GR223GR223 Normandy coast path and Tour of the Cotentin
From the Seine estuary to Mont-Saint-Michel, the GR223 strings together seaside resorts, D-Day landing beaches, the wild headlands of the Cotentin and tidal inlets.
628 km27 stages2,900 m ascentHigh point 149 mHonfleur → Mont-Saint-Michel
-100 m0 m100 m200 m0 km100 km200 km300 km400 km500 km600 km1510152025High point 149 m
Elevation profile: from -2 m to 137 m over 627.9 km.
The GR223 at a glance
The GR223, the “Normandy coast path”, follows the Normandy coastline from Honfleur, on the Seine estuary, to Mont-Saint-Michel, where it joins the Breton GR34. It crosses the Calvados and then the Manche, and extends the GR21 along the Alabaster Coast, to which it is linked by the Pont de Normandie: together, the two paths form a long coastal route across the whole of Normandy.
The route often changes character. The Côte Fleurie lines up its seaside resorts, from Trouville and Deauville to Houlgate and Cabourg. The Côte de Nacre, between Ouistreham and Grandcamp-Maisy, is home to the 1944 D-Day landing beaches. Next comes the Tour of the Cotentin: the marshes of the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes Regional Nature Park, the Val de Saire, Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue and its Vauban towers, Barfleur and the Gatteville lighthouse, then Cherbourg. La Hague offers moorland, cliffs and small harbours such as Port Racine. The west coast unrolls beaches, dunes and tidal inlets as far as Carteret and Granville, before the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The terrain is moderate, except for the steeper coastline of La Hague. The main constraints lie elsewhere: the overall length, the tides that cover some sections and the erosion that eats away at dunes and paths. MonGR suggests many sections of a few days, easy to reach from the railway stations of the Manche.
Highlights
A great variety of coastline: Côte Fleurie resorts, D-Day landing beaches, marshes, headlands and tidal inlets of the Cotentin.
Memorial sites of the 1944 D-Day landings, between Ouistreham and Grandcamp-Maisy.
The wild landscapes of La Hague, with moorland, cliffs and small harbours.
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the route: Tatihou and Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, then Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay.
A rare continuity: the GR21 to the north-east, the GR34 at Mont-Saint-Michel.
Practical information
Start
Honfleur
Honfleur can be reached by coach from Le Havre or Caen on the regional Nomad network, which serves the town’s bus station.
Finish
Mont-Saint-Michel
Pontorson SNCF station is the closest to Mont-Saint-Michel. In the Manche, the stations at Avranches, Carentan, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Coutances, Granville and Valognes, along with Manéo and Keolis Emeraude coaches, let you join or leave the path along the way.
When to go
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The GR223 can be walked in any season. Periods of heavy rain make the ground muddy, and spring tides mean checking the coefficients, especially in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Difficulty
Moderate
A path with no technical difficulty and mostly gentle terrain; La Hague is more rugged, and crossing the tidal inlets means taking the tides into account.
Accommodation
2 gîtes, 38 B&Bs, 199 hotels and 135 campsites
Hotels, B&Bs and campsites are concentrated in the seaside resorts and harbours; there are also farm campsites. The FFRandonnée topoguide to the Normandy coast lists accommodation, restaurants, tourist offices and transport. In summer, on the Côte Fleurie and the Côte de Nacre, it is best to book.
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 fragile dunes and grazed salt meadows: stay on the waymarked route, close gates behind you and keep dogs on a lead.
Water and supplies
Outside the towns, the path crosses marshes, dunes and moorland: carry water for the day. Some sections run along road verges, where you need to stay alert. Before setting off, check for any diversions: storms cause the coastline to retreat, sometimes cutting the path.
The GR223 on the map
The 27 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Consult the tide tables: in the tidal inlets of the west coast of the Cotentin, some sections are submerged during spring tides, from a coefficient of about 95.
Where a high-tide variant is waymarked, take it when the coefficient is high; the path can stay wet for several days after a spring tide.
Never cross the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel on foot off the path without a guide: the tide comes in fast there and the ground is treacherous.
Bring waterproof footwear for the marshes and salt meadows, which are often wet.
Split the route into sections linked to a railway station: Carentan, Valognes, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Granville or Pontorson.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR223 start: Honfleur or Ouistreham?
According to MonGR, the GR223 starts from Honfleur, on the Seine estuary. Ouistreham marks the start of the Côte de Nacre, which the path then follows westwards. The path ends at Mont-Saint-Michel, where the GR34 begins.
How do you link the GR21 and the GR223?
The two paths are linked by the Pont de Normandie, which crosses the Seine estuary between the Le Havre area and the Honfleur area. Together, they form a continuous route from Le Tréport to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Do the tides affect walking on the GR223?
Yes, in places. In the tidal inlets of the west coast of the Cotentin, some sections can be submerged during spring tides, around ten days a year according to Manche Tourisme. High-tide variants exist in some areas. In the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, always check the tide times.
Can you bivouac on the GR223?
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). Campsites, including farm campsites, remain the simplest option.
Which section of the GR223 should you choose for a few days?
MonGR suggests many sections: the Bessin via the D-Day landing beaches, from Arromanches-les-Bains to Vierville-sur-Mer, a loop around La Hague from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, or the end of the route from Granville to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 10 November 2026.
