Beach
Plage Bonaparte, Anse Cochat
Plouha · Côtes-d’Armor
In Plouha, Bonaparte beach, formerly the Anse Cochat, combines a big sandy beach at low tide, spectacular cliffs, a tunnel cut through the rock and the memory of the Shelburn network.
- Suggested time
- 2 to 4 hours, longer with the GR34 and the memorial site
- Type of place
- Historic wild beach reached by a tunnel beneath the Plouha cliffs
- Atmosphere
- Wild, historic, spectacular and very photogenic
- Getting there
- Plage Bonaparte, 22580 Plouha. Iconic access through a tunnel under the cliff, subject to the orders and access conditions in force.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 7/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 9/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 4/10
- Reduced mobility
- 5/10
These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.
About
Bonaparte beach, once called the Anse Cochat, is one of the most unusual sites on the Plouha cliffs. Its iconic access is through a tunnel cut into the rock. At low tide, a vast sandy beach appears, while at high tide the sand shrinks considerably. It is also a major memorial site of the Shelburn network, used during the Second World War to evacuate Allied airmen to England. A rockfall at the tunnel exit led to an order banning access until further notice; swimming was later allowed again in summer, so check on the spot whether the tunnel is open. The site has no lifeguards and no first aid post. Its 2025 water quality rating was excellent.
What you will see
- A big sandy beach at low tide.
- The Plouha cliffs.
- A tunnel cut through the rock.
- A major site of the Shelburn network.
Practical information
- Getting there
- Plage Bonaparte, 22580 Plouha. Iconic access through a tunnel under the cliff, subject to the orders and access conditions in force
- Services
- Parking nearby, toilets
- Parking
- Can be very busy in July and August and on sunny weekends
- Pets
- Banned from 15 June to 15 September, 10 am to 8 pm, according to Tourisme Bretagne
- Accessibility
- Listed as accessible by the health monitoring, but the state of the tunnel can change actual access
- Lifeguarded swimming
- Not lifeguarded
- Water quality
- Checks from 15 June to 15 September 2026; rated excellent in 2025
- Tides
- A very strong influence; at low tide a big sandy beach is uncovered, at high tide the beach shrinks a lot
- Activities
- Swimming, the GR34, photography, the memorial visit, picnics
- Safety
- Check whether the tunnel is open, do not stay under unstable cliffs, do not count on a first aid post, watch the rising tide, and check the health notice after heavy rain
- Best time
- Around low tide; for peace and quiet, early morning or outside summer; for photos, low to mid tide
- Photography
- The tunnel exit, the top of the GR34, the middle of the beach at low tide; clear morning or late-day light
- Ideal for
- Landscapes, history, the GR34, photography, swimming in good conditions
- Nearby
- The Plouha cliffs, the Shelburn trail, Gwin Zégal, Le Palus, Bréhec, the abbey of Beauport
Tips on the spot
- Check the tide times before you go, and download them for offline use.
- Check the marine weather, swell and wind.
- Read the signs at the entrance and respect the flags and instructions.
- Choose the lifeguarded area when there is one, and do not overestimate your swimming level.
- Watch children at all times, and set a family meeting point.
Show 9 more tipsHide
- Check the water quality in season, and do not swim if there is a ban.
- Arrive early in July and August; June and September are quieter.
- Use sun cream even when the sky is hazy, and keep a windproof layer.
- Respect the dunes and vegetation, and take all your litter home.
- If in doubt about conditions, do not swim.
- Postpone swimming if there is a health order; after heavy rain, check the water quality.
- For shore fishing, check any bans.
- Allow time for the walk back on the GR34.
- If in doubt, do not swim.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
A historic wild beach reached by a tunnel beneath the Plouha cliffs.
Why come here?
A beach unique for its history and its cliff setting, worth discovering for the landscape and the GR34 as much as for swimming, with care needed over the tides, tunnel access and water quality.
How much time should I allow?
2 to 4 hours, longer with the GR34 and the memorial site.
What is the atmosphere like?
Wild, historic, spectacular and very photogenic.
What is the water quality like?
It was rated excellent in 2025.
Does the tide change the experience much?
Enormously. Plan your visit with a good margin around low tide.
Stay in Plouha
Places to stay that are still available, with current prices, compared across the main booking platforms.
Partner link: a booking made from this map may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Read in the journal
- RankingThe most beautiful beaches in Côtes-d’ArmorSaint-Guirec and Trestraou in Perros-Guirec, Coz-Pors, the Plage Bonaparte, Val-André and Cap d’Erquy: our selection of the most beautiful beaches in Côtes-d’Armor.
- DepartmentWhat to do in Côtes-d’ArmorThe Pink Granite Coast, Cap Fréhel, Bréhat: the most photographed department in Brittany, and what you really see there.
- ChristmasWhat to do in Côtes-d’Armor during the Christmas holidaysDinan in winter, scallops, the birds of the bay and Cap Fréhel in the wind: our ideas for the 2026 Christmas holidays in Côtes-d’Armor.
Traveller reviews
Nobody has reviewed this place yet.
Photographs: Veuve Couée · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Tangopaso · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · ManoSolo13241324 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Nicolas Lannuzel · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons