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Walking France’s coastal paths

Hiking with a view

28 July 2017
Read time: 3m 9s

Whether or not Napoleon was a keen walker is not fully documented (he was certainly no stranger to a long march). What we do know, however, is that he decided that the French coastline was part of the nation’s heritage and so gave all citizens the right to access it.

Sentier du littoral near Ville de Cap d'Ail
Sentier du littoral near Ville de Cap d'Ail

In 1976 the Sentier du Littoral (coastal path) was formally created on a national scale with an unbroken three-metre strip along the entire length of France’s coast.

Along with France’s magnificent Grande Randonnée network of long-distance footpaths, it forms a vast network from the GR21 on the Alabaster Coast in the north to the GR51 on the south coast, linking Marseille to Menton on the Italian border.

Today there is no single unbroken path, largely due to urban sprawl and factors which were not present in Napoleon’s time (not least naturist campsites and high-end housing). In some areas, the land is now privately owned but with public rights of way across it.

There are some 5,000 km of designated coastal paths, mostly accessible and relatively straightforward terrain. Some stretches are more challenging; in fact, in places, you should be very careful indeed, such is the precarious nature of the terrain and ground underfoot. Wherever you are, you will need appropriate clothing, sun protection when hot and plenty of water.

The pleasures of walking the coast

Walking has many obvious appeals – constantly changing scenery, a sense of purpose and gentle exercise (helps you feel just a little virtuous when perusing the evening menu later!).

Following a coastal path adds other dimensions: sweeping seascapes, coastal terrain of various types and bracing sea air.

Granite Rose Brittany
Granite Rose Brittany

Brittany is renowned for its ancient smuggler’s paths. Around Concarneau, you can trace the steps of many a shipwrecking scoundrel and imagine the customs officers in hot pursuit. You’ll come across massive boulders, gorse and rocky outcrops, not to mention the mesmerising pink granite of the Pink Granite Coast, which runs along the north coast.

France’s west coast is an endless sandy beach, stretching roughly from Nantes to Biarritz, backed by fragrant and shady pine forests. When the going gets hot and sticky, these paths allow the indulgence of a quick splash in the gently shelving waters of the Charentais or the Landes beaches.

The Mediterranean coast is different again. Twisting paths in many places is challenging, with gnarled trees clinging onto sheer cliffs, and rocks below pounded by the surf.

But the azure blue waters of the Med and the scintillating light of Provence combine to create something magical. It is no accident that so many artists have sought inspiration here: Picasso, Van Gogh, Miró, Matisse and many others. Perhaps they were also keen walkers?

Frances Coastal Paths

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  • GR120 - Bray-Dunes to Le Tréport
    From
    - Bray-Dunes
    To
    - Le Tréport
    Trail Length
    - 292 km
    Maximum Elevation
    - 141 m
    Total Climb
    - 635 m

  • GR21 - Sentier des Falaises
    From - Le Havre
    To
    - Le Tréport
    Trail Length
    - 187 km
    Max Elevation
    - 130 m
    Total Climb
    - 2,703 m

  • GR223 - Littoral de la Normandie
    From - Honfleur
    To
    - Mont St Michel
    Trail Length
    - 612 km
    Maximum Elevation
    - 149 m
    Total Climb
    - 3,931 m

  • GR34 - Sentier des Douaniers
    From - Mont Saint Michel
    To
    - Saint Nazaire
    Trail Length
    - 2,101 km
    Maximum Elevation
    - 106 m
    Total Climb
    - 7,957 m

  • GR8 - Atlantic Coastal Path *
    From - Saint-Brevin-les-Pins
    To
    - Sare
    Trail Length
    - 600 km
    Maximum Elevation
    - 175 m
    Total Climb
    - 2,000 m

  • GR51 - Balcon de la Méditerranée
    From - Menton
    To
    - La Madrague
    Trail Length
    - 436 km
    Maximum Elevation
    - 1,073 m
    Total Climb
    - 13,880 m

* The GR8 route is the newest in France, and as such, the route is yet to be finalised; distances and elevations provided are approximate.

If you're looking for walking maps for any of the above routes, then why not head to the Alan Rogers Shop, where we have a wide range of IGN maps available?

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