Barneville-Carteret is the seaside resort of the Cotentin’s west coast: a harbour tucked into the estuary, long sandy beaches and the feel of a small town that lives all year round — market stalls, bathing huts, sailing boats and good restaurants.
The Cap de Carteret is the walk not to miss: from the lighthouse, the old customs officers’ path winds between heathland and cliffs, with the Channel Islands on the horizon on a clear day. Below, the Potinière beach has kept a touch of Belle Époque elegance.
This is also where the ferries leave for Jersey and Guernsey: a car-free day trip to the islands is perfectly doable from the château.