Start
Bray-Dunes
Bray-Dunes is served by the free DK’Bus network of the Dunkirk urban area, which has Dunkirk SNCF station as one of its interchange hubs.
299 kmDistance
13Stages
750 mAscent
143 mHigh point
241Accommodation
The profile
From Bray-Dunes to Le Tréport, over 299 km.
0 m100 m200 m0 km50 km100 km150 km200 km250 km12345678910111213High point 143 m
The GR120 at a glance
The GR120, the “Hauts-de-France coast path”, runs along the entire coast of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Somme. It starts at the Belgian border, from La Panne or Bray-Dunes depending on the FFRandonnée route sheets, and reaches Le Tréport, in Seine-Maritime, where the GR21 to Le Havre begins. It is the northernmost coastal path in France.
The route alternates between broad, very different landscapes. In the north, the Flanders dunes and the Platier d’Oye nature reserve open onto long beaches. Next comes the Grand Site des Deux Caps and the bay of Wissant: on a clear day, you can make out the English cliffs at Dover. Further south, the path passes through Wimereux and Boulogne-sur-Mer, then Équihen-Plage and its upturned boats, the “quilles en l’air”, the Écault dunes dotted with blockhouses, the Canche bay, Le Touquet and Berck, before the Authie bay, where grey seals and harbour seals can be watched from a distance. The Baie de Somme and Le Tréport, lively with its fishing port, bring up the rear.
The terrain is gentle and the FFRandonnée rates the route as moderate: the difficulties come mainly from the sand, the wind and the length of the beach stages. The many towns and seaside resorts make it possible to walk it in sections of a few days, for example between Wimereux and Berck-sur-Mer.
Highlights
- The Grand Site des Deux Caps, with views of the English cliffs on a clear day.
- Dune systems and vast beaches, from Flanders to the Authie bay.
- Grey seals and harbour seals to watch from a distance in the Authie bay.
- Towns full of character along the way: Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Touquet, Berck, Le Tréport.
- An unbroken coastline: the GR120 continues as the GR21 in Normandy.
Practical information
Finish
Le Tréport
Le Tréport has an SNCF station.
When to go
- J
- F
- M
- A
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- D
The coast can be walked all year round, and MonGR even suggests a winter walk between Wimereux and Berck-sur-Mer. From spring to autumn, the long days make the beach and dune stages easier.
Difficulty
Moderate
Gentle terrain and a difficulty rated moderate by the FFRandonnée; walking on sand and the frequent wind make some stages more tiring than they look.
Accommodation
2 gîtes, 1 youth hostel, 36 B&Bs and 127 hotels
Accommodation is concentrated in the towns and seaside resorts along the coast (Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Touquet, Berck and Le Tréport in particular). In summer, it is best to book. The FFRandonnée topoguide “Littoral des Hauts-de-France, de la Flandre à la Baie de Somme” describes the route in detail.
Rules to know
The Urban Planning Code (article R111-33) prohibits wild camping on the seashore and in listed or registered sites, unless an exemption is granted. The path crosses nature reserves and fragile dune systems: stay on the waymarked route and follow the signs specific to each site.
Water and supplies
The towns and seaside resorts let you stock up regularly. Between two towns, the path follows dunes and beaches with no shelter: carry water and something to protect you from the wind and the sun.
The GR120 on the map
The 13 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
| Stage | Route | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bray-Dunes → Dunkerque | 22.1 km | 0 m | 0 m |
| 2 | Dunkerque → Bierne | 16.3 km | 10 m | 10 m |
| 3 | Bierne → Bourbourg | 24.3 km | 0 m | 0 m |
| 4 | Bourbourg → Waldam | 26.6 km | 0 m | 0 m |
| 5 | Waldam → Escalles | 24.3 km | 130 m | 0 m |
| 6 | Escalles → Ambleteuse | 23.4 km | 100 m | 210 m |
| 7 | Ambleteuse → Le Mouton Blanc | 21.5 km | 160 m | 130 m |
| 8 | Le Mouton Blanc → Étaples | 24.4 km | 130 m | 180 m |
| 9 | Étaples → Berck | 23.1 km | 10 m | 10 m |
| 10 | Berck → Fort-Mahon-Plage | 22 km | 10 m | 10 m |
| 11 | Fort-Mahon-Plage → Morlay | 25.3 km | 0 m | 0 m |
| 12 | Morlay → Cayeux-sur-Mer | 24.7 km | 0 m | 0 m |
| 13 | Cayeux-sur-Mer → Le Tréport | 20.8 km | 210 m | 210 m |
Where to stay
241 places to stay near the route, from refuges to campsites.
Live updates
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
- Check the tide times before walking on the beaches, and never set out across a bay on foot away from the waymarked path.
- Watch the seals in the Authie bay from a distance, without trying to approach them, and keep dogs on a lead.
- Stay on the waymarked paths in the dunes, whose vegetation protects them from erosion.
- Wear shoes that are comfortable in sand, and low gaiters for the beach stages.
- For a first taste, the section from Wimereux to Berck-sur-Mer offers cliffs, dunes, bays and seaside resorts in just a few days.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR120 start: La Panne or Bray-Dunes?
The FFRandonnée route sheets vary: one has the GR120 starting from La Panne, in Belgium, another from Bray-Dunes, on the Belgian border. The two towns almost touch. Either way, the path ends at Le Tréport, in Seine-Maritime.
Is the GR120 difficult?
The FFRandonnée rates it as moderate. The terrain remains gentle; it is mainly walking on sand, the wind and the length of some stages that call for stamina.
Can you see seals on the GR120?
Yes: in the Authie bay, grey seals and harbour seals can be watched from a distance, with a little luck, according to MonGR. Keep your distance and keep dogs on a lead.
Which section of the GR120 should you choose for a few days?
MonGR describes a walk from Wimereux to Berck-sur-Mer, via Boulogne-sur-Mer, Équihen-Plage, the Écault dunes, the Canche bay and Le Touquet. The area around the Grand Site des Deux Caps and the bay of Wissant is another highlight.
Can you bivouac on the GR120?
Wild camping is prohibited on the seashore and in listed or registered sites, unless an exemption is granted (article R111-33 of the Urban Planning Code). Plan to use campsites or accommodation in the coastal towns.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 10 November 2026.