©Nohcab Short walk or long hike around Calais
What could be better than a walk in the fresh air to breathe and feel reborn? As a couple, with friends or family, walking is always beneficial for the body and mind, whether you go on long hikes or short strolls. From the seaside and its white chalk cliffs, to the green hills of the hinterland to the maritime plain, you discover open landscapes, immense spaces and finally take the time to walk at your own pace, to breathe, to listen to the sounds of nature and to breathe in its scents. We have selected several itineraries that will allow you to best discover the atmosphere and landscapes of this territory of the Opal Coast.
Discover the Grand Site of the Two Caps on foot
Cap Blanc-Nez side
For a leisurely stroll Or, for a Sunday afternoon stroll when you don't feel like rushing, opt for the Belvédère du Cap Blanc-Nez walk (1 km from the parking lot on the RD 940, but best avoided in the height of summer or during the May and June bank holidays as it gets very crowded!). You can also walk along the Sangatte seawall promenade (4,7 km round trip), or descend to the Cran d'Escalles beach from the Cran d'Escalles car park (1,2km round trip).
For small or large hikes, You have several routes starting from Sangatte and Escalles, on either side of the Cape Blanc-NezChoose your side! Good news: both routes take you to the summit of Cap Blanc-Nez, 134 meters above sea level, where you'll discover a breathtaking panoramic view of the English Channel. A breath of fresh sea air guaranteed!
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©Nohcab Between the White-Nose and the Grey-Nose
The route between Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-nez following the coastal path (GR 120) is one of the must-sees of the site. You can choose to go by the beach at low tide or by the top of the cliff, but the variety of colors and landscapes, between beaches, dunes and cliffs allows you to get away from it all year round. Other short hiking trails exist.
Furthermore, if you'd like to try Nordic walking, you've come to the right place. Located on the Two Caps site, the Maison du Site des Deux-Caps offers introductory and group practice sessions every Friday from April to November. A Nordic walking loop, a 5.2 km green trail, is also available starting from the Maison. The "La nordique de Sangatte" association also organizes outings for its members throughout the year.
©Nohcab For the good of all, adopt good behavior!
Respect natural spaces by staying on marked trails, gKeep animals on a leash for their safety and that of others. cash who populate the places. Similarly, adopt a discreet attitude and do not approach wild animals, they can be appreciated from a distance. Let the wildflowers grow for everyone to admire
Are you planning to eat on site during a picnic? Pick up trash and do not light fires. Finally, if you want to preserve the beauty of the places like us and contribute to limit the effects of the passage, use public transport as much as possible (opt for line 5 Div'in or regional line OSCAR 427).
Wide Open Spaces and Wateringues
North of Calais, one is already on the coastal plain that heralds Flanders and its drainage canals, the watergangs or wateringues, which crisscross the landscape. Huchette beach The area around Les Hemmes de Marck is unique in several respects because the foreshore is so vast that at low tide you can barely see the sea! Puddles and small muddy pools shelter remarkable flora and fauna.
A discovery trail has been marked out by the Conservatoire du Littoral starting from the car park of the land sailing base to discover what is called theFort Vert Natural Area which extends to the gates of Calais — 4,5 km. Remember to bring your binoculars to observe the Walde Lighthouse (fire at sea on metal legs classified as a Historical Monument since June 2022), the colony of seals and the seabirds that rest at its base when the tide goes out.
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©Nohcab Le Walde Lighthouse It marks an important cartographic point because it is the geographical boundary between the English Channel and the North Sea!
Two observation points are located along the path that follows the route of the Royale and Taff dikes, which date from the 17th and 18th centuries. These dikes separate the fossil dune ridge behind them from the more recent dunes. Their presence facilitated the creation of a vast polder, thus forming an interesting grassland environment from a landscape perspective. On the return journey, you rejoin the GR coastal path.
Another suggestion for a short hike nearby is the Marie Grouette du Bandick trail — 12km (yellow markings) which runs alongside the airfield, starting from the parking lot of the Aigrettes farm in Marck.
In the countryside, storming the Boulonnais hills
If you wish to be a little more peaceful and sheltered from the wind, the routes in the countryside, behind the coastline, will allow you to discover quiet villages nestled on the first hills of the Boulonnais region… enough to revive memories of school geology classes!
Several circuits are marked on the heights of Calais but it is better to travel them when the weather is dry and rather in summer when the fields of cereals and flax still wave in the light wind… in autumn, the fields are bare and the paths more humid, the experience may be less pleasant but remains entirely possible. Do not hesitate to cross the village of Bonningues lès Calais to enjoy a break at the Refuge Gourmand bar / restaurant / Grocery store or at the media library La Rose des Vents which offers an interesting cultural program throughout the year.
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