To explore Normandy, admire the wild coastline of La Manche and enjoy the sea air, the ideal option is to take the GR®223. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or looking for a leisurely walk, the Customs Officers’ Path is for you. Not sure where to stay? We can help you choose!
The GR®223, or Customs Officers’ Path, in Normandy
The GR®223, also known as the Customs Officers’ Path (or Coastal Path), is one of hikers’ favorite routes. It follows the English Channel coastline and the Normandy coast for 446 kilometers, running from the Pays d’Auge to the Cotentin. Until the early 20th century, it was used by customs officers responsible for anti-smuggling surveillance.
Today, the GR®223 takes lovers of sweeping views and challenges alike to discover unspoiled nature and exceptional places. The Customs Officers’ Path includes 23 stages of 14 to 25 kilometers, which you can join at any time, in any season. It’s up to you to choose one or more loops of this iconic route on the La Hague peninsula.
You’ll be able to admire sublime limestone cliffs carved by the waves, typical dry-stone walls, and breathe in the salty sea air. Sunsets over the coastal plains blanketed with colorful wildflowers are stunning.
More than just a hiking trail, the GR®223 is an experience not to be missed.
A few must-sees along the route
The Customs Officers’ Path winds through UNESCO-listed sites and unmissable places—here’s a small selection:
- For nature lovers and fans of sweeping views. The Baie des Veys and, of course, the Mont Saint-Michel. The polders, the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes Regional Nature Park, the protected site of Nez de Jobourg, and the Côte des Isles.
- For architecture enthusiasts and lovers of beautiful stonework. Tatihou Island with its fort, its Vauban towers and its museum. The forts of the Rade de Cherbourg, Cap Levi or Île du Large. Port Racine, Carentan, Saint-Côme-du-Mont (12th-century church, manor house…), typical villages (Isigny-sur-Mer, Brévands…) and the manor farms around Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.
- For the nostalgic and history buffs. The D-Day Landing Beaches (Utah Beach, Omaha…), museums and memorials. Not to mention Sainte-Mère-Église, the first town liberated at the end of World War II, and its famous church steeple.
Hikes with the option to rest at a campsite…
If you’re traveling with family, it’s best to plan accommodation close to your walks. Here are two stages of the GR®223, pleasant and easy, just a stone’s throw from Camping Utah Beach, with a heated indoor pool and water slides. Remember to book a pitch for your tent or accommodation (mobile home, chalet, Premium tent or something more unusual, Camp’Etoile and Coco Sweet) at this stopover campsite for hiking in Normandy.
- Carentan to Utah Beach (19 km / 5 hrs). This route will take you to discover marshes, dunes, cliffs, and typical coastal villages. Take a break at the Regional Nature Park Marshes Visitor Center. It’s also a chance to reconnect with history (D-Day sites, Landing Museum…).
- Utah Beach to Sainte-Mère-Église (15 km / 4 hrs). This deeply moving route, which passes through Sainte-Mère-Église, won’t leave anyone indifferent. It’s also an excellent way to discover history differently.
Happy hiking to everyone, and don’t forget to bring season-appropriate clothing and good footwear.