La Manche in winter

With wild landscapes, gourmet pleasures and time to unwind, winter is a wonderful season!

If you’re struggling with the cold, the shorter days and winter fatigue, then we have just the solution for you: relax, unwind and boost your energy in La Manche! With crashing waves, wind whistling in the boat sails, walks at the edge of the world, magical light and exceptional products, La Manche has something for everyone, even in winter.

So wrap up warm and follow the guide. Here are our 10 suggestions for activities as well as our advice on how to enjoy a different side of La Manche in winter.

Enjoy the peace of the white marshes

Throughout the seasons, the appearance of the Cotentin marshes changes. In winter, the marshes “turn white” as the water covers the Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin Regional Nature Park. The grasslands are transformed into a huge body of water, making it a paradise for birds. During this season, the landscape is different every day, depending on the light and the water level.

Tip: head to the marshes at daybreak. The sky and the water merge and the reflection of the first daylight is well worth a look.

The marais du Cotentin

Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud

Tuck into oysters and scallops

Winter is also the festive season and the opportunity to try some of the famous local products. Tuck into delicious oysters from La Manche, which are bathed all year-round by the highest tides in Europe. Or try the star of festive tables: scallops. Visit the producers of La Manche, who will be delighted to advise you and to share some of their recipes.

Sea products

Party at the unmissable carnival in Granville

Every year, more than 130 000 colourful revellers and around 40 floats fill the streets of Granville. With parades, concerts, a confetti battle, a children’s disco, the Bal à Papa ball and the Intrigues, prepare for five days of carnival madness! This event is a real institution in Granville, and since 2016 has been on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

The carnival in Granville

Try sand yachting and wingfoiling

Outdoor activities are also possible in winter. Head to the beach, where you can try sand yachting all year round. In winter, the winds are often perfect for this sport, and it’s a great opportunity to get some fresh air and exercise.

For the bravest among you, why not grab your wetsuit and try wingfoiling? Halfway between windsurfing and surfing, wingfoiling feels like you’re flying above the water. Accessible to everyone, you can try this enjoyable boardsport all year-round.

Watersports

Cross the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel

Fancy a unique activity? Then put your water shoes on, wrap up warm and prepare for a magical adventure. In winter, there won’t be many other walkers, and the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel is almost deserted. It’s a great time to rediscover this wonderful place and to enjoy its peace and quiet. If it’s really cold, the bay might be covered in frost, and can sometimes even turn into a gigantic ice rink: a completely unforgettable experience!

Crossing the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel

Relax in a jacuzzi by the sea

Donville-les-Bains

Sometimes in winter you just want to relax, unwind and look after yourself, so head to the Prévithal thalassotherapy centre in Donville-les-Bains. Enjoy a thalasso break, a treatment day or an afternoon in the marine spa, and recharge your batteries as you’re pampered with a view of Chausey Islands.

Prévithal

Go on a winter hike at the edge of the world

the tour of La Hague

To begin this walk, head to Port Racine, known as the “smallest harbour in France”. Follow the coastal path towards the Cap de la Hague. In winter, the GR®223 hiking trail is much calmer, and you can enjoy the fresh air as you take in the incredible colours of the sea. Once you arrive at Cap de la Hague, stop for a well-deserved break and admire the view. On the way back, you have the choice. Either turn round and you’ll see that the view is completely different, or cut through Auderville and Saint-Germain-des-Vaux to discover another side to La Hague: it’s charming little villages. A 10 km walk that feels like a world apart.

The route of the walk

Dive into the magic of Christmas

With markets, activities and shows, winter is also about the magic of Christmas. The towns and villages of La Manche turn on their Christmas lights, and it’s a great time to stroll around with your family and enjoy the festive atmosphere. In Coutances, you can watch a show on the façade of the cathedral, while in Cherbourg, the Christmas market lights up the Place de Gaulle. In Granville, there are street shows and parades in the town centre, and further away, Mont Saint-Michel is dressed up in its festive best.

Watch the waves crashing during winter storms

Winter often brings storms and high winds in La Manche. It’s the perfect time to watch the waves crashing on the seawalls and cliffs. The show is even more impressive during the spring tides, when the water level is higher. Whether in Goury near the lifeboat station, in Carteret at La Potinière beach, or in Granville at Le Plat Gousset, it’s always a special sight! But make sure you stay safe and don’t get too close to the waves.

La Manche in live

Warm up in a tearoom

What could be better after a cold winter walk than warming up in a lovely tearoom with a hot chocolate and a piece of cake? Treat yourself to some of the famous parachute shaped biscuits in Sainte-Mère-Eglise, a piece of lemon cake at Ponpon Café in Cherbourg, or some carrot cake at Les Pipelettes in Coutances.

Tearoom