Fort-Mahon Beach

From the A16 motorway, follow Avenue de la Plage into Fort-Mahon-Plage — the drive takes around 10 minutes. Parking is available close to the beach in a mixed paid system: expect €1.50 per hour in the Red Zone and €1.00 per hour in the Blue Zone, charged daily from 9am to 7pm between April 1 and September 30, plus weekends in October. Parking from the town entrance to the Tourist Office is free. Once parked, it's a 5-minute walk to the sand via dedicated pedestrian access, and the beach itself is reached via ramps for easy accessibility.

The star attraction for many visitors is seal spotting: Plage des phoques at Berck is just 6.8km away and holds a near-perfect 4.8/5 rating. For birdwatchers, the Parc du Marquenterre nature reserve at 14.8km has recorded over 300 migratory species — it's one of the finest wetland sites in northern France. Closer in, the Baie d'Authie estuary at 4.1km rewards low-tide walks and more seal sightings in a quieter setting. The Belle Dune Golf Club, 3.6km away, is an 18-hole eco-friendly course ranked among France's most scenic, winding through pine trees and dunes.

L'Alaska (4.3/5, 8.3km) and Sunset (4.1/5, 8.4km) are solid options a short drive from the beach for post-swim meals. For something with a local estuary feel, Le Bistrot de la Baie (4.3/5, 14.2km) and Restaurant Le Commerce Le Crotoy (4.5/5, 14.3km) are worth the slightly longer drive toward Le Crotoy.

Village Belle Dune Pierre & Vacances (4.1/5) sits just 1.1km from the beach and is the most convenient base, especially for families. Camping Capfun - Dune Fleurie (3.8/5) is 2.9km away for those who prefer canvas under the pines, while Camping du Champ Neuf (4.5/5, 8.1km) earns the highest guest scores of the local options.

Shoot the dune ridges at golden hour — the low northern light rakes across the golden sand and throws long shadows that make the landscape look three-dimensional. For wildlife shots, head to Baie d'Authie at low tide in the early morning when seals haul out and the grey water reflects the sky.

Swimming is rated safe here, but the Baie de Somme coast is tidal and conditions shift — always check local tide times before heading into the water, and keep children close to shore. Avoid visiting in November, December, or January: seas turn rough and cold, and there's little reason to be on the beach. Paid parking runs April through October, so arrive early on sunny weekends if you want a spot in the Blue Zone without circling. The dune landscape is fragile — stick to marked paths to protect the vegetation.