Best beaches in Northern France: a family adventure

Outdoorsy families are spoilt for choice on the pristine coast of Northern France with its 190km of beaches (from the port of Dunkirk to the Normandy border), from huge stretches with wild dunes to cute gems with beach huts. Whichever you choose, your kids can stay safe in supervised swimming areas. Other activities here include cycling, horse-riding and zip-wiring, and there are theme-park thrills within easy reach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort-Mahon beach is all the rage with sporty families for its paddle-boarding, kite-surfing, sailing and kayaking, plus its 18-hole golf course. A short coastal path leads to the 15km-long beach of Quend-Plage-les-Pins, a popular spot for sand-yachting as well as treetop adventures in the pine forest, pony rides, walks with donkeys and bird-watching in the Marquenterre reserve bird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often overlooked, this fishing village lures families in the know with its 12km white-sand beach where kids play against the backdrop of the cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez – headlands great for family walks, with views of the British coast – or ride local Boulonnais horses.

 

Right by Boulogne-sur-Mer and its Nausicaà aquarium (the biggest in Europe) and Les Deux Caps, this low-key spot with an authentically French feel offers the unique experience of unfurling your beach towel at the foot of its fort, the walls of which are lapped by waves at high tide. 

 

Known for its role in the Bataille de Dunkerque (part of Dunkirk was filmed here in 2016), the beach at Malo-les-Bains is now a peaceful spot for remembrance. But families also love its its shallow waters great for paddling and sunset walks along the dike lined by restaurant terraces.

The 10km beach at Bray-Dunes is another perfect spot for sports-loving families, with sand-yachting, kite-surfing, wind-surfing and longe-côte (sea-wading). Or try a relaxing walk in the Réserve Naturelle Dune Marchand with its German blockhaus decorated with mirrors by an artist.

 

Also close to Boulogne-sur-Mer, this resort has a Victorian charm and a large, gently sloping beach with rock-pools to investigate, lots of lifeguards, good amenities and free parking if you arrive early. 

 

A stone’s throw from the busy A16, the Bay of Somme is an oasis of calm and fun, with steam-train rides, foraging for edible plants, and bird-watching in the Marquenterre reserve. Nestled in its estuary, the Plage de la Maye will make you feel you’ve left the world behind for a time. 

 

Rated among the most beautiful beaches in France, this chic resort has a gigantic beach much loved for its shallow waters, shell-collecting and wild section outside the centre – great with dogs.