A mild and sometimes sunny climate
The average annual temperature on the Opal Coast and the Bay of the Somme is about 11°C. Winter is rather mild, with temperatures between 2 and 4 °C, rarely below 0 °C. On average, there are about twenty days of frost on the coast. However, winters are qualified as difficult because of the frequent rains and the gales which can be violent (more than 130 km/h).
During the summer season, the temperature is timidly above 20°C on average, but there can be nice surprises and northern "heat waves"... The Côte d'Opale and the Bay of the Somme can offer beautiful sunny days, although few in number (about 1,700 hours and nearly 50 days of strong sunshine per year).
Rainfall is regular throughout the year, although it rains more frequently between November and March. The thermal amplitude is low. This is due to the presence of the sea which protects the region from strong depressions. The oceanic character being more marked on the coasts than inland, if you are in Lille or elsewhere in the country and you want to go to the Opal Coast or the Bay of the Somme, you can take off one or two degrees to evaluate the temperature on the coast! So bring a little wool!
Numerous reliefs mark the territory
The Opal Coast and the Bay of the Somme offer a multitude of reliefs and landscapes. Labelled as a "Grand Site de France" since 2011, the Bay of the Somme covers 70 km², from Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont in the north to the Pointe du Hourdel in Cayeux-sur-Mer in the south. If since 1999, it is part of the club of the most beautiful bays in the world, the Bay of the Somme is especially recognized for its ecological wealth. Included in the Marquenterre Park, by its geological situation and its remarkable flora, it offers indeed a place of rest and feeding to water birds, waders, but also to seals, which can be seen basking on the sandbanks of the bay.
There are many rivers in the area, the Aa, the Course and its valley populated with picturesque villages, mills and manors, the Liane, the Maye, the Wimereux... Some of them give their names to our most beautiful bays, the Authie, the Canche, or of course the Somme.
The forests of the posh resorts of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage or Hardelot are a joy for hikers. Further inland, the forests of Guînes, Saint-Omer (Clairmarais), Crécy and Cise promise beautiful walks. The country of the 7 valleys is also very interesting. It covers 670 km² and 94 municipalities, or four communities of municipalities: Hesdinois, the Canton of Fruges, Val de Canche Authie, Canche Ternoise.
Finally, the marshes of the Audomarois are among the best known in the region. It is a marshy basin of 3,600 ha spread over 14 municipalities and an extraordinary living space for walkers, on foot or by boat, and for fishermen, inhabited by a remarkable fauna and flora. In 2013, the Audomarois marshes obtained the Man and Biosphere label awarded by Unesco.
Besides the marshes of the audomarois, you can also enjoy a walk in the Flemish marshes in the department of the North, in Nieurlet or in the marshes of Balaçon between Cucq and Berck, in the regional nature reserve of the marshes of Condette around the castle of Hardelot and in the marshes of Crotoy.
Magnificent beaches to get some fresh air
Of course, the Opal Coast and the Bay of the Somme are above all seas and beaches, which make tourists and locals happy.
The North Sea and the English Channel border the coast. A zone of strong maritime transit, oil exploitation and fishing, the North Sea is especially known for its complex system of tides and currents bringing the rich waters of the Atlantic. The English Channel, on the other hand, borders the Hauts-de-France, Normandy and Brittany regions. The density of maritime traffic is unparalleled in the world, with nearly 20% of world traffic.
Three major ports stand out: Dunkirk (third largest French port), Boulogne-sur-Mer (the largest fishing port in France) and finally Calais, the largest French passenger port. Opposite these three giants, a few small marinas dot the coast, such as Le Crotoy and Saint-Valery in the Somme or Le Touquet in the Pas-de-Calais.
The beaches of the Opal Coast are sandy, extensive and welcoming. The beach of Bray-Dunes is the last resort before the Belgian border and the favorite of tourists from Lille during the summer. It is huge and stretches over 15 kilometers. The beach of Dunkerque - Malo-les-Bains owes its reputation to the beautiful houses of Malo, but especially to its pretty and friendly dike. Neighboring the Malo resort, the beach of Leffrinckoucke has preserved a natural and calm environment. Further on, Oye-Plage has remained in its natural state and is a wild beach and a refuge for migratory birds.
Then follow the very popular beaches of Calais, Wissant (located between the two capes Gris-nez and Blanc-Nez), Wimereux, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Portel, Hardelot, Le Touquet Paris-Plage, Stella-Plage, Merlimont, Berck-sur-Mer, Fort-Mahon-Plage, Le Crotoy, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and finally Cayeux-sur-Mer (beware, pebbles replace sand).
