- French Weekend Breaks >
- Taking it slow >
- Your perfect beach holidays just over the Channel
Seclusion. Wild nature. Calm. Time. It’s all yours. Northern France’s spectacular coastline is a perfect weekend getaway from busy city life.
In Northern France, your perfect beach holidays in the Bay of Somme, Le Touquet... Enjoy riding a local Henson horse in the great outdoors
Enjoy being by the sea sharing activities including guided walks in the Baie d’Authie, the Bay of Somme and Deux-Caps, sand-yachting, tennis and golf in chic Le Touquet, and riding local Henson horses. Worlds Apart The charms of Le Touquet Paris-Plage are well worth discovering. A lovely French town, designed by the British, has great beaches, French dining and spas (not to mention the golf). ‘British Tours’ of sites with UK associations are available, including 1920s villas, and summer ’Nuit Baroques’ celebrating art de vivre in dance, theatre and opera.
Coastal weekend break: perfect to experience the French art de vivre in the charming village of Montreuil sur mer (25 minutes from the chic resort of Le Touquet)
On a one-time estuary that means it used to be reached by the sea, the charming walled town of Montreuil-sur-Mer less than an hour from the Channel ferry port of Calais is among the best places to visit in France among those who like low-key destinations largely off the tourist radar. Perfect for a weekend break for two, it’s also highly recommended for lovers of authentic French food and art de vivre with its cobbled streets and ramparts was so-named because the sea once ran up the estuary to this spot.
Sunset at the edge of the world at the Deux-Caps, sometimes you can see the coast of England
Wild nature is at hand at Mont St Frieux, a former sea cliff with views of the UK and Normandy coasts. More Cross-Channel views are to be had at the Deux-Caps headlands south of Calais, while local towns to explore include Wissant, Audresselles and Ambleteuse.
Sleep and eat with sea views in hotels and restaurants including Les Corderies in Saint-Valery sur Somme, Les Tourelles in Le Crotoy and Le Cise in Ault.
To the south, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme beckons with medieval ramparts and a long promenade. For the best Somme bay views, however, drive just west, to Cap Hornu and the Pointe du Hourdel headland. At Saint-Valery you can also hop aboard a steam train to Le Crotoy, gateway to the Marquenterre bird reserve.
Or just south of Saint-Valery, Bois de Cise has cliffs descending to beach-level. Olivier Hernandez of Sens Naturel or local ‘greeter’ Annie WalGraef, both English-speaking, help visitors make the most of this and other local viewpoints.
Find a selection of weekend breaks in Northern France and spend memorial beach Holidays:
Refine the search