Normandy: The Alabaster Coast

Three days on the Alabaster Coast, along the Norman cliffs. The route links Étretat and its famous arches, Fécamp and its Bénédictine palace, maritime Dieppe and Varengeville-sur-Mer, beloved of the Impressionist painters. It's a coastline of white chalk and pebbles, where the shifting light inspired Monet and Boudin. The cliffs are best discovered on the coastal paths (GR21) for the finest viewpoints; bring good shoes and stay well back from the unstable edges. Spring and summer offer the longest days, but autumn, more dramatic, appeals to photographers. In Étretat, climb early to the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde chapel to avoid the crowds and catch the morning light.