A walk in the Parc du Marquenterre and the great beaches of the Somme

To the north of the Bay of the Somme, Picardy's coastline becomes sandy, with beaches backed by a thick band of dunes covered in forest, which evolves into marshland as it moves inland. The Marquenterre Park, a large 200-hectare protected area in the municipality of Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont, is typical of this region.

This park is renowned throughout Europe for its rich ornithological diversity. An unspoilt ecosystem, it remains a haven for almost 300 species of bird, including many migratory birds, which stop here on their long flight or return each year to nest in this privileged environment. It's a must-see for anyone who enjoys watching birds in their natural habitat!

Armed with a good pair of binoculars, set off along the visitor trail through the park, dotted with several observation posts. This is an itinerary you can take on your own, or in the company of a nature guide: at the Maison du Parc, at the entrance to Marquenterre, activities and outings are offered throughout the year.

There's no ideal time to see them, but each season has its own birds, as they migrate and nest. So it's always a pleasure to spot a whistling duck, a greylag goose, a heron or a stork, a white spoonbill or a great egret... the hardest part will be recognising them all!

From Marquenterre all the way to the northern border of the Somme, at the pretty Baie d'Authie (known, like the Baie de Somme, for its seal population), the sand stretches for miles along the coastline. This is the Opal Coast, and the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful.

Constantly evolving, they always offer a different experience. At low tide, the sea retreats into the distance, leaving miles of sandy foreshore in the open air, planted in places with bouchots (mussel beds): this is where the Bay of the Somme mussel is bred. During the spring tides, the scenery changes completely, with the foam from the waves licking the high sand dunes, a veritable protective cordon. Add to this the variations in the weather, with skies ranging from bright blue to leaden grey, and it's impossible to get enough of Picardy's seascapes!

Numerous hiking trails cross the forest to reach these wild beaches, such as the Bout des Crocs trail: in its entirety, it takes you around Marquenterre to cover several kilometres on the sand, then through the dunes, forest and marshes... divided into sections to limit the difficulty!

On foot or by bike, it's easy to explore this superb natural region from the two small seaside resorts to the north of the Bay of the Somme: Quend-Plage and Fort-Mahon. Both are lively in summer, but quiet the rest of the year. What they have in common is their immense sandy beach, typical of the Opal Coast.

When the sea retreats, the wet sand is the perfect place to pick up speed and enjoy the thrills of a sand yacht: it's time to test your driving skills on the beach!