Baie de Somme Seal Walk (Le Hourdel)

The Baie de Somme seal walk starts at Le Hourdel, a small fishing hamlet at the tip of the bay in Cayeux-sur-Mer, in the Somme department of the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The out-and-back route follows the Chemin des Douaniers and nearby shoreline for about 6 km round trip, taking roughly 2 hours. The terrain is flat, with no meaningful elevation gain. Access is by car from Cayeux-sur-Mer, where parking is available near Le Hourdel. The nearest train station is Abbeville, about 35 km away, so visitors without a car need a taxi for the final leg. No permit is required for walking the public paths. The surface is a mix of shingle, sand, dune grass and packed tracks, and shingle can be tiring underfoot. There is almost no shade, and the exposure to wind and weather is high, so conditions can be harsh in winter. The bay hosts one of the largest seal colonies in France, with harbour seals and grey seals resting on sandbanks at low tide. Walkers can often see them from the shore, and binoculars help because the animals should not be approached. Seal pups appear in late winter and early spring, and the colony is most visible in the cooler months. Landmarks include the Le Hourdel lighthouse area, the sandbanks at the mouth of the bay, and views across the estuary toward Le Crotoy and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. Tides in the bay move quickly across the flats, so walkers should stay on the shoreline and check tide times. There are no refuge huts, and water is not available on the path, so supplies should be carried. Restaurants and cafés in Le Hourdel serve seafood before or after the walk.