Experiences and adventures
The best land activities in Normandy: walking, cycling and horse riding
Explore nature to appreciate Normandy’s many treasures. Join us for a tour of the region with Huttopia!
Experiences and adventures
Explore nature to appreciate Normandy’s many treasures. Join us for a tour of the region with Huttopia!
The range of land activities in Normandy is particularly rich, making this destination ideal for outdoor sports experiences. The region’s terrain and landscapes are wonderfully diverse: beaches, cliffs, forests, hedgerows, countryside, and hills.
Hiking and trail running are perfect land activities for discovering Normandy. There are numerous marked trails through nature. Between sea, countryside, and hills, you have a wide range of choices.
The Suisse Normande (Norman Switzerland) is a region of Normandy named for its rolling green landscapes reminiscent of Switzerland. These are perfect for walking activities among wooded landscapes.
The Perche Natural Park, in the Orne department, will lead you to discover the hedgerow countryside and through Norman forests.
Along the coast, you’ll discover the GR21, voted in 2020 as the French people’s favorite hiking trail. The route follows the Channel cliffs between Le Tréport and Le Havre.
This beautiful region in northern France has no shortage of cultural points of interest. These walks, accessible to all, allow you to combine gentle physical activity with discovery.
The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel awaits you to admire one of the country’s most visited tourist sites. Also on the coast, the D-Day beaches offer the opportunity to walk through a landmark site of national history.
With family or friends, orientation courses give you the chance to discover the heritage in challenge form. Many digital tools and walking guides will facilitate your exploration.
The Suisse Normande is an exceptional spot for mountain biking: varied terrain, technical trails, spectacular views, and wooded landscapes. It’s accessible to all levels, from peaceful nature rides to technical sport.
Clécy, in Calvados, is the starting point for several hundred kilometers of trails marked according to their difficulty. Pont-d’Ouilly also offers a wide variety of routes for everyone. Its La Roche d’Oëtre circuit, 21 km long, will lead you through the splendid landscapes of inland Normandy. If you’re traveling without your bike, numerous rental options are available.
Our campsites offer bike rental services : mountain bikes or standard bikes, electric bikes, baby seats, and child trailers – you’ll have plenty of choices for exploring the region’s paths by bicycle!
If you want to experience Normandy’s land activities by bike, the greenways and cycle paths will delight you.
These routes, suitable for mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, or road bikes, are numerous throughout the region.
La Vélo Francette is a 600 km route starting from the D-Day beaches at Ouistreham. It crosses Normandy all the way to La Rochelle.
La Vélomaritime follows the coastline. It will lead you to the region’s remarkable sites: the Étretat cliffs, the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, and the history-rich beaches.
The Seine à Vélo route connects Paris to Le Havre and Deauville through more than 500 km of cycle paths.
For an immersion in the equestrian world on the famous Deauville beach, treat yourself to a sulky experience. This small two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage offers an unforgettable activity. Reviews unanimously praise the sensations and adrenaline provided during the session.
During the experience, you board a tandem sulky alongside a professional driver. This supervised experience safely introduces you to the unique sensations of harness racing. It’s accessible to everyone over 1.40 m tall.
How to book? You can make your reservation directly online. It’s advisable to book in advance, especially during school holidays. This activity is available year-round but remains subject to weather conditions and tide schedules.
To extend your day in Deauville, why not try another land sport: golf? Whether alone, with family, or friends, the Golf Saint-Gatien is open every day. You can book a round or an introductory session.
The Golf d’Étretat, near the famous cliffs, offers the opportunity to play this sport in a popular coastal destination. Along this coastline, numerous water activities are available to complement your stay in Normandy.
Less than an hour from Mont-Saint-Michel, the Golf de Granville (Manche) offers courses in immediate proximity to the sea. You’ll enjoy the sea spray during your leisure time.
Discover Norman nature through climbing! The Suisse Normande stretches between the departments of Calvados and Orne. It’s a popular destination for enthusiasts of this sport, as it can be practiced in the heart of typical landscapes.
Its natural sites are suitable for all levels. Among them, La Roche d’Oëtre is a cliff located in Saint-Philbert-sur-Orne. During your ascent, you’ll enjoy a unique panorama over the Rouvre gorges.
At Pont d’Ouilly, the leisure center has a climbing structure for both beginners and experienced climbers looking for a challenge.
Climbing sites often complement their offerings with other sports activities for the whole family. At La Roche d’Oëtre, 10 treetop adventure courses allow everyone to admire nature from the treetops. Rope bridges, zip lines, and Tarzan jumps will delight thrill-seekers.
At Clécy, in Calvados, via ferrata enthusiasts can enjoy a 70 m elevation gain over a 250 m course. To finish in style, you’ll cross the Orne valley on a giant 400 m zip line!
The richness, diversity, and complementarity of land activities in Normandy makes it a prime tourist destination. The Norman region awaits you to practice numerous sports in contact with nature and experience adventures in the heart of its remarkable landscapes.
Ready to explore Normandy? Book your stay with Huttopia!
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