France’s 10 favourite beaches that transport you to another world!

At low tide, it’s awesome to watch the grey and harbour seals lounging around on the fine sand amongst the dunes of the Authie bay. The children will be transfixed, but be sure to admire them from afar with binoculars so as to not disturb them. Or you could even get a guide! They will tell you all about the bay’s history, its fauna and flora, and the work of the shore fisherman. They will also take you to some truly unforgettable nature spots, where you’ll be captivated by the colours and lights that ebb and flow with the seasons and tides. And we haven’t even mentioned the sunset, which is something else! After so much contemplation, you might want to get the blood flowing with some water sports or sea wading with your family and friends. Whatever you choose, you’re bound to take home some great memories! Or why not play a round of golf amongst the remarkable scenery of Le Marquenterre and combine nature and sport into one? Once you’ve worked up an appetite, time to enjoy some seafood from the morning’s catch.

Cayeux definitely has some surprises up its sleeve. Why not stroll along Europe’s longest boardwalk, decoratively lined with 400 beach huts like in the Belle-Époque on one side, and the Big Blue on the other? Or perhaps you’d rather oxygenate your mind with an invigorating walk along the 8.5 miles of beach, pebbly at high tide and covered in fine sand at low tide? There’s also no shore-tage of activities for more sporty visitors, including paddle boarding, surfcasting, seawading (extremely popular on the Hauts-de-France coast) and kite surfing. In fact, it’s one of France’s most renowned water sport locations, and the country’s national kitesurfing champion actually comes from Cayeux! At the tip of the small port of Le Hourdel, at the far end of the beach, you can also watch the seals go about their lives as well as the ballet of traditional boats made for catching shrimp, flatfish and scallops. Time to rush to the restaurant to make the most of the fresh haul!