Beach
Petite Salinette
Saint-Briac-sur-Mer · Ille-et-Vilaine
In Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, the Petite Salinette shares the same bay views as its bigger sister in a more intimate setting, with fine sand, white beach huts, a south-west aspect and the Yacht Club on the beach.
- Suggested time
- 1 h 30 to 3 hours
- Type of place
- Small sheltered fine-sand beach lined with white beach huts
- Atmosphere
- Intimate, elegant, sheltered and photogenic
- Getting there
- Plage de la Petite Salinette, 35800 Saint-Briac-sur-Mer. Free car park on Rue des Essarts, then about 200 m on foot and down the steps.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 7/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 3/10
- Reduced mobility
- 2/10
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
The Petite Salinette lies right next to the Grande Salinette but has a much more intimate feel. It is less known to visitors, yet enjoys the same panorama over the bay of Saint-Briac, with views that can reach Cap Fréhel on a clear day. Like the Grande Salinette, it is lined with typical white beach huts, and the Saint-Briac Yacht Club is here too. The beach faces south-west and is described as sheltered from the wind. Swimming is possible at both high and low tide. Unlike the Grande Salinette, it is not lifeguarded. In 2026, the official water monitoring listed it as an unsupervised, equipped site with toilets, but no shower, no drinking water, no first-aid post and no wheelchair access. Water quality was rated excellent in 2025. You reach it by steps from the Chemin des Essarts, about 200 m from the free car park on Rue des Essarts. Pets are banned from 15 June to 15 September. In February 2026, the GR34 between the Petite and Grande Salinette was diverted because of damage to the coastal path.
What you will see
- A small fine-sand beach.
- Faces south-west.
Practical information
- Getting there
- Plage de la Petite Salinette, 35800 Saint-Briac-sur-Mer; free car park on Rue des Essarts, then about 200 m on foot and down the steps
- Services
- Toilets; BreizhGo bus 516, La Houle stop, then about 1 km
- Parking
- Can be very busy in July and August and on sunny weekends
- Pets
- Allowed from 16 September to 14 June; banned from 15 June to 15 September
- Accessibility
- Access by steps, not suitable for pushchairs
- Lifeguarded swimming
- Not lifeguarded
- Water quality
- Rated excellent in 2025; checks from 15 June to 15 September 2026
- Tides
- Moderate influence; at low tide, a wider beach and foreshore; at high tide, the water comes closer to the steps
- Orientation
- South-west
- Activities
- Swimming, sailing with the Yacht Club, photography, lazing, coastal walks
- Safety
- No lifeguards, access by steps, very sharp oysters reported between the Salinettes in 2026, check the state of the coastal path before walking to the Grande Salinette, keep a constant eye on children
- Best time
- Late afternoon away from the crowds; for calm, the morning or outside summer; for photos, late afternoon
- Photography
- The white beach huts, the top of the steps, the view of the bay and Cap Fréhel, late afternoon
- Ideal for
- Peace and quiet, couples, photography, gentle swimming, the Yacht Club
- Nearby
- The Grande Salinette, the Château du Nessay, Le Béchet, the Pointe de la Garde Guérin, Saint-Lunaire, Dinard
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 7 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.
- Check the state of the coastal path before walking to the Grande Salinette.
- Wear beach shoes: sharp oysters have been reported on the rocks.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
Small sheltered fine-sand beach lined with white beach huts.
Why come here?
An elegant, more secluded little beach, perfect for peace and quiet, swimming in good conditions and photographing the beach huts with the bay of Saint-Briac behind.
How much time should I allow?
1 h 30 to 3 hours.
What is the atmosphere like?
Intimate, elegant, sheltered and photogenic.
Is the beach lifeguarded?
No, unlike the neighbouring Grande Salinette.
Are dogs allowed?
From 16 September to 14 June only.
See also the beaches in Saint-Briac-sur-Mer.
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Traveller reviews
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Photographs: Rundvald · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · GO69 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons