Run the White Cliffs of Étretat

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. 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.

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.