Where to walk in Le Touquet? 8 walks between sea, dunes and pine forest

Le Touquet is better explored on foot than anywhere else on the Côte d'Opale: the town is flat, surrounded by pines, and in a few minutes you go from the beach to the dunes, then from the dunes to the forest. Whether you have an hour or a whole day, there's a walk to suit you.

Here are eight tried-and-tested walks, from a gentle stroll along the promenade to a nature loop in the Canche estuary.

The walks at a glance

Distances and times for the Parc Nature loops are those given by the tourist office; the others are rough estimates.

Along the sea: the promenade and the beach

The seafront promenade

This is the simplest walk and one of the most pleasant. Wide, flat and pedestrianised, the promenade runs along the beach facing the Channel. In the centre it's lively: terraces, beach clubs, a merry-go-round, mini golf. Heading south, it becomes quieter and passes a succession of villas and apartment buildings. There are walkers at all hours, and in the evening the sunset light on the water is superb, as the beach faces due west.

The beach at low tide

At low tide, the sea goes out a very long way and reveals firm sand that's effortless to walk on. That's the time to head north, to the pointe du Touquet, or south towards Stella-Plage. Remember to check when the tide turns before you go too far. All our tips on Le Touquet beach are gathered in a dedicated article.

The baie de Canche: corniche, observatory and Parc Nature

North of the town, the Canche estuary is Le Touquet's great natural area. Since 2009, the old corniche road along the northern point has been reserved for pedestrians and cyclists: you walk between dunes and estuary, with Étaples opposite. It leads to the bird observatory overlooking the bay, from where you can watch migratory birds and, at low tide, sometimes seals on the sandbanks.

The Parc Nature de la baie de Canche has three waymarked loops starting from the baie de Canche sailing centre:

• Corniche loop (about 3 km, 1 hr 30): the northern point, then the dune southwards to the seafront, and back to the sailing centre;
• Dune loop (about 2 km, 1 hr): the most physical, as you're walking on sand;
• Pine wood loop (about 1 km, 30 min): short and shady, perfect with young children.

Opposite, on the Étaples bank, lies the baie de Canche national nature reserve (505 hectares, designated in 1987 and managed by Eden 62). It's accessible from Étaples and is also good for hiking. To find out which animals to look out for, read our article on the wildlife of Le Touquet and the baie de Canche.

In the dunes and the forest

Le Touquet was born just over a century ago on dunes that were planted with pines. The town forest still surrounds much of the town: you get around on shady paths and cycle tracks separate from the roads, between villas hidden among the trees and wilder corners. The tourist office counts more than 100 km of paths and tracks in the commune.

A few landmarks for your walk:

• the pine wood bordering the golf course, very pleasant in hot weather;
• the Dune-aux-Loups area, to the south-east, with its large wooded dunes;
• the Mayville dunes, to the south, a vast protected natural area between Le Touquet and Stella-Plage, partly owned by the Conservatoire du littoral (the French coastal protection agency).

In the dunes, stay on the waymarked paths: the vegetation that holds the sand in place is fragile. The forest is also excellent for cycling; we describe the routes in our article on outdoor activities in Le Touquet.

In town: listed gardens, villas and rue Saint-Jean

The Jardins de la Manche trail

Nicknamed the “Jardin de la Manche” (Garden of the Channel), Le Touquet was awarded the Jardin remarquable (Remarkable Garden) label in 2022 for a collection of green spaces you can explore one after another, starting from the Palais des Congrès. Stops along the way include:

• the jardin d'Ypres, the resort's first public garden, restored in 1949 in Napoleon III style, near the church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc;
• the parc Fernand Holuigue, known for its spring bulb displays;
• the parc des Pins, a wooded area where nearly a hundred plant species have been recorded;
• flowerbeds and clipped topiary dotted along the avenues.

The villas and rue Saint-Jean

The avenues of the centre and the forest are lined with villas in a wide range of styles: Anglo-Norman, neo-Basque, Art Deco, modernist. A walking loop between place de l'Hermitage, the covered market and rue Saint-Jean, the shopping street that runs down to the sea, lets you see many of them in an hour. To go further, read our article on Le Touquet's iconic streets.

The Canche lighthouse, for the view from above

North of the town, the Canche lighthouse (about 58 metres high, built from 1949 by architect Louis Quételart) is a listed historic monument. It's open to visitors at certain times, notably at weekends and during French school holidays, and you climb more than 270 steps on foot. At the top, the view takes in the baie de Canche, the forest, the town's rooftops and the beach. Opening slots vary: check with the tourist office before you go.

Charles's tip: for a perfect morning, set off on foot from rue Saint-Jean, cross the jardin d'Ypres, head to the lighthouse and then along the corniche to the baie de Canche observatory, and come back via the promenade. Allow two and a half hours at a gentle pace. Do it at low tide: the sandbanks are exposed and your chances of seeing seals are better.

From Villa Mon Étoile, two hundred metres from rue Saint-Jean, all these walks start from the front door, no car needed.