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From the Nez de Jobourg car park, the Sentier du contrebandier forms a 10.5 km circuit taking around 4 hours, with 404 m of ascent. The route is graded difficult and is walked anticlockwise.
Half the route along the cliffs
The start joins the coastal path near the Auberge des Grottes. Along the coast, the circuit follows the GR®223, overlooking the sea from the cliffs of La Hague. According to the tourist office, about half the route follows these cliff sections, so particular care is essential, especially in strong winds.
The circuit also takes in the baie d’Écalgrain, the anse du Cul Rond and several geological sites before returning towards Jobourg. Inland, the paths cross the stone hamlets typical of the tip of La Hague.
Before setting off
Local waymarking is yellow, supplemented by the red-and-white GR®223 markings along the coast. The route reaches approximately 141 m above sea level: its elevation gain comes mainly from repeated descents and climbs along the coast rather than one continuous ascent.
What visitors come for
Here, Nez de Jobourg is more than a viewpoint reached in a few minutes: the circuit takes you right into the cliff landscape, with changing sea views over several kilometres.
