Le Hourdel Seal Colony
Pointe du Hourdel
A shingle headland and small fishing port at the southern end of the Baie de Somme, where seal colonies bask on the sandbanks at low tide.
Le Hourdel is a small fishing port and shingle headland on the southern side of the bay mouth, with a small lighthouse. At low tide, dozens to hundreds of harbour seals and grey seals often sunbathe on the sandbanks at the bay mouth, making it the easiest place to see seals in the Baie de Somme. A viewing point stands on the headland, and in summer nature conservation volunteers set up telescopes and give talks. Please keep more than 300 m away, do not approach with dogs, and stay especially quiet during the pup season from June to August. You can also join a kayak trip or a guided seal-watching walk. It is about 5 km north of Cayeux-sur-Mer and about a 15-minute drive from Saint-Valery.
Opening hours
All day (tide-dependent)
Nearby sights
- Parc du Marquenterre
- Le Crotoy
- Baie de Somme
- Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
- Cayeux-sur-Mer
- Chemin de fer de la Baie de Somme
- Rue: Chapelle du Saint-Esprit & Belfry
- Chinese Cemetery of Nolette