Hautot-Sur-Mer: Coast, Nature and History

Highlights range from the coast at Pourville to the Bois de Bernouville, the chapel and the castle ruins. Consider what you would like to focus on during your trip: coastal walks, a cycling route, nature, water sports or history.

Coastal Paths and Cycling Route

The “De la Vallée de la Scie au Bois de Bernouville” route crosses the three hamlets of Hautot-Sur-Mer and leads to Pourville beach, which lies between two cliffs. The GR 21 also runs along Pourville beach and leads to walks on the heights of the coastal cliffs. This offers different ways to experience the coast: a route through the hamlets to the beach, and walks along the cliff heights. If you are planning your trip with the route in mind, these details can help you choose the focus that suits you.

Another option is the Avenue Verte. It follows a former railway line; from Rue de la Gare, it leads to the Offranville plateau. The former railway line gives this route a different point of reference from the beach and cliffs.

Nature in the Bois de Bernouville

The Bois de Bernouville – Vallée de la Scie area is designated both as a ZNIEFF type 1 site and as a Natura 2000 site. The coastal forest of Bois de Bernouville covers around 60 hectares and is classified by the Seine-Maritime Department as an Espace Naturel Sensible. The Bois is home to the Western barbastelle bat (Barbastelle d’Europe) and the greater horseshoe bat (Grand Rhinolophe); both are considered particularly noteworthy and rare in Haute-Normandie.

Walking is another way to experience this natural area: the Seine-Maritime Department offers walks in the Bois de Bernouville throughout the year. Unlike the paths along the beach and cliffs, the focus here is on the forest, its designated protected areas and the bat species mentioned above. This may be useful when planning your trip if you would like to consider the landscape and wildlife as well as the coast.

Chapel, Castle Ruins and Grange Monet

The cultural sites point to different periods. The ruins of the Château des Comtes d’Hautot date from the 11th century. In Pourville, the Saint-Thomas-de-Canterbury Chapel was built around 1886 near the ruins of the former church. Fragments of that earlier church remain in the present-day chapel.

Near Pourville, the Grange Monet is a few hundred metres from the beach. It can be admired from a wooden bridge; a famous artist immortalised it several times. For a culture-focused visit, you can distinguish between the medieval castle ruins, a chapel from the late 19th century and a grange depicted repeatedly. These historic sites offer different points of interest without needing to be combined into a single sightseeing route.

Water Sports, Swimming and Golf

In Pourville-sur-Mer, Surf'in Pourville offers activities such as surfing, bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, skimboarding and sea kayaking. Its offerings include group and private lessons as well as equipment rental. Group lessons are limited to eight participants; private lessons are available by reservation. In summer, swimming in the sea or lake at Pourville-sur-Mer beach is supervised. If you are planning a specific lesson or supervised swimming during your trip, check the latest dates and times in advance.

Golf is another distinct option: Golf de Dieppe-Pourville is located on the cliffs and overlooks the sea and the Pourville valley. The mini-golf course has 18 holes and covers 2,000 m². Players are welcomed there daily from 1 March to 31 October. These activities vary by type and season, from swimming with summer supervision and lessons by reservation to golf and mini-golf. For specific plans, it is advisable to check the latest opening times and dates.

Discover more destinations: Goderville, Derchigny, Roncherolles-en-Bray, Saint-Clair-sur-les-Monts, Darnétal, Grainville-la-Teinturière, Yainville, Thérouldeville.

For the broader travel overview: Seine-Maritime.