by Greg Ward from The Telegraph, April 13, 2017
The best of Brittany's beaches, including suggestions on the best beach bars, activities, and watersports nearby, chosen by our expert Greg Ward.
Dinard
The genteel resort of Dinard, facing St-Malo across the Rance estuary, boasts several superb sandy beaches. The most central, the plage de l’Écluse, backed by stately villas and bedecked with blue-and-white canvas sunshields, was immortalized by Picasso in Baigneuses sur la Plage.
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Who goes
What is there to do?
This is perfect bucket-and-spade territory, with tides sweeping across the low flat sands to wash away each fresh batch of sandcastles; the sandy seabed makes paddling and swimming safe and enjoyable too.
Bars and bites
Getting there
The plage de l’Écluse is right in the centre of Dinard town, which is ten minutes’ drive west of St-Malo.
Ploumanac’h
Beaches simply don’t come any prettier than the tiny little plage de St-Guirec at Ploumanac’h. Cradled in a sheltered inlet, with an exquisite pocket castle on the island at its mouth, it’s a perfect crescent of sand amid a jumble of glinting pink-granite rocks.
Who goes
With two hotels facing the beach, and several more nearby, Ploumanac’h is a busy holiday destination, with young families above all, though plenty of walkers pass by as they hike the magnificent coastline to either side.
What is there to do?
The seabed swiftly gets rocky beyond the first patch of sand, so this is more a beach to admire and sunbathe on, and go shrimping at low tide, than to swim from.
Bars and bites
The terrace of the inexpensive bar/restaurant at the Hôtel St-Guirec et de la Plage – in a memorable marketing mis-step, it’s called the Coste Mor – adjoins the beach, and there are several other options nearby.
Getting there
Ploumanac’h is three miles north of Perros-Guirec on the D788; to reach Perros-Guirec, leave the N12 autoroute at Guingamp, and drive 25 miles northwest on first the D767, and then the D788.
Morgat
This perfect long expanse of sand, shielded from the Atlantic by the protective arm of the Crozon peninsula, ranks among Brittany’s very finest resort beaches.
Who goes
Morgat isn’t en route to anywhere else; the people who come here, mostly active holidaymakers with children of all ages, tend to settle in for long stays.
What is there to do?
Morgat lends itself to watersports in general – there’s swimming, of course, but also diving, windsurfing, and mucking about on boats of all kinds, including excursions to nearby sea caves hollowed out of the cliffs.
Bars and bites
In summer at any rate, Morgat is a lively spot, lined with bars, brasseries, and even, a rarity in Brittany, clubs.
Getting there
Two roads, the D791 and the D887, run west onto the Crozon peninsula from Finistère’s north–south N165 autoroute; from Crozon itself, where they converge, drive a mile south to Morgat.
L’Aber-Wrac’h
Brittany’s far northwest coast is a rugged place, notorious for shipwrecks, but the fjord-like abers that cut deeply away from the sea abound in magnificent sheltered beaches, none better than those immediately west of the port of l’Aber Wrac’h.
Who goes
You – it’s quite likely there won’t be anyone else around. If there is, they’re likely to be self-sufficient types who enjoy escaping the crowds.
What is there to do?
There’s nothing laid on, so it’s up to you whether you walk, swim or simply kick back for the day
Bars and bites
L’Aber Wrac’h holds a clusters of bars and brasseries, but that’s a few minutes’ walk from the nearest of the beaches, so it’s best to bring your own supplies.
Getting there
Follow the D28 for 15 miles west from Le Folgoët, on the main road between Brest and Roscoff.
Quiberon
An enormous crescent beach of thick white sand, curving in front of a lively resort filled with hotels and restaurants, and adjoining a fishing and ferry port – what could be better?
Who goes
It’s a busy place; besides all the visitors based both in the town and on its namesake peninsula, Quiberon is bursting with day-trippers in summer, as well as ferry passengers heading to and from Belle-Île.
What is there to do?
Mainly, play in or swim off, all that gorgeous sand; there’s also windsurfing, kite surfing and diving nearby, and boat trips out to the offshore islands.
Bars and bites
Abundant bars, restaurants, brasseries and cafes, especially where the main road first reaches the sea.
Getting there
There’s only one road onto the narrow Quiberon peninsula, so although it’s less than twenty mile south of the N165 autoroute, driving (and parking) can be a miserable business. A branch railway line from Auray operates in July and August only.
Île de Batz
The little Île de Batz is so close to Roscoff that it barely counts as an island; at low tide, you have to walk most of the way there to catch a ferry for the last couple of hundred yards. There’s a beach at the island’s ferry landing, but a much better one, the white-sand Grève Blanche, a short walk away on its pristine northern shore
Who goes
Far more day-trippers, especially those based in Roscoff or nearby, than overnighters; stay a night or two, especially if you camp, and you’ll be able to seek out some secluded spots for yourself.
What is there to do?
There’s good swimming from the Grève Blanche; most visitors enjoy exploring further afield, or hiking the entire island perimeter, making further stops at the dozen or so smaller beaches en route.
Bars and bites
The only bars, cafes and restaurants are along the port quayside on the island’s southern shore, so to spend the day at the Grève Blanche you need to bring your own supplies.
Getting there
Ferries to the island leave from the centre of Roscoff at very regular intervals.
Cap-Coz, Fouesnant
A mile-long strand of fine white sand, ideal for gentle family days. The eastern half of the beach runs along a slender spit, with an equally appealing beach just a few steps away on its inland-facing side.
Who goes
This area abounds in low-key little seaside resorts, scattered with villas and small hotels; it’s one of those places where French families come back year after year.
What is there to do?
Potter and play, picnic and paddle; next thing you know, a week has gone by.
Bars and bites
Cap-Coz holds a couple of hotels and seasonal snackbars, but it’s hardly a lively urban scene; you’re better off bringing a picnic.
Getting there
Leave the D44 in Fouesnant itself, 5 miles east of Bénodet, and Cap-Coz is a mile southeast.
Bénodet
Bénodet is probably the best known resort in southern Brittany, for the very good reason that it’s lined by a wonderful expanse of thick sand, idyllic for adults and children alike.
Who goes
Magnificent though the beach is, visitors tend to choose Bénodet because they want something more; a busy, see-and-be-seen resort with plenty of opportunities to spend and play.
What is there to do?
Besides the obvious swimming, Bénodet offers a sailing school, children’s summer clubs, and boat trips both up the river Odet to Quimper and out to the tiny Glénan archipelago.
Bars and bites
A wide array of restaurants, bars, cafes and crêperies, in all price ranges, lines the seafront promenade.
Getting there
Bénodet is at the mouth of the Odet river, near the southwest corner of Brittany. It’s a ten-mile drive south of the city of Quimper, on the D34.
Erquy
The fishing village of Erquy has what you might call a part-time beach – there’s a lovely expanse of sand, nestled cosily against the inner shore of a huge curving bay, but the tide goes out so far that the sea all but disappears, and the bay seems to revert back to dry land.
Who goes
Erquy is a relatively sedate family resort, popular with retirees in low season then suddenly alive with children in summer.
What is there to do?
When the tide’s in, swimming and paddling; when it’s out, rock-pooling, shellfish scavenging, and racing around on sand yachts. Erquy also has schools of sailing and diving, and kayaks are available for rent.
Bars and bites
Yes, there are cafes and restaurants all along the curving seafront.
Getting there
Erquy is just off the D786 coastal road, roughly twenty miles east of St-Brieuc or west of Dinard.
Binic
The little north-coast port-cum-resort of Binic holds one of the region’s longest, broadest beaches, the Plage de la Banche, as well as another, smaller and more secluded beach tucked away to the north beyond the port.
Who goes
As well as the holiday-making families who base themselves here, Binic welcomes day trippers from nearby St-Brieuc, and weary drivers fresh off the autoroute and heading to the Côte de Granît Rose further north.
What is there to do?
Even at high tide the beach is wide enough to accommodate kids’ clubs, volleyball and football games, as well as dozing sunbathers and scampering infants.
Bars and bites
The closer you get to the port, the more bars and restaurants you’ll find; alternatively, you can picnic well away from the crowds.
Getting there
Leave the N12 autoroute just west of St-Brieuc, and Binic is barely five miles north, along the D786.
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This article was written by Greg Ward from The Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].