COASTAL TOURING SPECIAL
NORTHERN FRANCE
Andrew and May Clark take in some of the rich coastal heritage
St-Valery-sur-Somme has always been one of our favourite tour destinations, because this was the first place that we ever visited in France.
On the Bay of the Somme, this fine old city is in a unique location, where water, marshland and dunes all meet – land and sea merge into one.
Floral displays
The compact centre has an air of untouched charm: old waterfront cottages, narrow cobbled streets and colourful floral displays add to its historic beauty.
A plentiful selection of speciality shops, restaurants and cafés, and the riverside boardwalk running the full length of the town, all add to the huge appeal of the place.
From the stone-built quayside, the Commandant Charcot sails regularly for pleasure trips around the beautiful bay. Alternatively, you could catch the 80-year-old Somme Bay Railway steam train, with open carriages, for a voyage of discovery along the banks of the Somme and beyond.
To the west, in a strategic elevated position, is the medieval walled town and St Martin's Church, which dates back to the 11th century. From the courtyard at the rear, you can see splendid views across the bay.
We pitched for the week at the five-star Château de Drancourt, a couple of miles inland.
Just outside the site, cycle paths connect most of the villages and beyond. A short distance away is scenic Le Hourdel, a small fishing harbour with a pebble beach.
These shores are also home to the largest seal pup colony in France. You can watch the seals basking at low tide, while you enjoy a picnic among the sand dunes.
A more energetic bicycle ridebreathtaking. The best day for this trip is Friday, when you can haggle for a bargain at the weekly market or enjoy lunch in one of the many harbourside eateries.
