The Somme Bay has many not-to-be-missed locations as well as activities set up by enthusiastic people. For a memorable stay in the area, I made a list that will make everyone happy in terms of must do’s and must sees in the Somme Bay.
If you are in a hurry, here are my favorites in a nutshell:
- The absolute must do: The small train of the Somme Bay
- Surrounded by nature: Meet the seals of the bay
- A diverse cultural heritage: The city of Abbeville
1) The Somme Bay Railway Line
The small train is the first must do in the Somme Bay.
In the 70s, enthusiastic locals decided to found the “Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme” association (The Somme Bay Railway Line Association) in order to preserve their endangered rail heritage.
Ever since that day, they kept restoring and preserving the railway lines and the steam locomotives of the bay to offer passengers several itineraries from Le Crotoy to Cayeux-sur-Mer.
The most emblematic route: for an hour, enjoy a trip on the railway line between Le Crotoy and Saint-Valery and travel back in time thanks to the renovated wagons.
🥰 We like: the different itineraries and the numerous train stations
😍 We love: the renovated wagons and locomotives
💰 Price: €18 per adult for a trip from Le Crotoy to Saint-Valery with a guide
Tickets, time slots and itineraries of the small train of the Somme Bay
2) Visit the Old Town of Saint-Valery
Saint-Valery is not only a nice port with a pretty view but also a must see site steeped in history.
Take a walk in the medieval streets of the old town and discover the Harold Tower, the city walls and the Jeanne d’Arc Gate, which is named after The Maid of Orleans who walked through that gate when the British took her to Rouen.
In the upper town, you will get to see a splendid panorama of the bay and the roofs as well as the port. William the Conqueror departed from this exact port when he went to England.
Here’s a tip from the locals: if you walk just a little further from the old town, you will find the Chapelle des Marins (The Sailor’s Chapel), which offers one of the best views of the bay.
🥰 We like: the well-preserved monuments
😍 We love: the locations steeped with history
💰 Price: free! Just enjoy your walk around the city.
3) Boat Tour
Quai Perrée, 80230 Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
What could be better than discovering the bay from the sea?
The Forest captains (father and son) offer boat tours aboard the Commandant Charcot, their boat, which can accommodate up to 98 passengers.
Meeting point: the port of Saint-Valery where you can buy your tickets and wait for departure.
From the sea, there is a new look on the docks of Saint-Valery and the façades of the beautiful villas. You can admire the beauty of the bay while the captain Forest –the father– a former fisherman, tells you everything he knows about the history of the port and the bay.
🥰 We like: the possibility to privatize a smaller 12-seats boat named the P’tit Charcot
😍 We love: captain Forest’s stories
💰 Price: €12 for 40 minutes at sea, €16 for 1 hour and 15 min during the sunset
Information on the Commandant Charcot boat tours
4) Meet the seals of the bay
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Did you know that the biggest French seal colony has settled down in the Somme Bay?
From the land, by foot or in a kayak: you have various possibilities to get a glimpse of the animals without scaring them off.
The best would be to contact Picardie Nature, the association that takes care of them, or to book a hike with one of the numerous guides who offer to see them.
🥰 We like: there is often no age restriction for the hikes, everyone in the family is welcome
😍 We love: the enthusiastic guides will share everything there is to know about seals with you
💰 Price: around €15 per adult for a hike, around €30 for a canoe/kayak tour (prices vary depending on the guides)
Information and Booking info to see the seals of the Somme Bay (site in French)
5) Fishing on foot in Le Crotoy
It’s time to put on your boots!
Starting from Le Crotoy, you will be able to walk in the bay when the tide is low to look for scallops (also known as “hénon” in the area). You will need to scrape the ground with your rake, shake the shells to remove the sand and bring them back with you in your bucket.
And if you weren’t so successful, you should check the fish market on Le Crotoy ‘s docks. There, five professional fishermen sell their products of the day directly to the consumers.
Be aware that there are rules and laws to follow, even for amateurs, in order to preserve the species. Take your time to do your research on them.
🥰 We like: a fun activity to do with your family
😍 We love: the fish market
💰 Price: Free, unless you decide to buy them directly from the fishermen
Information and rules about fishing on foot in the Somme Bay (site in French)
6) Hike across the bay and discover the edible plants
What if you could literally taste the Somme Bay? Arnaud and Aurore encourage you to do so.
From April to November, these two guides will offer you to hike across the bay to discover its ecosystem as well as the small plants that have adapted to the saline environment and that are now used in various local recipes.
Even though their hikes are named “hiking across the bay” and not “discovering the edible plants of the bay”, you don’t need to worry! Arnaud and Aurore will teach you everything they know about the bay itself, plants included.
🥰 We like: discovering the ecosystem of the bay
😍 We love: the great knowledge of the guides who can’t wait to share it all with you
💰 Price: around €15 per adult for a hike across the bay
Book a hike across the bay (site in French)
7) Try the Saltbush Lamb meat
In France, the AOP certification is a protected designation of origin with national requirements. It exists to ensure the quality and control of specific local products and is highly valued by consumers.
The salt-meadow lamb meat is one of these AOPs. The Somme Bay area is the only one to have obtained this certification for the salt-meadow lamb meat because it offers the best conditions to produce exceptional meat.
The lambs eat in the plains covered with vegetation half-submerged by salt water that is called salt-meadows. The meadows are also known as “mollières” in the area. Therefore, the meat is unique, delicious and very tasty.
You can buy it from June to January from farmers as well as in restaurants, at the butcher’s shop or supermarkets. Be careful and don’t forget to check the tags to make sure that it is really the AOP-certified meat.
🥰 We like: the shepherds’ centuries of know-how
😍 We love: the exceptional quality of the meat
Here is a list of a few Saltbush Lamb Meat producers (site in French)
8) The Bird and Nature Festival (Festival de l’Oiseau et de la Nature)
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If you are lucky enough to be in the area during the month of April, I very much recommend that you check out the program of the Bird and Nature Festival that has been taking place every year for more than 30 years already.
Many events and activities are organized such as exhibitions, commented visits in the bay, debates, conferences and wildlife movies which are broadcasted.
A photography contest takes place every year for the occasion, and the pictures are displayed on huge signs in the streets of several towns of the region. It is very pleasant to look at them when the spring comes.
🥰 We like: the variety of activities organized in the entire region
😍 We love: the possibility to participate in photography workshops at all skill levels.
💰 Price: most activities are free, except for movie broadcasts and nature outings
Information about the Bird and Nature Festival (site in French)
9) The Somme Bay House (Maison de la Baie de Somme)
D3, Le Teratu, 80230 Lanchéres
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Formerly known as the Bird’s House which offered bird shows, the Somme Bay House is now an interactive museum to learn about the bay’s wildlife.
Its goal is to raise awareness, educate and preserve the biodiversity of the bay by offering an informative tour.
You will have access to six rooms, each of them dedicated to one theme in particular, in order to understand the story of the bay and its people. The museum is interactive and fun. There is also an outdoor promenade from which you can observe geese, ducks and other species that live around the pond.
🥰 We like: the interactivity of the museum
😍 We love: the museum’s shop which has many local products and books
💰 Price: €9 per adult, €6.70 per child
Information and Booking for the Somme Bay House
10) The Marquenterre Park
25 bis Chem. des Garennes, 80120 Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont
If you love birds, you should go to the Marquenterre Park to observe them in their natural habitat.
Marquenterre Park is sized 200 hectares and located in the middle of the Natural Park of the Bay. It offers a 6km promenade and has 13 observation posts to spot the birds more easily. Several trails are available for a promenade of more or less length so that everyone in the family can enjoy it.
You will be able to spot birds such as spoonbills, avocets, white storks and many more. Apart from the birds, it is also an exceptional site because of its biodiversity: plants, batrachians and insects all live there.
🥰 We like: the different promenades and loops so that everyone can enjoy the park
😍 We love: the privilege of watching the birds in their natural habitat without disturbing them
💰 Price: €10.50 per adult
Book a ticket for the Marquenterre Park (site in French)
11) Cayeux-sur-Mer
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Cayeux-sur-Mer is located at the mouth of the bay and its most renowned site is the beach and its famous 493 beach huts. They look beautiful on camera, especially during the sunset.
You can do many water sport activities like kitesurfing or other sailing activities. The town has a casino near the beach huts and you can discover the area by bike by following the bike trails.
🥰 We like: the amazing sunset on the beach and the huts
😍 We love: biking around the area
Information and activity booking in Cayeux-sur-Mer
12) La Pointe du Hourdel
La Pointe du Hourdel, 80410 Cayeux-sur-Mer
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La Pointe du Hourdel is part of the municipality of Cayeux-sur-Mer and is located upstream toward the bay.
It is one of the three ports of the bay with Saint-Valery and Le Crotoy, and the best place to watch the seals from the land.
A pair of binoculars is recommended to see these animals better, and the best option is to meet a guide who will explain everything about the seals.
The pebble beach and the lighthouse make this place a must see of the bay.
🥰 We like: it’s the perfect place to watch the seals from a distance
😍 We love: the pretty lighthouse
More information on La Pointe du Hourdel (site in French)
13) Ault
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Located more to the south than Cayeux-sur-Mer, the small seaside resort of Ault is worth seeing.
Its best attraction are the beautiful cliffs on which were built the villas typical of the region. It’s possible to do nice hikes, guided or not, and to discover splendid panoramas.
Ault has more to offer than just the cliffs. There is also an ornithological reserve called the Hâble d’Ault where hundreds of birds live. It is a good alternative to bigger parks like the Marquenterre Park or Grand-Laviers.
🥰 We like: Ault’s lighthouse
😍 We love: the quietness of a human-sized seaside resort
More information about Ault (site in French)
14) Sand yachting in Fort-Mahon
Did you know that sand yachting was invented just next to the Somme Bay during the 20th century?
Between Le Crotoy and Fort-Mahon, there is a 25km-long beach that is ideal for sand yachting when the tide is low and you can see the sand.
After the peacefulness of a hike across the bay, it’s now time for action! Do not worry, you control the speed at all times.
Several schools offer various options: initiation, sand yacht hikes, etc. You have many options!
🥰 We like: many initiation classes
😍 We love: the adrenaline you get in this exceptional setting
💰 Price: around €40 per adult for 2 hours
A few schools:
- Aéris School: information and booking (site in French)
- Eolia School: information and booking (site in French)
15) Abbey and Gardens of Valloires
D192 Lieu dit Valloires, 80120 Argoules
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Less than 30km away from Le Crotoy, you can visit the Abbey of Valloires and its beautiful gardens.
The monument is the only complete remaining Cistercian abbey from the 18th century in France. The abbey was caught in the middle of Ponthieu’s wars between the 14th and 17th centuries and was also used as a hospital during the Second World War, even though they also hid Jewish children from German soldiers. The history of this site goes back very far.
You can visit the 8-hectare gardens all year long but the best seasons are spring and summer. If you are lucky enough, you might catch a glimpse of the cherry blossom tree alley that blooms around April.
In summer, they organize a Sound and Light show in the gardens, with light projections on water, walls and the abbey’s façade. It tells the history of the site through exceptional projections and narration.
🥰 We like: the Sound and Light show
😍 We love: the gardens’ beauty
💰 Price: €8 per person for a commented visit of the abbey
Information and booking for the Abbey and Gardens of Valloires (site in French)
16) The heritage of Abbeville
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If you wish to get out of the sand for a while, why not explore the city of Abbeville and its cultural heritage?
You can visit the Saint-Sépulcre church and its stained-glass windows made by Manessier, the Saint-Vulfran collegiate church, the Boucher de Perthes Museum or the Belfry which has been registered at the UNESCO World Heritage since 2007.
If you miss nature, the Bouvaque Park is often open, and if you miss flowers, the Emonville park is very well-kept and is located right next to the public library and the archives.
I didn’t mention a good amount of sites like the Bagatelle Castle or the Carmel Monastery… Abbeville, the second biggest town of the area, has a rich cultural heritage. Feel free to come and discover it!
🥰 We like: Abbeville isn’t a big city, you can easily get around it on foot
😍 We love: the diversity of the sites
💰 Price: most activities are free
Must do’s and Must sees in Abbeville (site in French)
17) The Abbey of Saint-Riquier
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If you liked visiting the Saint-Vulfran collegial church in Abbeville, then it may be worth it to drive a few kilometers further to discover the abbey of Saint-Riquier.
The abbey, a monument in a flamboyant Gothic style, has withstood the test of time. The original abbey it belonged to (of which there is nothing left today) is said to have had been financed by Charlemagne himself. Demolished and rebuilt several times, the abbey and the gardens are now well-kept.
The abbey is the main attraction of the small village and remains a place of exchange. Every summer, the Saint-Riquier Festival holds several concerts inside the abbey (Hervé Niqué, Renaud Capuçon, Picardy Orchestra, etc.) and on the right, you will find the Cultural Centre of the Abbey which is also a museum.
🥰 We like: the amazing façade
😍 We love: the holy relics inside the abbey
💰 Price: free visit of the abbey, €5 for a guided visit of the abbey or the gardens
Information and booking for a visit of the Abbey of Saint-Riquier (site in French)
18) La Buvette de la Plage (The Beach Bar)
455 Quai Jeanne d’Arc, 80230 Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
If your adventures in the Somme Bay are coming to an end, I think it’s best to enjoy a good meal and a good view.
If you walk along the promenade of the Quai Jeanne d’Arc in Saint-Valery until the very end, you will find the Buvette de la Plage, a restaurant whose advantage is its terrace right in front of the beach and the bay’s mouth.
Don’t worry if you don’t like mussels with French fries, the Buvette has many more dishes on the menu so that you can enjoy a good meal with your feet almost in the sand.
🥰 We like: their good cocktails
😍 We love: the view, the beach, and, of course, the view!
💰 Price: all the dishes cost around €20 (from €16 to €21)
More information about the Buvette de la Plage (site in French)
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
