Practical information
- Route : 190 km
- Duration : ≈ 10 days
- Scapes encountered : Beaches, valleys, woods, plains, fields, cliffs
- Markings : White and red lines
- Departure : Le Tréport station
LaurieThe GR is great 😉
Quiberville View From Gr21 ©p. LeboucherQuiberville View From Gr21 ©p. Leboucher|
LaurieThe GR 21, what is it?
The GR21 is a 190 km long Great Hiking Trail along the Normandy coastline, also known as the Alabaster Coast. This itinerant hike starts in the city of Le Tréport and ends in the city of Le Havre. It follows the coast from Le Tréport to Etretat and enters the land to reach Le Havre. If you are not a fan of hiking over several days nothing prevents you from putting a car at each end of the section you want to do or make a round trip, everything is possible!
GR 21, the coastal pathGR 21, the coastal path|
The beach of Quiberville between sand and pebblesThe sand is uncovered at low tide allowing to discover the cliffs|
View of the sea from the GR21View of the sea from the GR21|
Your route
At 20 kilometers per day, it will take 9 days of walking to complete this hike. Don’t panic! You will find on the way what to supply you and campsites to pitch the tent, you are released in the middle of nature but not completely either! Of course you can adapt the duration of this hike to you and your abilities, the goal being to live this experience and this beautiful adventure with pleasure and not to suffer for 190 km!
Like all the GR in France, the path is marked with white and red markings, look for the slightest stone can be useful to help you find your way, it would be a shame to do 2… 3…. or 4 km on the wrong path… I speak from experience…
Breathtaking scenery
What could be more impressive than being able to observe the incredible landscape of the Normandy coast from the top of the cliffs? It’s a wonderful sight to behold, seeing the endless expanse of the sea on the horizon, that feeling of freedom that immerses you when you’re on the highest point of a village (or town), the discovery of little coves and beaches just known by a dozen people. I really felt like I was rediscovering my beloved Normandy.
And besides! Who said that it rained all the time and that the sea was not turquoise blue in Normandy?
I’ll let you judge for yourself with these few photos, and without filter of course! Our region is so beautiful that the GR21 was even elected favorite trail of the French in 2020, you didn’t know that huh? So, what are you waiting for to come and see it with your own eyes?
GR 21 seine-maritimeGR 21 seine-maritime|
Cliffs as far as the eye can seeSand beach at low tide|
→ I would like to draw your attention to the paths to be used. It is important to follow the indicated hiking paths and not to get too close to the edge of the cliffs for your safety but also for the protection of this environment and these cliffs that we love so much in Normandy. It is recommended to stay at least 15 meters from the edge.
So, are you convinced?
If so, I invite you to try this adventure, and for that I advise you to prepare well, physically and even in terms of equipment. It is important to leave well equipped to avoid injury and to make it comfortable for you, as far as possible.
If you want to train, you can test our 25 loops of hiking and to go a little further do the GR 212 and 210, a good training for roaming walking!”
See you soon on the Terroir de Caux!
