ◔0h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Barfleur (Manche)
This walk allows you to admire the two essential aspects of Barfleur that make it so rich and charming: the port and the architecture of its heritage (typical buildings and roofs).

Walking On the Viking Coast

Visorando member
↔14.64 km ↗+22 m ↘-22 m ◔4h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Barfleur (Manche)
After the first part of the walk along the coast between Barfleur and Pointe de la Loge, the route continues through the countryside, where you can discover the beautiful church of Montfarville.

Walking The Gatteville Lighthouse

Visorando member
Le Phare de Gatteville
↔8.41 km ↗+9 m ↘-9 m ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Barfleur (Manche)
This walk follows theGR®223from the Port of Barfleur to the Havre de Gattemare, passing by the Gatteville Lighthouse. The return journey is partly inland, rejoining theGR®223at the Havre de Crabec and returning to the starting point.

Walking The Saint-Benoit Fountain and Marie Ravenel's Mill

Visorando member
↔22.14 km ↗+51 m ↘-55 m ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Néville-sur-Mer (Manche)
A long walk between the sea and the marshes, then through the Normandy countryside, discovering a miraculous fountain and the beautiful watermill where the Norman poet Marie Ravenel lived.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.