Hourdel Beach

From Cayeux-sur-Mer, take the D102 and you'll reach Hourdel in about 10 minutes by car. Free, spacious parking is available at the village entrance near the port — leave the car there and walk the remaining five minutes to the beach on foot. There is no entry fee. The Route Blanche bike path also connects the area for cyclists looking to arrive two-wheeled.

The main draw is the seal colony at the Pointe du Hourdel, just 0.5 kilometres from the beach — arrive at low tide and you'll find grey seals and harbour seals resting on the sandbanks in numbers that genuinely surprise first-time visitors. The Maison de la Baie de Somme, 2.1 kilometres away, offers well-designed exhibitions on the estuary's fauna, flora, and tidal evolution — a solid hour of context before or after your walk. For a longer outing, the Sentier d'accès à mer and the Randonnée les Crocs loop around the Marquenterre, about 8 kilometres out, rewards walkers with sweeping estuary views.

Right at the point, Pointe du Hourdel (0.5 km) and Le Parc Aux Huîtres — Restaurant & Hotel (0.3 km) are the closest options, with the oyster house being a logical choice given the estuary setting. A short drive brings you to Le Bistrot de la Baie (4.4 km) and Restaurant Le Commerce Le Crotoy (4.5 km), both well-regarded locally. If you're willing to go a little further, Le Jardin and Le Jardin Italien, both around 6.5 kilometres away, carry strong reputations worth the extra distance.

Le Parc Aux Huîtres — Restaurant & Hotel sits just 0.3 kilometres from the beach, making it the most convenient base for an early-morning seal watch. Hôtel Le Cap Hornu, a three-star property with a bistronomic restaurant, is 4.5 kilometres away and suits travellers who want a bit more comfort. For families or longer stays, Village Belle Dune Pierre & Vacances (12.7 km) and the well-rated Camping du Champ Neuf (6.3 km) offer more space at a relaxed pace.

The Pointe du Hourdel at low tide is the single best shot on this stretch — seals on grey sandbanks with the estuary opening behind them, best in the soft, flat light of a June or July morning. The fishing port itself, with its weathered boats against grey water, rewards a late-afternoon visit when the light drops low and the scene turns almost monochrome.

Do not enter the water — tidal currents here are strong and genuinely dangerous, and walkers can be trapped on sandbanks at high tide if they haven't checked the tide times. Always consult a tide table before walking out onto the flats. The terrain is uneven with pebbles and shifting sand, so wheelchair access is limited and sturdy footwear is strongly recommended. Come between June and September for the best weather; November through January brings cold, rough seas and reduced seal visibility — not worth the trip.