Numerous hiking trails
If there's one sport you can enjoy on the Côte d'Opale and Baie de Somme, it's hiking! In the Dunkirk area, set off to conquer the dunes, these sand hills with their varied flora and fauna: Dune du Perroquet (5 km) in Bray-Dunes, Dune Marchand in Zuydcoote (8.5 km), and Dune Dewulf (6 km) in Leffrinckoucke. With a view of the sea on one side, and a view of the sandy expanses on the other, you'll discover a certain peace and quiet away from the crowds.
Further afield at Oye-Plage, the Platier d'Oye nature reserve is France's leading stopover for migratory birds. Twenty species of mammals, such as the Scottish Highland cow, 230 species of birds and several species of amphibians, including the Natterjack toad and green frog, cohabit this large, flat area of dunes, sandbanks and water. The flora is also richly represented, with 361 species, six of which are nationally protected. Tip: when the weather's fine, bring a hat and sun cream, as there are very few shady areas. And don't forget your binoculars, which will help you make the most of your wildlife encounters.
Arriving after Calais, set foot in the Parc naturel régional des Caps et Marais d'Opale. Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez are exceptional sites to discover. From the Jardins de la Baie Saint-Jean, you can explore the pretty Wimereux coastline. Along the way, nature and history combine to create a panorama rich in discovery. Nineteenth-century seaside architecture and remnants of the Second World War stand alongside a landscape of beaches and dunes. The route joins that of the listed Slack dunes, which run towards Ambleteuse and its Vauban fort. Inland, pine plantations and freshwater marshes are home to a different kind of flora and fauna.
On your way to Hardelot, stop off at the château. The hike around Hardelot Castle promises the discovery of many natural treasures: the Condette marsh, the regional nature reserve and the dune environment of Écault. Along the way, you'll wander between country villages and seaside resorts. The whole area is a major reservoir of biodiversity for the Boulonnais region, and a major ecological corridor for the Hauts-de-France region.
Further inland, there's also the Mont Pelé trail, culminating at an altitude of 200 metres above Desvres, the Bois de Ballon trail in Guînes and the Sentier des Aulnes in La Capelle-Lès-Boulogne, offering an hour's walk in the heart of the department's main forest, which was a refuge for Canadian troops during the Second World War. The sentier des Aulnes is home to hares, roe deer, wild boar, squirrels and bats, as well as many joggers. An obstacle course is available for the more athletic.
A true fishing tradition
More of a "promenade" than a "fishery", fishing on foot is practiced along the seashore. Here, you can gather mussels, crabs, cockles and even shrimps that the sea has generously left behind. Very popular, this family fishing activity is accessible to all, and takes place every low tide. You'll need boots, bucket, hook, basket, net, knife, spoon, watch and foulies. The beaches of Audresselles, Ambleteuse and Wimereux, as well as the Platier d'Oye, are popular destinations for shore fishing.
Here are a few tips to help you enjoy this sport in complete safety:
Know the tide times.
Be careful not to be disoriented by fog.
Respect health warnings to avoid food poisoning.
Contact the Maritime Affairs office to find out how much you can take with you, on pain of confiscation of the catch and a fine... a hefty one!
Surfcasting is also practiced on our coasts. By definition, surfcasting is a beach fishing technique using natural baits, which consists of casting out to sea a leaded line with one or more dried hooks placed on the seabed while waiting for a bite. While waiting for a catch, the rods are placed on spikes or tripods. This technique is generally practised with several rods in position. This type of fishing is very popular along the coast, but also on the jetties of Dunkirk and Calais in particular.
Finally, sea fishing is a great outdoor activity for all levels of experience. It can be practised in small bays, trolling the shallows, or on the high seas. As a leisure activity, sea fishing has become very popular. Several boats (notably in Boulogne, Étaples, Gravelines and Dunkirk) offer to take you out for a fishing trip. Here again, catches are limited in number and size. Contact Affaires maritimes to find out how much you can catch.
In the air
The Opal Coast also owes its reputation to its pioneers of the air. Louis Blériot, followed closely by Hubert Latham, was the first aviator to cross the English Channel by air. The beginning of the 20th century is remembered as the heroic era of aviation, especially on the Opal Coast. Visor on the neck and sports cap, these manufacturers and aviators both reckless and crazy have cleared the sky between 1903 and 1913.
It is therefore quite natural that we find today several flying clubs in the region. If you have not yet made your first flight, it is never too late. The Opal Coast and the Picardy coast, their changing colors, their forests, their bays and their long sandy or pebble beaches, are even more beautiful seen from above!
You can also fly down the Opal Coast and the Somme Bay from the sky. If you have the guts to jump into the void at an altitude of about 4,000 m, don't hesitate for a second to contact the skydiving clubs of the coast. A crazy experience, sensational, exceptional, vibrant at over 200 km/h. In a handful of seconds, you will go through all the emotions of which "the fear" is certainly the most outstanding. Fortunately, you are not alone. Supervised by teams of professional parachutists, you will be in good hands and will make the big jump in complete safety.
For those who prefer softer sensations, there is still kite flying. More than a discipline, you will be conquered by this art that will take you up there, in the sky, in this imaginary world that you had perhaps forgotten since you were old enough. A gentle activity, but one that still requires a lot of dexterity and strength. Yes, you have to be up to the task to brave the wind and defy the wind. In Berck, every year, the international kite meetings attract thousands of tourists who come to admire kite flyers from all over the world, often with original kites.
Many water sports to tame the sea
If you are a thrill seeker, you can practice many original sports on the Opal Coast. Paradise for kitesurfers, the Opal Coast and the Somme Bay offer no less than 12 quality spots to practice kitesurfing safely: Bray-Dunes, Dunkerque, Gravelines, Sangatte, Wissant, Wimereux, Hardelot, Le Touquet, Berck-sur-Mer, Fort-Mahon-Plage, Le Crotoy plage nord and Le Hourdel à Cayeux-sur-Mer.
The kilometers of beach of the Hauts-de-France coast also favor the practice of sand yachting. You will sail at the speed of the wind whether it is to the north or to the west. Almost the symbol of the coastline, sand yachting has several flagship destinations: Bray-Dunes, Leffrinckoucke, Marck-en-Calaisis, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Portel, Hardelot, Camiers, Le Touquet, Stella-Plage, Merlimont, Bercksur-Mer, Fort-Mahon-Plage and Quend-Plage.
Paddle boarding (or stand up paddle boarding) is also practised, where you can take to the open sea while standing on a board and paddling forward At first on your knees, you will soon find your place standing on the board. You can also try sea kayaking to navigate along the beaches of the coast, defying the current and the wind. The discovery of the Somme bay in sea kayak is one of the activities to do absolutely!
The longe côte is finally very appreciated by the locals. Here is a sport totally created on the Opal Coast in 2005, in Dunkerque, by Thomas Wallyn, rowing coach. The principle of this aquatic hike: walking in the sea, with an immersion up to the waist, with or without a paddle to help you. The advantage is that it can be practiced by everyone! Most seaside resorts now have their longe-côte club: a good way to do sports without looking like it.
Mechanical sports to try
The Opal Coast on a four-wheeled off-road vehicle? It's a nice idea, weather permitting. So why not treat yourself to a mechanical quad tour and discover some of the region's little gems, with your hair blowing in the wind? Through a variety of landscapes, woods, plains and hilly paths, you'll come face to face with and admire such varied nature. It's the perfect way to spend an invigorating moment in the great outdoors!
If there's the Enduro du Touquet for motocross and quad enthusiasts, there's also the Bernard Gouvart circuit at Loon-Plage for sand pilots, which includes a motorcycle circuit, a quad circuit, an 85 cm3 circuit and a 50 cm3 circuit: a paradise for pilots, who can race on a loop of almost 7 km. To be repeated over and over again! Go-karting and motocross circuits are also available.
