A mild and sometimes sunny climate
The average annual temperature on the Côte d'Opale and Baie de Somme is around 11°C. Winter is rather mild, with temperatures between 2 and 4°C, rarely below 0°C. On average, there are around twenty days of frost on the coast. However, winters can be difficult due to frequent rainfall and gale-force winds (over 130 km/h).
During the summer season, temperatures rise timidly above the 20°C mark on average, but there can be some pleasant surprises and northern "heatwaves"... The Côte d'Opale and the Baie de Somme can offer fine sunny days, albeit few in number (around 1,700 hours and almost 50 days of strong sunshine per year).
Rainfall is regular throughout the year, although it rains more frequently between November and March. Thermal amplitude is low. This is due to the presence of the sea, which protects the region from strong depressions. The oceanic character is more marked on the coasts than inland, so if you're in Lille or elsewhere inland and want to go to the Côte d'Opale or the Baie de Somme, you can take off one or two degrees to gauge the temperature on the coast. So pack a little wool!
Numerous reliefs mark the territory
The Côte d'Opale and the Baie de Somme offer a multitude of landscapes and landforms. Labelled a Grand Site de France since 2011, the Baie de Somme stretches over 70 km², from Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont in the north to the Pointe du Hourdel at Cayeux-sur-Mer in the south. A member of the world's most beautiful bays club since 1999, the Baie de Somme is best known for its ecological wealth. Part of the Parc du Marquenterre, its geological situation and remarkable flora make it a resting and feeding ground for waterfowl, shorebirds and seals, which can be seen basking on the bay's sandbanks.
There are many rivers in the area: the Aa, the Course and its valley of picturesque villages, mills and manor houses, the Liane, the Maye, the Wimereux... Some give their names to our most beautiful bays: the Authie, the Canche and, of course, the Somme.
The forests of the posh resorts of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage and Hardelot are a delight for hikers. Further inland, the forests of Guînes, Saint-Omer (Clairmarais), Crécy and Cise are ideal for walks. The 7 Valleys region also has a lot to offer. It covers 670 km² and 94 communes, or four communities of communes: l'Hesdinois, le Canton de Fruges, Le Val de Canche Authie, la Canche Ternoise.
Finally, the marais audomarois is one of the best-known marshes in the region. It's a marshy basin of 3,600 ha spread over 14 communes, and an extraordinary living space for walkers, boaters and fishermen, inhabited by a remarkable flora and fauna. In 2013, the marais audomarois was awarded the Man and Biosphere label by Unesco.
Alongside the marais audomarois, you can also enjoy a stroll through the Flemish marshes in the Nord department, at Nieurlet or the Balaçon marshes between Cucq and Berck, the Condette marsh regional nature reserve around Hardelot castle and the Crotoy marsh.
Magnificent beaches to get some fresh air
Of course, the Côte d'Opale and Baie de Somme are first and foremost seas and beaches that delight tourists and locals alike.
The North Sea and English Channel border the coast. An area of heavy shipping, oil exploitation and fishing, the North Sea is best known for its complex system of tides and currents bringing in the rich waters of the Atlantic. The English Channel borders Hauts-de-France, Normandy and Brittany. The density of maritime traffic is unrivalled in the world, with almost 20% of global traffic.
Three major ports stand out: Dunkirk (France's third largest port), Boulogne-sur-Mer (France's largest fishing port) and Calais (France's largest passenger port). Opposite these three giants, a number of smaller marinas dot the coastline, including Le Crotoy and Saint-Valery in the Somme, and Le Touquet in the Pas-de-Calais.
The beaches of the Côte d'Opale are sandy, extensive and welcoming. The beach at Bray-Dunes is the last resort before the Belgian border and the favorite of tourists from Lille in summer. This huge beach stretches over 15 kilometers. The beach at Dunkerque - Malo-les-Bains owes its reputation to the pretty period houses of Malo, but above all to its pretty, friendly seawall. The beach at Leffrinckoucke, a neighbor of the Malouin resort, has preserved its calm, natural setting. Further afield, Oye-Plage has remained in its natural state, a wild beach and refuge for migratory birds.
Then there are the 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 (note: pebbles replace sand).
