Cycling in Le Touquet: where to hire a bike, cycle paths and family routes

Cycling is the best way to get around Le Touquet: the town is flat, the forest is criss-crossed by cycle paths away from cars, and the tourist office lists more than 100 km of trails and paths in the municipality. You can hire standard bikes, e-bikes and children's equipment on site, and two loops of 10 and 12 km suggested by the tourist office let you tour the resort in a morning.

Here is where to hire, which routes to choose for your level, and the rules to know before setting off as a family.

Where to hire a bike in Le Touquet?

Several bike hire shops are based in the resort. Two established addresses, each with a large fleet:

• Opale Bike, 63 boulevard du Docteur-Jules-Pouget, on the seafront: city bikes, tandems, mountain bikes, e-bikes, fat bikes, children's bikes, baby seats and trailers. The shop also offers to deliver bikes when you hire two or more.
• AbsoluBike, 7 rue de Metz, in the town centre: urban and all-terrain e-bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, road and gravel bikes, and a cargo bike.

There are other hire shops in the resort and in neighbouring towns, notably in Cucq. We don't give prices: they vary according to the model, the length of hire and the season. A few pointers to help you choose:

• Book online in July and August and over long weekends: e-bikes and trailers go fast.
• Hire by the week rather than by the day if you're staying several days: in Le Touquet, people cycle to the market, the beach and restaurants.
• Check the accessories: helmets (compulsory for under-12s), a lock, a basket or pannier, a child seat or trailer.
• An e-bike isn't essential in town, but it makes all the difference for 30 km rides or in a strong wind.

Cycle paths: the forest, the baie de Canche and the seafront

The forest, the heart of the network

The resort was built among the pines, and the municipal forest still surrounds the residential neighbourhoods. The cycle paths there are separated from the road, in the shade of the pines and along the golf course: ideal terrain for cycling as a family. Be aware that some forest tracks are sandy, and some trails are reserved for horse riders: stay on the cycle paths.

The baie de Canche and the corniche

To the north, the corniche road along the pointe du Touquet is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. It leads to the Parc de l'Estuaire, the baie de Canche water sports centre and the observatory overlooking the bay: at low tide, you can sometimes see seals on the sandbanks.

The seafront

The seafront promenade is first and foremost a pedestrian space, very busy in summer. If you use it by bike, ride at walking pace, always give way to pedestrians and follow the signs in place, which may restrict cycling depending on the section and the time of year. To ride along the sea without weaving around people, the parallel streets are often more pleasant. For walks, see our article on walks in Le Touquet.

Cycle routes from Le Touquet

From a tour of the town to a stage of the Vélomaritime, here are routes ranked by length. The loop distances come from the tourist office and those of the Vélomaritime from its official website; the others are approximate.

The tourist office's two loops are detailed in its cycle routes brochure. For more ideas for nature outings, read our article on outdoor activities in Le Touquet.

The Vélomaritime: Étaples, Stella-Plage, Berck and Boulogne

Le Touquet is a stage on the Vélomaritime, the French name for EuroVelo 4, the cycle route that follows the coasts of the Channel and the North Sea. From the resort, there are two directions:

• Northwards: you cross the Canche on the cycle path over the bridge linking Le Touquet to Étaples, then follow the D940 on cycle paths as far as Neufchâtel-Hardelot, before a traffic-free section towards Hardelot and Condette. The stage to Boulogne-sur-Mer is about 34 km. On the way, Étaples is worth a stop for its port and fish stalls.
• Southwards: the stage to Berck goes via Stella-Plage and Merlimont, over about 17 almost flat kilometres. Part of it is on shared roads with little traffic, signposted but less comfortable than Le Touquet's cycle paths: best kept for children who already ride confidently.

The stage sheets, with map and elevation profile, are published on the France Vélo Tourisme website. For a one-way ride, Étaples-Le Touquet and Rang-du-Fliers-Verton-Berck stations make a return by train possible, after checking the conditions for taking bikes on board.

Cycling as a family: equipment and rules

Le Touquet is an easy cycling destination with children, as long as you follow a few rules.

What the law says

• Helmets compulsory for under-12s: since March 2017 in France, every child under 12 must wear a fastened helmet on a bike, whether pedalling themselves or as a passenger. The accompanying adult can be fined if it's forgotten.
• Lights: front and rear lights are compulsory at night or in poor visibility, which comes quickly in the forest in winter.
• Outside built-up areas at night, a reflective vest is compulsory for the cyclist and their passenger.

Our pointers by age

• Babies and toddlers: a baby seat or trailer, which the hire shops offer. Stay on the quieter forest paths. See also our guide to Le Touquet with a baby.
• Children aged 6 to 10: the 10 and 12 km loops, broken up by a stop at the lighthouse or the baie de Canche observatory.
• Teenagers: the round trip to the port of Étaples, or a section of the Vélomaritime by e-bike.

Remember water, a windbreaker and a lock: bikes are often left in front of the beach or the market.

Wind, tides and parking: our practical tips

1. Check the wind direction before setting off: on the coast, ride out into the wind and come back with it behind you.
2. Time your ride with the tides if you're heading for the baie de Canche: at low tide, the sandbanks are uncovered and your chances of seeing seals increase.
3. Avoid summer peak times in the town centre and on the seafront, especially on Saturday, market day.
4. Park smart: by bike, you can park right next to the beach or the market halls, where cars circle for ages. Our article on where to park in Le Touquet covers car parking for the rest of your stay.
5. Check the events calendar: some major events change traffic arrangements in the resort.

From Villa Mon Étoile, 300 m from the beach and 200 m from rue Saint-Jean, the whole centre is a few minutes away by bike: you bring the market shopping home in the basket, and the forest isn't far.

Charles's tip: for a first ride with children, do the tourist office's sea and bay loop in the direction that brings you to the baie de Canche observatory around low tide. Take binoculars and a snack: the seal-spotting break makes everyone forget the kilometres.