Côte d’Opale: A Quick Foodie Escape to France in 35 Minutes
Oysters by the sea, a glass of French wine, local cheese and a proper change of scene: the Côte d’Opale is close enough for a spontaneous day out, with LeShuttle taking you from Folkestone to Calais in just 35 minutes.
There are trips to France that require a suitcase and a carefully planned itinerary. Then there is the Côte d’Opale.
Stretching along the northern French coast between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, the Côte d’Opale is a landscape of fishing villages, long beaches, seaside towns and chalk cliffs facing the English Channel. From Folkestone, it is close enough to make a day trip feel entirely feasible.
Leave in the morning, take the car onto LeShuttle and 35 minutes later you are in Calais. From there, the coast is an easy drive, with plenty of reasons to stop along the way.
Audresselles is a good first stop. The small fishing village is home to Le Retour des Flobards, where the menu centres on fresh fish and seafood. After lunch, walk along the coastline before getting back in the car.
Further along, Wimereux has a different character, with its Belle Époque villas and long seafront. At La Bourriche Wimereusienne, stop for oysters and a glass of white wine, then take a stroll along the water.
The food trail continues inland at Wierre-Effroy. Fromagerie Les Frères Bernard makes its cheeses on site using milk sourced entirely from the Côte d’Opale. Visitors can see the production area and taste cheeses including Sablé de Wissant, Fruité du Cap Gris-Nez and Écume de Wimereux.
Then on to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France’s leading fishing port. The fish market on Quai Gambetta sits beside the harbour, while the walled old town is close by.
Before heading back towards Calais, stop at Le Chais, an independent wine merchant that has been trading in Boulogne since 1956. Its selection includes French wines, champagnes and spirits, with cavistes on hand to offer advice.
Taking the car means there is room to bring some of it home. UK personal import allowances apply.
The route can be done in a day, or stretched into an overnight trip. The coastal road between Calais and Boulogne takes in Cap Blanc-Nez, Cap Gris-Nez, Audresselles and Wimereux, so there is plenty of scope for stopping along the way rather than simply driving from one destination to the next.
- Route: Folkestone to Calais with LeShuttle
- Crossing time: 35 minutes
- Fare: Day Trip & Overnight tickets from £59 each way per vehicle, including all passengers
- Suggested route: Calais → Audresselles → Wimereux → Wierre-Effroy → Boulogne-sur-Mer
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
