Do you know what the Somme Bay in Picardy, Halong Bay in Vietnam and San Francisco Bay have in common? All three are members of the exclusive club of the world's most beautiful bays! So there's no need to travel the globe - escape is just a stone's throw from Le Walric campsite. Just follow the guide!
How to visit the Baie de Somme
If you're wondering what's the best way to visit the Baie de Somme, you're spoilt for choice! You can discover it on foot or by bike, on horseback or in a horse-drawn carriage, on a boat trip, on board the Baie de Somme steam train, or even in the air, in a microlight or hot-air balloon. The Baie de Somme National Nature Reserve, which has been awarded the Grand Site de France label, covers almost 12,000 hectares of unspoilt natural areas between the Baie d'Authie to the north and the cliffs of Ault to the south. It is the largest estuary in northern France.
Cultural heritage: Land of Wonders
In the eleventh century, William the Conqueror set out to conquer England from the Bay of the Somme at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. Eight centuries later, it was the turn of numerous Impressionist painters such as Boudin, Degas and Braquaval, and great writers such as Jules Vernes, Victor Hugo and Colette, to drop anchor on the bay to find peace and inspiration. Today, the Baie de Somme, which was awarded the Grand Site de France label in 2011, attracts almost a million visitors every year.
Guided nature outing: crossing the Baie de Somme
Crossing the Baie de Somme with a guide is a great family activity, particularly popular with children. From Crotoy to Saint-Valery (or the other way round), a 3-hour walk takes you through a unique, unspoilt environment listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Grand Site de France. The guide will share his knowledge of the bay's flora and fauna, halophilous plants, tidal phenomena and shifting sands.
Birdwatching in the Baie de Somme
The Baie de Somme is renowned as one of Europe's leading birdwatching areas. Thousands of sedentary and migratory birds find ideal conditions here, thanks to the wide variety of natural environments that make up the bay. The Baie de Somme is home to almost 2/3 of the birds seen in Europe! Birdwatchers, whether experts or amateurs, will be able to observe a host of birds: ducks, geese, swans, coots, grebes, gannets, egrets, herons, oystercatchers, avocets, woodcocks, white spoonbills, grey cranes, kingfishers, etc. Several pairs of white storks also nest in the Baie de Somme.
Meet the seals of the Baie de Somme
The Baie de Somme is home to the largest colony of harbour seals in France. There are also grey seals, recognisable by their straight snout in the shape of a ‘horse's head'. While it will be difficult, if not impossible, to pet them, it is important to keep your distance. They are protected wild animals. Observing them through binoculars is an experience in itself! In the Baie de Somme, a number of guides offer nature outings where you can observe seals in complete safety, on the sandbanks at Plage de la Maye or Pointe du Hourdel.
If you come across a seal in difficulty, do not try to touch it, as this could cause it further stress or even injury. Contact the Association Picardie Nature or the Syndicat mixte Baie de Somme-Grand Littoral Picard. Despite their friendly appearance, seals can be aggressive if they feel threatened. They could inflict a serious bite on you.
