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Best Coastal Hikes in France

There are 1,661 hikes in France in our database that fit. They average 6.1 km and 175 m (574 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 336 km.

That is 11 percent of the 15,466 routes we map in France. They are shorter than the local average, 6.1 km against 11.7 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 175 m (574 ft) against 286 m (938 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Coastal walking is exposed, open and completely different in every wind direction. These routes keep the sea in view for most of their length. The mix is broad: 1184 are rated easy and 118 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Expert

Northern Route (Basque Country)

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · France

Distance
230 km
/ 143 mi
Elevation gain
5,050 m
Typical duration
61 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
Moderate

Les Ferrailles - Montjustin

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
10.1 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
222 m
Typical duration
2 hr 26 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Expert

De Saint-Raphaël à Rougon

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
105 km
/ 65.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,303 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Route Napoléon à pied

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
165 km
/ 102 mi
Elevation gain
3,624 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentier des Huit Vallées

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
242 km
/ 151 mi
Elevation gain
5,334 m
Typical duration
65 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentier du Littoral

Hauts-de-France · France

Distance
299 km
/ 186 mi
Elevation gain
1,523 m
Typical duration
73 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tour de l'Ubaye

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
156 km
/ 97.2 mi
Elevation gain
3,442 m
Typical duration
42 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tour du Queyras

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
111 km
/ 68.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,432 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Aurelia, Roquebrune - Mandelieu

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
91.7 km
/ 57.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,018 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

Aire-de-Côte

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
223 m
Typical duration
1 hr 57 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Circuit de Lugny

Parc national de forêts (cœur) · Bourgogne – Franche-Comté

Distance
10.9 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
239 m
Typical duration
2 hr 37 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Aurelia, St Maximin - Aix

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
47.3 km
/ 29.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,040 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Hard

Merindol - Vallis Jovina

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
27.8 km
/ 17.3 mi
Elevation gain
611 m
Typical duration
7 hr 5 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Le Sommet du Cousson

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
883 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Expert

Littoral du Léman

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
85.5 km
/ 53.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,881 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Expert

De Aix à Saint-Jurs

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
118 km
/ 73.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,599 m
Typical duration
31 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

De Saint-Jurs à Seyne

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
98.6 km
/ 61.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,170 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Hard

De La Durance Aux Pallières

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
31.6 km
/ 19.6 mi
Elevation gain
695 m
Typical duration
8 hr 7 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

GR 5c

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
25.1 km
/ 15.6 mi
Elevation gain
552 m
Typical duration
6 hr 22 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

Sentier de grande randonnée 9A

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
12.8 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
282 m
Typical duration
3 hr 6 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Lou Camin Nissart

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
44.8 km
/ 27.8 mi
Elevation gain
985 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Expert

Balcons de Serre-Ponçon

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
170 km
/ 106 mi
Elevation gain
3,747 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentier de grande randonnée 2013

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
336 km
/ 209 mi
Elevation gain
7,391 m
Typical duration
90 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tour de la Dent de Ratier

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
69.1 km
/ 42.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,520 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tour de la Montagne de Lure

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
87.5 km
/ 54.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,926 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Sentier de Royan à Grasse

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
99 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentier de Royan à Grasse

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
11.8 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
259 m
Typical duration
2 hr 51 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Variante Gréolières

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
60 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D55

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
983 m
Typical duration
4 hr 21 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Via Alpina Blue D57

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
12.5 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
2 hr 37 min
  • Coastal
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D58

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,234 m
Typical duration
6 hr 2 min
  • Coastal
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D59

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
16.1 km
/ 10.0 mi
Elevation gain
656 m
Typical duration
4 hr 22 min
  • Coastal
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D60

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
18.0 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,342 m
Typical duration
5 hr 51 min
  • Coastal
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D61

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
24.5 km
/ 15.2 mi
Elevation gain
725 m
Typical duration
6 hr 28 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Via Alpina Red R126

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
226 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Coastal
Hard

Via Alpina Red R127

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
16.6 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
365 m
Typical duration
4 hr 3 min
  • Coastal

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
E2 Ouest France: Section Route du LittoralHauts-de-France96.3 km2,118 m25 hrExpertApril to October
Northern Route (Basque Country)Nouvelle-Aquitaine230 km5,050 m61 hrExpertApril to October
Les Ferrailles - MontjustinProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur10.1 km222 m2 hr 26 minModerateApril to October
De Saint-Raphaël à RougonProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur105 km2,303 m27 hrExpertApril to October
Du Lavandou à Notre-Dame des AngesProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur39.3 km865 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Route Napoléon à piedProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur165 km3,624 m44 hrExpertApril to October
Sentier Littoral Nord AtlantiqueMartinique47.6 km1,048 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Sentier des Huit ValléesProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur242 km5,334 m65 hrExpertApril to October
Sentier du LittoralHauts-de-France299 km1,523 m73 hrExpertApril to October
Tour de l'UbayeProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur156 km3,442 m42 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with E2 Ouest France: Section Route du Littoral, Northern Route (Basque Country), Les Ferrailles - Montjustin. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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