Calvados walks

Orne valley around Clécy

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Vallée de l'Orne autour de Clécy

Departure from Clécy (Calvados)

A superb walk to discover the Normandy bocage and the Orne valley. This hike takes in "le pain de sucre", "les rochers de la Houle" and "les rochers des parcs".

Between sea and countryside in Trouville

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Entre mer et campagne à Trouville

Departure from Trouville-sur-Mer (Calvados)

Discover the different facets of Trouville, from the town, the sea and the countryside. An itinerary with multiple views of the English Channel and the Normandy countryside. For all those who only know Trouville from its quays!

Omaha Beach, a beach steeped in history

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Omaha Beach, une plage d'histoire

Departure from Colleville-sur-Mer (Calvados)

This circuit is an encounter between nature and history. A superb route along one of the most beautiful beaches in Normandy. It combines paths through woods, fields, orchards and pastures, and also takes in this important place of remembrance where thousands of American soldiers landed to liberate France from Nazi occupation. A visit to the American military cemetery is a must. You can also stroll along the beautiful Omaha Beach.

The Devil's Breach

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La Brèche au Diable

Departure from Soumont-Saint-Quentin (Calvados)

Legend has it that the devil split the plateau to allow access to the church of Saint-Quentin. The Laizon gorge has become a beautiful hiking trail, passing through steep, narrow gorges to the plateaus of the Falaise plain, near the tomb of the actress Marie Joly, the former site of the iron mine, manor houses, castles and traces of prehistoric occupation. The site has been listed since 1974

Les Roches d'Oëtre and La Forêt-Auvray

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Les Roches d'Oëtre et La Forêt-Auvray

Departure from Le Mesnil-Villement (Calvados)

A beautiful hike offering views of the Roches d'Oëtre, the village of La Forêt-Auvray, the banks of the Orne and the Normandy countryside. This hike is a slightly longer variation of the "Around La Forêt-Auvray" hike. You can start the hike at La Fouillerie (the option chosen for the description) or at La Forêt-Auvray.

The 10 must-see places in Deauville

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Les 10 lieux incontournables de Deauville

Departure from Trouville-sur-Mer (Calvados)

A short urban walk to discover the most iconic places in Deauville.

South-east of Houlgate, passing through Gonneville-sur-Mer

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Au Sud-Est de Houlgate en passant par Gonneville-sur-Mer

Departure from Houlgate (Calvados)

Beautiful hike in the Normandy countryside, passing through Gonneville-sur-Mer and the Houlgate golf course to the ledge and view of the coast from the orientation table.

The Orne around the Gros Banc

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L'Orne autour du Gros Banc

Departure from Sallenelles (Calvados)

A birdwatching site of great beauty, the bay of the Orne estuary is now protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral. The Maison de la Nature, several observatories and a network of footpaths showcase this unmissable natural area. Moderator's note See the review dated 21/02/2022: work in progress on this hike

Grand Tour of Honfleur

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Grand tour de Honfleur

Departure from Honfleur (Calvados)

This walk, almost in the town centre, aims to show you the main points of interest in Honfleur.

Bois du Breuil and beach at Honfleur

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Bois du Breuil et plage à Honfleur

Departure from Pennedepie (Calvados)

Forest trail, Cote de Grâce and its chapel, Honfleur and its Sainte-Catherine Church, the garden of personalities, walk on the beach and return to the woods with its rhododendrons.

The Val Roy

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Departure from Ouffières (Calvados)

Ouffières welcomes you to a large square beautifully decorated with flowers. You can then set off to discover magnificent stone houses before following the Orne River as it winds its way through the Swiss Normandy.

Around Blonville-Sur-Mer

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Autour de Blonville-Sur-Mer

Departure from Blonville-sur-Mer (Calvados)

A very pleasant walk around Blonville-Sur-Mer, passing through the marshes and Mont Canisy.

Around Beaumont-en-Auge

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Aux alentours de Beaumont-en-Auge

Departure from Beaumont-en-Auge (Calvados)

A very beautiful hike in the countryside with a few slopes.

The great outdoors on the outskirts of Caen

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Pleine nature aux portes de Caen

Departure from Éterville (Calvados)

An amazing setting in the middle of nature and on the outskirts of Caen. Passing over and under the ring road reminds us of the proximity of the big city, which you forget as you cross the Odon six times via footbridges, old railway bridges and a ford. The path is popular with joggers. The "Course entre deux O" race follows part of this route in November.

The Orne Valley

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La Vallée de l'Orne

Departure from Goupillières (Calvados)

The Orne valley, upstream from the city of Caen. This circuit invites you to discover both banks of the Orne River north of Thury-Harcourt. Description and route slightly out of date in places, see reviews for alternatives

Circuit from Villers-Bocage to Tracy-Bocage

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Circuit de Villers-Bocage à Tracy-Bocage

Departure from Villers-Bocage (Calvados)

An easy route along beautiful paths through woods and hedgerows, passing through a typical village of the Pays Bocain.

The Marais de la Dives

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Departure from Cabourg (Calvados)

After strolling through the streets of the famous Balbec and exploring its beautiful beach, set off to discover the marshes of the hinterland. In spring, they sparkle with golden irises and are perfumed by the myriad hawthorn flowers so dear to Proust.

Around Pennedepie and Cricqueboeuf

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Aux alentours de Pennedepie et Cricqueboeuf

Departure from Pennedepie (Calvados)

Starting from Pennedepie church, go through the Bois du Breuil, then walk 3,500 metres along the beach at LOW TIDE and return through the countryside

In the countryside south of Dozulé

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Departure from Dozulé (Calvados)

For a walk in the countryside with a few hills in "trenches".

The Rocks of Brisevieille

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Les Rochers de Brisevieille

Departure from La Pommeraye (Calvados)

Circuit starting from La Pommeraie, a small authentic village in Suisse Normande, whose name comes from the word pomme (apple). In autumn, there are many chestnut trees.

Beneath the Monts d'Ancre

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Sous les Monts d'Ancre

Departure from Hamars (Calvados)

A very pleasant walk through the undergrowth, with the sound of small streams flowing through this magnificent forest. Lots of mushrooms in season.

Beach and marshes between Graye-sur-Mer and Ver-sur-Mer

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Plage et marais entre Graye-sur-Mer et Ver-sur-Mer

Departure from Graye-sur-Mer (Calvados)

Graye-sur-Mer beach was part of the Juno Beach sector during the landings on 6 June 1944. It was liberated by Canadian troops. The return journey from Ver to Graye takes you partly through marshland sheltered behind a narrow strip of dunes.

Asnelles loop in Arromanches

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Boucle d'Asnelles à Arromanches

Departure from Calvados

This short walk will allow you to discover Asnelles, a small coastal village, and Arromanches, a small seaside town with its artificial harbour, where traces of the D-Day landings are still clearly visible. You will walk along the coast and even cross the beach. You can visit the Asnelles shortbread biscuit factory, the Arromanches museum and admire the landscape overlooking the sea and the port. The return journey will take you along the paths of the Normandy countryside with a glimpse of the coastline.

Around Nonant

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Autour de Nonant

Departure from Nonant (Calvados)

Circuit starting from the village of Nonant, passing through several villages such as Martragny, Vaux and Carcagny with views of several castles and manor houses.

Around Equemauville

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Departure from Équemauville (Calvados)

Hike in the Bois de Breuil forest, passing through the commune of Barneville-la-Bertrand.

The Moulin du Fay

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Le Moulin du Fay

Departure from Cauville (Calvados)

Swiss Normandy: valleys, springs, streams, fir trees, small villages – everything you need to have a great day out and come home tired.

Village and bocage in Beuvron-en-Auge

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Village et bocage à Beuvron-en-Auge

Departure from Beuvron-en-Auge (Calvados)

Beuvron-en-Auge is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. With its half-timbered houses and old market hall, restaurants, cafés and artisans, it is a relaxing stopover in the heart of the bocage.

Merville-Franceville loop

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Boucle de Merville-Franceville

Departure from Merville-Franceville-Plage (Calvados)

Take a lovely coastal path and watch the local and migratory birds, pass by the Redoute de Merville, built in 1760 under Louis XVI based on plans by Vauban, walk along the beach, climb up to the Atlantic Wall coastal battery, cross the horse parks with foals depending on the season, stroll through the countryside... this is what you will discover on this hike. Don't forget your binoculars. The hike should be done when the tidal coefficient is below 80.

The Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in Honfleur

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La Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Grâce à Honfleur

Departure from Honfleur (Calvados)

Take a stroll around Honfleur, with its charming harbour and churches, and climb up to the beautiful Notre-Dame-de-Grâce chapel, which offers stunning views of Honfleur, Le Havre, the mouth of the Seine and the Pont de Normandie bridge.

Bourgeauville

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Departure from Bourgeauville (Calvados)

A superb hike west of Beaumont-en-Auge in Calvados

Benerville-sur-Mer / Mont Canisy / Villers

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Benerville-sur-Mer / Mont Canisy / Villers

Departure from Benerville-sur-Mer (Calvados)

Starting from the seafront, you will pass by the Clairefontaine racecourse, Mont Canisy, Clos Mallet and the Villers marshes. Return via the Mont Canisy batteries and the seafront.

Loop starting from Fresney-le-Puceux

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Boucle au départ de Fresney-le-Puceux

Departure from Fresney-le-Puceux (Calvados)

A charming walk combining forests, wooded paths, streams, mills, hamlets, beautiful stone buildings, fields and meadows, with a few small climbs. Very pleasant to do from spring, when the vegetation comes to life, until autumn, when it bursts into shades of yellow, ochre and red. Apart from the section from Le Pissot to the hamlet of Touchet (1 km), there are virtually no roads to walk on, although it is sometimes difficult to avoid them.

From bridges to footbridges starting from Longueville

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De ponts en passerelles au départ de Longueville

Departure from Longueville (Calvados)

A very pleasant walk around Longueville in the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes Regional Nature Park.

Boulon in the Middle Ages - Heritage Trail

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Boulon au Moyen-Âge - Parcours du patrimoine

Departure from Boulon (Calvados)

This heritage trail immerses you in medieval society alongside knights, monks and peasants. In the 11th century, in the Cinglais region, Boulon was part of the powerful seigneury of RaoulI Taisson, who built the Château de Thuit there, the seat of seigneurial power. Between forest and heritage, the Boulon discovery trail reveals traces of this medieval past. This trail is marked in blue with signs reading "Heritage Trail - Boulon in the Middle Ages".

In the Normandy countryside around Clécy

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Dans le bocage normand autour de Clécy

Departure from Clécy (Calvados)

This is a fairly easy hike, mostly on country roads with virtually no traffic. Return via the Clécy viaduct and along the Orne. This hike can be done in the morning, with a stop for lunch at one of the open-air cafés along the Orne.

Chapel of Bonne Nouvelle

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Chapelle de Bonne Nouvelle

Departure from Esson (Calvados)

Hiking in Suisse Normande. With blue skies, you can discover the beautiful valleys. I recommend a visit to the Bonne Nouvelle Chapel, which is open during the day and offers the opportunity to leave messages.

Bayeux and its surroundings

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Bayeux et ses alentours

Departure from Bayeux (Calvados)

The route follows footpaths and cycle paths in Bayeux Intramuros, the botanical garden and the stadium, paths outside Bayeux and recently built wooden footbridges to cross a marshy area.

Circular to the south-west of Villers-sur-Mer

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Boucle au Sud-Ouest de Villers-sur-Mer

Departure from Villers-sur-Mer (Calvados)

Hike in the Pays d'Auge countryside with a passage through the commune of Saint-Vaast.

The Chemin du Roy in Pont-d'Ouilly

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Departure from Pont-d'Ouilly (Calvados)

From the banks of the cool Val la Hère stream, you will climb to the heights of Plainville and Bourg d'Ouilly, where the view is remarkable.

Around the Bois Roger

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Autour du Bois Roger

Departure from Cléville (Calvados)

Our elders remember walking these often shady paths many times, which led to pastures and farms. Donkeys pulled carts along them at milking time, farmers drove their cattle up them from Croissanville, children in clogs used them to get to school or forgot to do so, and love blossomed there...

The Odon balconies

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Les balcons de l'Odon

Departure from Parfouru-sur-Odon (Calvados)

Between paths, plains and undergrowth, this hike will delight you with its scenery. Like all hikes in the bocage, it is hilly with a good little climb. The route is very well marked with yellow signs.

Clarbec

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Departure from Clarbec (Calvados)

A hilly walk in the heart of the Pays d'Auge countryside.

From Ryes to the artificial port of Arromanches

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De Ryes au port artificiel d'Arromanches

Departure from Ryes (Calvados)

Starting from Ryes, this route combines small country lanes in the Bessin plain, the sea and history. It will introduce you to several facets of this agricultural and tourist region through its beaches and its turbulent history, the scale of which is illustrated by the remains of the artificial port of Arromanches.

Around Gonneville-en-Auge via Sallenelles

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Autour de Gonneville-en-Auge en passant par Sallenelles

Departure from Gonneville-en-Auge (Calvados)

Leaving Gonneville-en-Auge, in the countryside, follow the Bay of Sallenelles and the River Orne. You will then pass the Merville Batteries.

Between land and sea in Merville-Franceville-Plage

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Entre terre et mer à Merville-Franceville-Plage

Departure from Merville-Franceville-Plage (Calvados)

Starting from Merville-Franceville-Plage, enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside and the marshes, but also soak up the seaside atmosphere of this renowned seaside resort. Along the way, you will discover the architectural and, above all, historical heritage, notably the Merville Battery, a key site of the June 1944 landings (9th Battalion of the6th Airborne).

Circular around Fontaine-Henry

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Boucle autour de Fontaine-Henry

Departure from Fontaine-Henry (Calvados)

Route around Fontaine-Henry Castle. Halfway between the city of Caen and the D-Day beaches, Fontaine-Henry Castle overlooks the green valley of the Mue. Its vertiginously high roofs tower above the centuries-old trees in the park and crown a richly sculpted façade combining 15th- and 16th-century styles.

Between Ver-sur-Mer and Asnelles: beach, dunes, marshes, memorial...

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Entre Ver-sur-Mer et Asnelles : plage, dune, marais, mémorial...

Departure from Ver-sur-Mer (Calvados)

From Ver-sur-Mer to Asnelles via the Gold Beach seafront between the dunes, beach and marshes. Return through the Normandy countryside overlooking the beach, via the villages of Asnelles, Meuvaines and Asnelles and the British memorial which pays tribute to the 22,442 liberators who fell under British command during the Battle of Normandy (opening in 2021).

From Tracy to Manvieux via the greenway

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De Tracy à Manvieux par la voie verte

Departure from Tracy-sur-Mer (Calvados)

A short, easy walk offering views of the Bessin coast between Arromanches and Manvieux. You will have a commanding view of Arromanches and its artificial harbour and walk along the coastal cliffs. But be careful not to get too close to the cliffs as there is a risk of collapse.

Panoramic view of the Oudon

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Panorama sur l'Oudon

Departure from L'Oudon (Calvados)

Take care when crossing the woods, as the flora and fauna here are best observed in silence, before continuing along the Oudon valley, which winds peacefully through the pastures.

The Coupe-Gorge stream in Mutrécy

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Departure from Mutrécy (Calvados)

This hike mainly follows the Coupe-Gorge stream, which runs through the Grimbosq forest. It is a very pleasant walk in autumn as it follows a small path that is rarely used by walkers.

More walks in Calvados

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