Beach
L’Écluse Beach
Dinard · Ille-et-Vilaine
In the heart of Dinard, L’Écluse combines fine sand, an open-air seawater pool, kids’ clubs, the Wishbone Club, the casino, terraces, summer lifeguards and excellent facilities for disabled visitors.
- Suggested time
- 3 hours to a full day
- Type of place
- Dinard’s great iconic town beach with a seawater pool
- Atmosphere
- Elegant, urban, family-friendly and Belle Époque
- Getting there
- Plage de l’Écluse, 35800 Dinard. Direct access from the town centre and the promenade, paid parking and public transport nearby.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 10/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 10/10
- Solo
- 9/10
- With a dog
- 5/10
- Reduced mobility
- 10/10
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
L’Écluse beach is the seaside heart of Dinard. A large north-facing beach of fine sand, it is lined by the promenade, terraces, the casino and several shops. An outdoor seawater pool, naturally filled at high tide, makes swimming easier at low tide. The beach is lifeguarded in July and August and has two beach clubs open to children from age three during the spring, summer and autumn holidays. The Wishbone Club offers sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding. You can swim at high tide as well as low tide, with the natural pool adding real comfort. Water quality was rated sufficient in 2025. L’Écluse has showers, drinking water, toilets, a first aid post, restaurants and bars. Facilities for disabled visitors are very complete: an access mat, a Hippocampe beach wheelchair, a Tiralo and reserved parking. Dogs are not allowed from 15 June to 15 September and are allowed from 16 September to 14 June.
What you will see
- A large beach of fine sand in the centre of Dinard.
- An outdoor seawater pool.
- A town beach framed by Dinard’s seaside architecture.
Practical information
- Getting there
- Plage de l’Écluse, 35800 Dinard. Direct access from the town centre and the promenade, paid parking and public transport nearby
- Services
- First aid post, bar, restaurant, two beach clubs, showers, drinking water, toilets, water sports club (Wishbone Club)
- Parking
- Parking can be very tight in July and August and on sunny weekends.
- Pets
- Not allowed from 15 June to 15 September; allowed from 16 September to 14 June
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair access, with an access mat, a Hippocampe beach wheelchair, a Tiralo and reserved parking
- Lifeguarded swimming
- In July and August
- Swimming
- Possible at high and low tide, with the natural pool useful at low tide
- Water quality
- Rated sufficient
- Tides
- A moderate influence thanks to the pool; at low tide the sea goes out but the pool stays usable; at high tide, swim directly in the bay
- Orientation
- North
- Activities
- Swimming, the seawater pool, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, kids’ club, aqua aerobics, walking
- Safety
- Follow the lifeguards’ instructions, watch children in the seawater pool, respect the Wishbone Club water sports areas, check the water quality notice, do not run on wet parts of the promenade
- Photography
- The Écluse promenade, the nearby Clair de Lune promenade, the top of the beach facing the villas; best light in the morning or late afternoon
- Ideal for
- Families, wheelchair users, kids’ clubs, water sports, restaurants, a full day
Tips on the spot
- Check the tide times, marine weather and wind before you go.
- Arrive early in July and August; June or September are quieter.
- Watch children at all times, and set a family meeting point.
- Check the water quality in season, and do not swim if there is a ban.
- Respect the water sports channels.
Show 5 more tipsHide
- Use sun cream even when the sky is hazy, and keep a windproof layer.
- Check parking before you come: it is very tight in summer.
- Check the opening times of the clubs and water sports centre.
- For dogs, strictly respect the permitted periods.
- The pool makes the beach practical at any tide.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
Dinard’s great iconic town beach, with a seawater pool.
Why come here?
It is Dinard’s iconic main beach, ideal for a family or elegant day combining swimming, the natural pool, water sports, restaurants and a walk along the promenade.
How much time should I allow?
3 hours to a full day.
What is the atmosphere like?
Elegant, urban, family-friendly and Belle Époque.
Is swimming lifeguarded?
Yes, in July and August.
Does the tide change the experience?
Only moderately, thanks to the pool, which makes the beach practical at any tide.
Stay in Dinard
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Read in the journal
- City guideWhat to do in Dinard: the complete guideBelle Époque villas, the Promenade du Clair de Lune, the Écluse beach, the Pointe du Moulinet, the film festival and Saint-Malo by boat: what to do in Dinard.
- RankingThe most beautiful beaches in Ille-et-VilaineThe Sillon and Bon-Secours in Saint-Malo, L’Écluse in Dinard, Longchamp, Saint-Briac and Cancale: the most beautiful beaches in Ille-et-Vilaine, on the Emerald Coast.
- DepartmentWhat to do in Ille-et-VilaineSaint-Malo, Rennes, the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel: the department where you arrive, and the biggest tides in Europe.
Traveller reviews
Nobody has reviewed this place yet.
Photographs: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons