Scampering on the dog-friendly beaches of northern France
It’s easier than you think to travel to France with your dog. Yes, you’ll need a pet passport, up-to-date jabs and a microchip, but the actual travelling is pretty easy. Both the ferry companies and the Channel Tunnel have a good setup for pets and their owners, and once you arrive you’ll discover that the French are a nation of dog-lovers, and yours will be welcomed in restaurants, beaches and special places to stay. Check out our favourite dog-friendly beaches to hit up on your holiday to Brittany and Normandy, and a few places to stay nearby. Dog-friendly too, of course!
Laber beach, Roscoff, Brittany
If you arrive into the pretty port town of Roscoff on the ferry and need to stretch two legs and four, head to the clear waters and golden sands of Laber beach. Dogs should be kept on a lead but the bays and cove never get too busy on this long stretch of town beach. Play in the wild sandy dunes, savour the fact that you’ve made it to la belle France and pop into a café on the square for an espresso and croissant to set you up for the next leg of your journey.
Stay at: Villa Germiny, set amongst cypresses and roses overlooking the lovely Sables Blancs beach, a five-minute walk and perfect at low tide.
Théven Braz Cove, Kerfiat, Brittany
An off-the-beaten-track cove hidden down a path from a small hamlet called Kerfiat in north Brittany. It’s worth the hunt. This is a dreamy spot, completely secluded, with dramatic rolling waves and a lovely expanse of sand. Perfect for having a good nose around, beach games, picnicking or just reading a good book. At low tide, a number of large rocks appear, making it tricky, although not impossible, to swim.
Hirel Beach, near Mont-Saint-Michel, Brittany
If you’re staying in north east Brittany, at the point where you cross into Normandy, make your way to Hirel beach. With its vast sweep of sand, your dog will be happy zooming around while you have a paddle – just the ankles though, it’s not the best swimming spot. Look out for the sand yachts that race along this beach and the kite surfers out on the waves. There’s a large, well-equipped playground nearby for kids and the magical Mont-Saint-Michel island is a half hour drive.
Le Mané Guen, Plouharnel, Brittany
In south Brittany, Mané Guen is Plourharnel’s last beach before you hit the Quiberon Peninsula. Beloved spot for watersports, you’ll find surfers and kite surfers out in force, as well as swimmers and walkers. With parking nearby, it’s much easier to access than some of the more remote beaches further north. Dogs will love its open sweep of sand, crashing waves and grassy dunes.
Stay at: Quiberon House, a cosy and comfortable coastal family holiday home – relax on the veranda watching sailboats and feeling content.
Omaha Beach, Calvados, Normandy
Twenty miles from Bayeux, this dog-friendly D-Day landing beach is dotted with sculptures and memorials in tribute to the Allied landings in 1944. Once code-named ‘Dog’ by military planners, its stunning sweep of white sand welcomes dogs year-round but they must be kept on a lead in the summer. Hang out in the cove beneath rocky cliffs, potter about the small pebbly beach near a rockfall and offshore reef. You might spot an occasional nudist at this quiet end of the beach.
Stay in: Château Côte de Nacre, smart château apartments set in landscaped gardens with a lake and a small spa, with the town centre and a wild beach an easy stroll away.
Quiberville-sur-Mer, Terroir de Caux, Normandy
The central town beach of Quiberville-sur-Mer is a bit of a stunner, with the breath-taking cliffs of the Alabaster Coast rising up behind and a large pebbled area before the sand. Dogs are welcome to frolic on the sand and pebbles but not enter the water. There’s a watersports centre, promenade and children’s playground. Arrive early enough and you can buy just-caught fish or oysters from the fishermen’s huts on the prom.
Antifer Beach, Le Tilleul, Normandy
One of the most gorgeous beaches in Normandy, Plage d’Antifer, is dominated by the shimmering cliffs of Étretat, with a sweep of shingle below and, at low tide, a handful of sand banks. Soak up the views of Cape Courtine on one side and Fourquet on the other as your dog has a good snuffle around. Access is by foot only, from the centre of Tilleul, and dogs must be kept on a lead.
Stay in: Gîte de la Motte Féodale, once a shooting lodge on a medieval estate, this elegant and spacious retreat is circled by wonderful walks and interesting villages. It’s a drive and a day trip to Antifer, but well worth it.
Vive la France
This article is part of Vive la France, the home of inspiring itineraries and stories from travel writers and our team, to help you plan your next French adventure.
Written by
Carmen McCormack
Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.
