Find sandy beaches and Belle Époque charm, just a ferry ride from the UK.
A firm favourite of holidaying Brits, Dinard takes beach breaks to a new level. Magnificent Belle Époque villas line the sea cliffs, ocean-view hiking trails run along the rugged coastline, and the long sandy beaches draw a steady stream of affluent vacationers. Add in a casino, a seafront golf course, and a buzzing yacht harbour, and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was the St Tropez of Brittany. Nearby Saint-Malo has direct ferries to the UK, so bring your motorhome or caravan over, and take your pick of coastal campgrounds or rent a mobile home or chalet a short drive from the beach.
Stretching from Cap Frehel all the way to northern Brittany, the Emerald Coast is dotted with idyllic seaside towns, sandy beaches, and weathered sea cliffs. Aside from Dinard, Saint-Cast-le-Guildo, Cancale, and Saint-Malo are the main towns, where you’ll find a choice of campsites and holiday parks, while Lancieux is renowned for its water sports, and the magnificent island monastery of Mont-Saint Michel lies just over the border in Normandy.
Dinard sits at the mouth of the Rance Estuary, where ferries and boat cruises set sail for Saint-Malo on the north shore or inland along the river. Head to the beach at Le Minihic-sur-Rance; taste Brittany’s famous cider, produced throughout the Rance Valley; or continue south to the mediaeval town of Dinan.
Brittany’s coastline is full of surprises, and the pint-sized Chausey Islands are the ideal spot to escape the crowds. Boat tours and charters will take you out around the 52 islands, where you’ll find hidden coves with deserted white-sand beaches and rocky cliffs swirling with gannets and cormorants.
Dinard is full to the brim with families, beachgoers, and campers through July and August, and advance bookings are highly recommended if you’re coming over the summer holidays. If you can, opt for a spring or autumn visit instead—Brittany’s mild climate means it’s possible to hike and explore the coast year-round. Or, if movie watching and celebrity spotting is more your thing, time your visit for the annual Dinard British Film Festival (October).