The Lude Valley and the Vauban Cabin from Carolles

A short hike along the sea in a protected environment and with beautiful views of the bay of Mont Saint Michel.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 139 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 130 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 68 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 8 m

Photos

Description of the walk

A short hike along the sea in a protected environment and with beautiful views of the bay of Mont Saint Michel.
The starting point is the car park at the foot of Pignon Butor, at Carolles-Plage. The hike begins with steep stairs, separated by several points of view. An orientation table at the end of the ascent helps you find your bearings.

Then continue along the cliffs following the GR markings. There is also a sign indicating the direction of Vauban Cabin and the Lude Valley. (1) The Lude Valley is quickly reached and the trail descends into it. Once down in the valley, turn right and go to the beach for a glimpse of the cliffs and the Lude flowing into the sea. (2)

Retrace your steps to the GR and turn right at the little bridge over the Lude. There is a sign that reads 'Cabane Vauban'. The trail goes up the cliffs by a new staircase. Then head on to the Vauban Cabin, where you will find Mont Saint Michel and Tombelaine.

Follow the path in the opposite direction to return to the starting point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 12 m - Butor sprocket
  2. 1 : km 1.21 - alt. 15 m - Vallée du Lude
  3. 2 : km 1.45 - alt. 8 m - Port du Lude
  4. 3 : km 2.3 - alt. 68 m - Cabane Vauban
  5. S/E : km 5.04 - alt. 12 m - Butor sprocket

Practical information

Take some water with you because Lude Valley is usually sheltered from the wind and can be quite warm. The many climbs and steep descents are also thirsty work.

You will be more comfortable with hiking boots.

The scenery of the bay is different depending on the tides. Try this hike at high and low tide; it's completely different!

At the place where the Lude joins the beach, an old trail heads off to the left among the rocks and joins the GR route leading to the Vauban cabin. This path is now closed to preserve the flora, and probably also because of its difficulty (fair, but still requires the use of hands).

In the nearby area

At the end of the hike, you can rest at Carolles beach.

 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

4.8 / 5
Based on 50 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
marieu21
marieu21
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Wonderful hike this weekend with my man
Not many people
Beautiful scenery and views
Very pleasant with good weather

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simone.delouis
simone.delouis

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

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francismarche
francismarche

Not done

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Roofy
Roofy
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very pleasant walk along the cliffs, paths and forest, fairly easy with some ascent, worth doing for the view of Mont Blanc.

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Edith deshommes
Edith deshommes
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Nice hike in the woods and over the cliffs with a bit of a climb

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MORAINVILLIERS(SEINE ET OISE)
MORAINVILLIERS(SEINE ET OISE)
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Hi, I haven't had time to do the hike but I know that it's magnificent in all weathers because the Falaises de Champeaux were my cross-country terrain for almost 30 years.
Re-bonjour hike done since June 2024, I confirm what I said earlier: magnificent hike but I start from the Pkg of the Cliffs of Champeaux (Tom's barn) which avoids climbing the stairs at the start.
Avoid hiking in hot weather: the cliffs raise the temperature.
Have a good outing.

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kartavan
kartavan
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice, pleasant walk with lovely views.
It's a physical hike, but nothing compared to the nez de Jobourg we'd just done.
The weather was clear, so we were able to see Mont Saint Michel from the Vauban hut.

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Célice
Célice
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Numbering the stages on the route and describing the starting point precisely would be very desirable.
A few words about the difficulty of access for disabled people would be welcome.

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jean luc hamonet
jean luc hamonet
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk done in April 2023. Beautiful coastal path cut by the valley of a small stream (the Lude).
The viewpoint at the Vauban hut is also interesting and the return along the Lude is nice.
Good footwear is required for the stairways and rocky passages. During the Easter weekend, the trail was very popular with families and joggers. Thanks for sharing.

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gegerando91
gegerando91
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely little family outing Beautiful countryside

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le petit facteur de piano
le petit facteur de piano
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

just a stone's throw from our home, that's great !!!

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VETTERSTUTTGEN
VETTERSTUTTGEN
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice walk with superb views. A bit sporty on the lifts (we are 72 years old) but everything went well...

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xavier.wachowiak
xavier.wachowiak
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk in the sunshine, with very few people at the beginning of June.

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codie
codie
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely walk, varied scenery with beautiful views of the sea as far as the Vauban hut and then a walk through the forest following the Lude valley. Quite a challenging route in places (some steep climbs).

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CoJ
CoJ
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant route with beautiful scenery. The irregular flights of steps are fairly long and steep.
We combined this route with the discovery of the Carolles painters' trail. Follow the old railway line.

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