Running along the bluff of the white limestone cliffs of Étretat is one of the great running experiences in Normandy. Located 15 km south of of Fécamp on the Côte d’Albâtre, Étretat is known for its striking rock formations carved out of its white cliffs, known as Les Falaises, with grass and dirt paths extending either direction from town affording fantastic views of the cliffs, Channel, and Normandy countryside. We’ve described two route options below. The easier route is headed east. Headed west is more of a trail run. From town, there’s a short but steep climb to the top of the cliffs, after which things flatten out somewhat. Pro tip:plan with the sunlight, to have the sun at your back early or late.
Path headed east. Mark Lowenstein
Path Headed East. A wide, grass/dirt path heads east for nearly 8 km to Le Nez in Vattetot-sur-Mer. There are dramatic views of the sea, the cliffs, the open windswept landscape, and farm fields in the interior. After 1 km you’ll reach the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde and La Falaise d’Amont. Continue for as many km as you like! Fairly flat once you’re atop the cliff.
Path Headed West. This is more of a challenging trail run. Head west from town run along the seafront promenade, climb the steep path up to the cliff, and continue on the path. There’s a golf course on your left for the first ~1 km,. It’s a lot of up and down, with some steep sections, narrow in parts and uneven footing. We’ve mapped 5 km to Cap d’Antifer. There are great views and dramatic sites along the way, including the Porte d’Aval (arch), Pisseuses of Valaine, and L’Œil du Panda, with beaches below (Plage du Fourquet, Plage, d’Antifer). There are a couple of offshoot paths.
Path headed west: Mark Lowenstein
Étretat Waterfront Promenade & Town. A promenade path runs for 0.5 km along the beach, with great views of the water and surrounding cliffs. There are also quiet, hilly roads headed out of town.
Running along the bluff of the white limestone cliffs of Étretat is one of the great running experiences in Normandy. Located 15 km south of of Fécamp on the Côte d’Albâtre, Étretat is known for its striking rock formations carved out of its white cliffs, known as Les Falaises, with grass and dirt paths extending either direction from town affording fantastic views of the cliffs, Channel, and Normandy countryside. We’ve described two route options below. The easier route is headed east. Headed west is more of a trail run. From town, there’s a short but steep climb to the top of the cliffs, after which things flatten out somewhat. Pro tip:plan with the sunlight, to have the sun at your back early or late.
Path headed east. Mark Lowenstein
Path Headed East. A wide, grass/dirt path heads east for nearly 8 km to Le Nez in Vattetot-sur-Mer. There are dramatic views of the sea, the cliffs, the open windswept landscape, and farm fields in the interior. After 1 km you’ll reach the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde and La Falaise d’Amont. Continue for as many km as you like! Fairly flat once you’re atop the cliff.
Path Headed West. This is more of a challenging trail run. Head west from town run along the seafront promenade, climb the steep path up to the cliff, and continue on the path. There’s a golf course on your left for the first ~1 km,. It’s a lot of up and down, with some steep sections, narrow in parts and uneven footing. We’ve mapped 5 km to Cap d’Antifer. There are great views and dramatic sites along the way, including the Porte d’Aval (arch), Pisseuses of Valaine, and L’Œil du Panda, with beaches below (Plage du Fourquet, Plage, d’Antifer). There are a couple of offshoot paths.
Path headed west: Mark Lowenstein
Étretat Waterfront Promenade & Town. A promenade path runs for 0.5 km along the beach, with great views of the water and surrounding cliffs. There are also quiet, hilly roads headed out of town.
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Essentials
We've mapped routes extending 8 km (5 miles) east and 5 km (3 miles) west of town
East: gentle rolling terrain; West: hilly with uneven footing -- more of a trail run
Tourism office in town or one of the parking lots
From town, climb up the steep path/stairs to the top of the cliff to head east or west
Running on the road approaching Mont Saint-Michel is a memorable experience. Fantastic views of the Abbey of Saint-Michel and surrounding coastal plain. Can add coastal spots around the Mont at low tide. Additional paths along the Couesnon River.
A great run with lots of variety in this historic, fortified town: Old Port & jetty, headland, medieval Upper Town, and beach/waterfront promenade. Hills, views, scenery & history! Running track off Rue de Roc.
Good running options at this historic site. Omaha Beach itself is very runnable, 8+ km. There's also a 3.4 km beachfront path, scenic cycle paths headed west & east of the beach, and quiet, interior 'hedgerow' roads.
The best running options in Bayeux are just outside of town: Vélo routes through the quiet Norman countryside; a cycle path along the D6; and in Port-En-Bessin and a beautiful path headed west toward Colleville-sur-Mer.
Our 10k 'runseeing' tour of Caen includes its famous Caen Castle, two iconic Abbeys, and other key sites. There's also a nice path along the Orne River for 3.5 km and a gravel path along the Canal de Caen a la Mer for up to 14.5 km to the sea.
Lovely countryside in the Orne Valley. Best running option is to choose a section of the Vois Verte de la Suisse Normande, a multi-use path that runs from just south of Caen to Thury-Harcourt, following the Orne. Rolling hills, forests, open spaces.
Run the grounds of the most spectacular château in Normandy, located 14 km from Caen. One can do 3-4 km on paths around the Château's forests and gardens, or a longer tour that includes the Mue Valley's lovely landscape and the Château de Thaon.
Great running in this upscale seaside resort. Two great routes that can be run separately or combined are the 3 km promenade along Deauville Beach and a loop around Port-Deauville, including riverside paths and a promenade along Trouville Beach.
Lovely running in this charming town where the Seine meets the Channel. There's 12 km of riverfront paths, and paths around the picturesque harbor. Honfleur Beach is also great for running. Can also run across the Normandy Bridge to Le Havre!
An enjoyable 'runseeing' tour of France's second-largest port city, including the lighthouse, 2.5 km seafront promenade, paths around the port, and a jaunt through the city center. Can also run across the Normandy Bridge to Honfleur.
Nice running in this popular seaside resort. One can do a ~7 km waterfront run around the marina and along a beach promenade. There's also a nice run on the Promenade de Cap Fenet, which can be done separately or combined with the waterfront route.
A terrific 'runseeing' tour of this port and seaside resort city. Includes path along the marina, 1.5 km seafront promenade, the Château de Dieppe, and a jaunt through the city center.
Rouen is well-known for its picturesque old town, Cathédrale Notre-Dame, and Museum of Fine Arts. The best place to run is on paths along the Seine River. Up to 8 km between the Gustave-Flaubert Bridge and the Pierre Corneille Bridge.
The folks at Rouen Tourism have mapped two scenic routes incorporating historic manors and castles near Rouen, including some sections along the Seine and in the agricultural countryside.
Use this as an overview of Normandy's four huge regional parks. Those that are closest to our coastal routes are Boucles de la Seine and Marais du Cotentin et du Bessi. Vast opportunities for running on quiet rural roads, hiking trails, and cycle paths.
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Essentials
We've mapped routes extending 8 km (5 miles) east and 5 km (3 miles) west of town
East: gentle rolling terrain; West: hilly with uneven footing -- more of a trail run
Tourism office in town or one of the parking lots
From town, climb up the steep path/stairs to the top of the cliff to head east or west
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!