We are driving from Dunkirk to Bayeux in a few weeks and wanted to see if anyone else has experience with this. Google maps go through Roen, Caen OR we could literally hug the coastline. Looking for recommendations on this. We are doing this in one day
(it is about a 4-5 hour drive), ending at our hotel in Bayeux. Thank you.
Posted by
Paris
7304 posts
Le Crotoy is a lovely stop on the shore of Baie de Somme. Scenic, cute small town, good food at Les Tourelles.
But it pales in comparison to Etretat, further along the coast, which has dramatic cliffs.
Also worth a mention is Veules les Roses, cute village set along a less than one mile long coastal river, from the spring to the sea!
And Varengeville, which has a beautiful botanical garden and a wonderful cemetery overlooking the sea.
I could go on. I would prioritize Etretat, among the above, you have time for one or two detours but no more.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6489 posts
Agree that Etretat is very special. Stop in Honfleur if you have the time. We went to Normandy for the WWII/D-Day sites. We had no idea it is such a beautiful, bucolic area. Enjoy!
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2088 posts
Worth to visit is Cap Blanc Nez west of Calais, with clear weather you can see from there the White Cliffs of Dover what is not so obvious this time of the year. I have visited this place several times and the view is really nice, about a 15 minute drive from the A16 freeway.
Instead of Le Crotoy I would visit Saint-Valery-sur-Somme at the southside of the Somme bay. It’s more touristy but to my opinion more lovely and guess it will be more lively in November.
I also agree with visiting Étretat. In case you take the A29 freeway you can drive first to Fécamp and then follow the D211 and D11 along the coast with lovely places like Yport and Vaucottes. Before arriving in Étretat you can have a stunning panoramic view of this famous place from Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde.
It will make a difference if you have already a car the day you leave Dunkirk.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
I did pretty much the same drive and I stopped in Le Treport, Etretat and Honfleur. None were long stops but Etretat was where I spent the most time mostly to climb the cliff and take lots of photos. Le Treport was basically a 'pit' stop for about an hour and Honfleur was where I had dinner before driving on to Bayeux for the night. It was a beautiful drive along the coast but it does take all day - I left very early in the morning (probably around 7 or 7:30) and arrived in Bayeux around 7 pm. Taking the faster inland route (higher speed highways) with no stops other than those pit stops will get you there in about 5-6 hours.