The 4 most beautiful hikes to make in Etretat

With the most beautiful hikes in Etretat, there is no secret: everything is happening around the famous cliffs! From the top or at the foot of these impressive limestone walls, walking is the best way to fully appreciate the beauty of this unique setting.

Nestled at the bottom of a hilly characteristic of the country of Caux, Etretat is as embedded between the cliffs of Amont and the cliffs of Aval: in both directions, trails lead to the top of these cliffs and swivel the entire coast, offering breathtaking views, dizzy by place! The most beautiful hikes in Ettretat, without great difficulty overall, are not for those who suffer from dizziness, you are warned...

The cliffs easily peak at 100 m above the sea, so even when the temptation is great to take a look as close to the void, always keep your distances with the edge. If you take the itineraries by the strike, at the foot of the cliffs, always think about the hours of the tides, because you are easily trapped on a rock or a pebble beach when the sea rises: 6 hours before leaving, it makes you think!

1. The cliffs of Etretat

Absolutely unmissable, this trail winds down the top of the cliffs, the most spectacular and emblematic of Etretat. From the beach, this route, which is very much used by holidaymakers, is absolutely not difficult to follow, and climbs directly to the Aval Gate for a first dizzying point of view on the Aiguille, which detaches from the water.

The path continues by passing through the Manneporte, then at the Pointe de la Courtine, by coaching the beautiful panoramas on the cliffs and the Channel: it is the postcard of Etretat under your eyes. Possibility of going down to the beach of Antifer before turning back on the same route.

A path that is easy and accessible to all, still be careful with the cliff edges... Spectacular by all time, whether it makes grey and bad or beautiful and sunny, always the most beautiful hike in Etretat!

An interesting option is to pass, go or go back, by the bottom of the cliffs: pay attention to the tide schedules, choose your niche to not find you stuck on the way. From the beach of Etretat, sink into the Trou à l’Homme and then continue to the point by the beaches, to the beach of Antifer, from where you can go up and catch the previous route to get back to Etretat.

2. From Etretat to Bénouville

After the cliffs of Aval, you pass to the cliffs of Amont, another beautiful hike of Etretat. The starting point is identical, from the beach, but in the opposite direction of the previous hike. The road climbs above the valley of Etretat in the direction of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Chapel, which protects it: beautiful view of the village and the Porte d’Aval further, true image of Épinal!

From high cliffs to loss of view make up the main decor of this hike, with on one side the sea, on the other the fields. Take a step in the small village of Bénouville, with a hook at the castle of Bénouville (XVe century) for the curious, then come back on your steps by the same route. A superb walk to be done at the end of the day, with the declining light on Etretat and its cliffs back.

3. The cliffs of Amont and the cliffs of Aval

The most beautiful hikes in Etretat are so far spectacular but rather easy to walk and relatively short. This time, we offer a beautiful walking route that combines both the beauties of the cliffs of Amont and the cliffs of Aval, for a large loop of more than 14 km in total. That's what you're up to.

Do in one direction or another, depending on the time of the day or your preferences: take GR21 towards Notre-Dame de la Garde, and keep the main path to Bénouville. Then, Halt in the hamlet, before returning to Etretat, through field this time.

From the bottom of the valley, you’ll be around the golf course of Etretat, on the country side: for once, the sea is no longer in sight! But not for a long time, because the trail quickly finds the Pointe de la Courtine, and resumes the GR21 above the cliffs until Etretat. By adding the breaks and views, it’s a day trip with more than 300 m of denial in total that awaits you.

4. From Fécamp to Etretat by GR21

Most of the Etretat hikes take GR21, a long coastal long hiking trail that connects Le Tréport to the Havre . Here it is a question of offering a section of GR21, in linear, from Fécamp to Etretat. This hike, long enough in terms of walking time, however, has no major difficulty. Thus, you follow much of the time the route of the coast, through fields or overlooking the cliffs.

As such, take the time at the beginning to admire those of Fécamp, a Norman fishing port still well in its juice. The trail passes through the charming port and then Vaucottes for two nice stopovers, before going to the level of Bénouville and the Chapel Notre-Dame de la Garde: a beautiful sample of the coast of Albany!

If the hike is flat, the total disappointment accumulates, despite all, to descend to the bottom of the different valleys, then to climb up the cliffs: plan a great day of walking.