Family days out guide
Things to do on the Alabaster Coast with kids
Looking for things to do on the Alabaster Coast with kids while staying right in the middle of it, at Butot-Vénesville? This guide sorts days out by age and by weather, with the drive time from the house. Many are 10 minutes away, which leaves time to get back for a nap. The furthest deserve a whole day.
Updated
- guests
- 11guests+ 2 children or babies
- bedrooms
- 4bedrooms
- min to the nearest beach
- 10min to the nearest beach
- m² of grounds
- 10,000m² of grounds
Things to do with toddlers on the Alabaster Coast
Under 5, a good outing fits into a morning, with little driving and the option to head back at any moment. Around the house there is no shortage of choice, and several are free. Where to eat in Veulettes or park in Veules is covered on our page about things to do around the house.
- 10 min
Rock-pooling on the Veulettes-sur-Mer rock shelf
At low tide, the rock shelf is uncovered below the cliffs and the pools become a place to explore. Wellies on, bucket in hand, and the tide times checked before you set off.
- 10 min
Tourist office nature sessions
In summer, free guided outings on the Veulettes rock shelf, from age 3, meeting in front of the casino. Wellies are compulsory, and booking is through the tourist office.
- 30 min
Led pony rides, Sotteville-sur-Mer
Les Poneys de Mélanie offer 30 minutes for €15 or 1 hour for €30, all year round depending on the weather and by booking. The pony is led on foot, which suits the smallest riders.
- 20 min
Les Saveurs du Lait farm, Saint-Vaast-Dieppedalle
Ice cream, yoghurts, cream and jams, with a free visit during shop hours: Wednesday to Friday from 2 pm to 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm.
- 10 min
The playground at Lake Caniel
By the lake, a playground for running off energy after a picnic, without going as far as the sea.
- 10 min
Petites Dalles beach
A small pebble beach tucked into a valleuse, more intimate than Veulettes, for throwing pebbles and watching the tide come in.
Ages 6 to 12: burning off energy
Between 6 and 12, days out with kids on the Alabaster Coast get easier. At that age they want water, animals and a bit of a challenge. The outings below fill half a day, and several combine well with lunch on the coast.
- 10 min
Lifeguarded swimming at Veulettes-sur-Mer
In July and August, every day from 11 am to 7 pm, in a marked zone with a floating raft. Water shoes make getting in much easier on the pebbles.
- 10 min
Summer toboggan, pedalos and canoes at Lake Caniel
The leisure centre brings several activities together on one site, handy when siblings want different things.
- 15 min
Le Petit Torcy riding centre, Ourville-en-Caux
An École Française d'Équitation approved by the French Equestrian Federation (FFE), for children who want to ride properly. Check what sessions are on offer before you go.
- 20 min
Milking at Les Saveurs du Lait farm
From Wednesday to Saturday, milking can be watched from 5 pm. You leave with an ice cream, and the farm-produce vending machine is open 24 hours a day.
- 25 min
Cap Fagnet in Fécamp
About 105 to 110 metres above the sea, presented as the highest point on the Alabaster Coast, with the Notre-Dame-du-Salut chapel. The view impresses children, as long as they are kept well back from the edge.
- 55 min
Kites in Dieppe
The international kite festival is held in even-numbered years, in September. The dates change each time: check the tourist office calendar.
For teenagers and keen walkers
Older children often want whatever tires them out or whatever looks good in a photo. The Alabaster Coast offers both, provided you follow one simple rule on the cliffs: do not settle at the foot of them, where rockfalls happen, and do not go near the edge at the top. The GR21 footpath runs the length of the coast for those who want to walk from one village to the next.
- 30 min
The Sotteville-sur-Mer steps
About 230 steps between the village and the beach. Going down is easy; coming back up is open to debate. The younger ones can ride a pony in the meantime.
- 45 min
The arches of Étretat
The Porte d'Aval, the Manneporte and the Aiguille: the best-known view on the coast, to explore on foot, well back from the edge.
- 10 min
Cable wakeboarding and paddleboarding at Lake Caniel
Thrills 10 minutes from the house, as long as you check on the day what is open.
- 20-25 min
Saint-Valery-en-Caux harbour and beach
A marina between two cliffs, and the memorial to the 51st Highland Division for those interested in the history of 1940.
Lake Caniel: what is worth the trip, and what to check
Ten minutes from the house, Lake Caniel is the easiest outing when the children are not all the same age. The leisure centre has cable wakeboarding, paddleboarding, canoes and pedalos for those who want to be on the water, and the summer toboggan run, the playground, the bowling alley and the Île aux Jeux for the others. You can spend two hours there or a whole day.
A warning is needed about swimming. It was banned several times during summer 2026 because of cyanobacteria. Before you go, check the day's situation with ARS Normandie, the regional health agency, or directly with the leisure centre, and ask which water activities are open. For swimming, the sea remains the safe option: Veulettes-sur-Mer beach is the same distance away, and our page on a holiday home near Veulettes-sur-Mer covers everyday beach life.
To compare the other beaches along the coast, their pebbles, their cliffs and their drive times, see our guide to the best beaches on the Alabaster Coast. If you are aiming for the summer holidays, book early: July and August weeks are the first to go, and Idylliq shows up-to-date availability.
When it rains
A grey day does not cancel everything. Here are outings under cover. And if the rain sets in for good, the house has plenty to keep everyone going, between toys, the sitting room and the wood stove for the children.
- 55 min
ESTRAN Cité de la Mer, Dieppe
Dieppe's sea discovery centre and its aquarium, to combine with a walk round the harbour if the sky clears.
- 10 min
Bowling and the Île aux Jeux, Lake Caniel
The two activities at the leisure centre best suited to a rainy day. Check opening times before you go.
- 25 min
Palais Bénédictine and Les Pêcheries museum, Fécamp
Two visits for curious children in a fishing port: the Palais, with its liqueur and its museum, then the Les Pêcheries museum.
- 10 min
Château de Cany
A 17th-century château, open to visitors in the summer season on a calendar that varies: check the opening days.
4.96 / 5 · 24 reviews on Airbnb
What guests say
- October 2025
La maison était vraiment très belle, décorée avec goût avec de beaux matériaux. Elle était surtout parfaitement bien équipée, tout ce dont nous avions besoin se trouvait sur place. Et pour les enfants c'était génial, il y avait pleins de jouets, des espaces leur étaient dédiés, ils se sont régalés :-) Merci beaucoup, nous avons passé un super séjour !
Sara
Review published on Airbnb
- March 2026
Très belle maison très bien équipée spacieuse avec tout le nécessaire pour petits et grands, nous avons passé un super séjour.
Ghita
Review published on Airbnb
Your questions
What can you do with kids on the Alabaster Coast when it rains?
Several outings are under cover. ESTRAN Cité de la Mer in Dieppe has an aquarium. At Lake Caniel, the bowling alley and the Île aux Jeux suit rainy days. In Fécamp, you can visit the Palais Bénédictine and the Les Pêcheries museum. The Château de Cany also opens in the summer season, on a variable calendar that needs checking.
Can kids swim in Lake Caniel?
Not without checking on the day. Swimming in Lake Caniel was banned several times during summer 2026 because of cyanobacteria. Check with ARS Normandie or the leisure centre before you set off. For swimming, the sea remains the safe option: at Veulettes-sur-Mer, bathing is lifeguarded every day in July and August, from 11 am to 7 pm.
What time is milking at Les Saveurs du Lait farm?
Milking can be watched from 5 pm, Wednesday to Saturday. The farm, at Saint-Vaast-Dieppedalle, can be visited freely during shop hours: Wednesday to Friday from 2 pm to 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm. A vending machine for farm produce is open 24 hours a day. Allow 20 minutes by road from Demeure Bleue.
Where can you go rock-pooling with kids near Veulettes-sur-Mer?
On the Veulettes-sur-Mer rock shelf, which is uncovered below the cliffs at low tide. Check the tide times and keep an eye on the incoming water. In summer, the tourist office runs free nature sessions on the rock shelf, from age 3, by booking, meeting in front of the casino, with wellies compulsory.
11 guests+ 2 children or babies
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