Walking the GR800 footpath
- 227KILOMETRES
- 10DAY HIKE
- 30VIEWPOINTS
The GR800
THE MOST RECENT GR (LONG DISTANCE FOOTPATH)
In 2018, the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre (national hiking federation) officially approved a new GR (long distance footpath): the GR800. It runs alongside the river Somme, from its source at Fonsomme in the Aisne department to its mouth at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, in the Baie de Somme. Waymarking was put in place by the Somme and Hauts-de-France committees. 227 kilometres through lovely landscapes with their wealth of history and heritage.
The Federation has published a topo-guide, "Au fil de la Somme", and the GR800 achieved third place in the My Favourite GR competition.
Stages on your hike
A RIVER IN 10 DAYS
- Jour 1 : Fonsommes (source of the river) to Saint-Quentin in the Aisne department - 15.4 km
- Jour 2 : Saint-Quentin to Ham - 26.3 km
- Jour 3 : Ham to Péronne - 29.9 km
- Jour 4 : Péronne to Froissy - 21 km
- Jour 5 : Froissy to Corbie - 23 km
- Jour 6 : Corbie to Amiens - 19 km
- Jour 7 : Amiens to Picquigny - 20 km
- Jour 8 : Picquigny to Long - 22 km
- Jour 9 : Long to Abbeville - 23.5 km
- Jour 10 : Abbeville to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme - 17 km
History and heritage
LITTLE GEMS ON EVERY REACH
In the east of the Somme, on its border with the Aisne department, where this journey starts, the history of the First World War predominates. The Historial de la Grande Guerre (Great War Museum) at Péronne is highly recommended for those interested in this subject. The GR800 also goes through the lovely city adopted by Jules Verne, sometimes called the 'Venice of the North' with its many canals in the old town. The Gothic cathedral and Hortillonnages marsh gardens are absolutely essential viewing. Not far from Amiens, at Samara, you can go back over 600,000 years of human history in this centre for history and archaeology. The adventure goes on with superb viewpoints over the valley and charming villages, such as Long and Eaucourt-sur-Somme, before the grand finale that is the Baie de Somme where you can see the river flowing into one of the loveliest bays in the world.
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