Seal watching in the Baie d'Authie: the complete guide

The Baie d'Authie is one of the few bays on the Côte d'Opale where you can watch seals in the wild all year round, with no need to book or take a boat. Two species settle on the sandbanks as the tide goes out: the common (harbour) seal, present year-round, and the grey seal, larger and mostly seen in winter. From the cottage, located at Le Pass. d'Authie, the bay is just a few minutes away on foot or by bike.

When to go: the role of the tide

Seals rest on the sandbanks exposed at low tide, generally in the two to three hours following high tide. This is the only window worth watching for: at high tide, they're out at sea and invisible from the shore. Tide times for Berck-sur-Mer or Le Crotoy, available online, help you plan your outing. Calm mornings and summer late afternoons offer the best light for photography.

Where to watch from

• Sentier des Garennes, 6 km from the cottage: one of the most renowned viewpoints over the bay and its seal colonies
• The dunes on the Fort-Mahon-Plage side, for a clear view of the busiest sandbanks
• Le Crotoy, in the neighbouring Baie de Somme, for a boat or kayak outing to meet the colonies up close

Rules to follow

Seals are wild, protected animals. The recommended viewing distance is at least 300 metres, with no direct approach, no noise, and dogs kept on a lead. A disturbed female may abandon her pup. Volunteers from the Picardie Nature association regularly raise awareness among visitors on the bay's beaches during pupping season, between May and July.

To make the most of your outing, the Parc du Marquenterre, 13 km away, is a great complement for wildlife watching in the bay, with its bird sanctuaries. Find all the distances and activities in the area on our Activities page.