Beach
Plage de la Fosse-aux-Vaults
Saint-Lunaire · Ille-et-Vilaine
In Saint-Lunaire, La Fosse-aux-Vaults is a small fine-sand beach facing north but sheltered by the Pointe du Nick, popular for its calm, its lion-head rock and its lifeguarded swimming in July and August.
- Suggested time
- 2 to 4 hours
- Type of place
- Small, intimate, sheltered beach below the Pointe du Nick
- Atmosphere
- Intimate, sheltered, natural and family-friendly
- Getting there
- La Fosse-aux-Vaults, 35800 Saint-Lunaire. Free parking on Rue du Port Thomas, then about 100 m of steep street.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 9/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 5/10
- Reduced mobility
- 6/10
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
La Fosse-aux-Vaults is a small hidden beach east of the Pointe du Nick, in a more natural, enclosed setting than the large central beaches of Saint-Lunaire. It is known for its famous rock shaped like a lion’s head and its quiet atmosphere. The beach faces north, but the Pointe du Nick shelters it from some of the wind. You can swim at high and low tide, and the water quality was rated excellent in 2025. The beach is lifeguarded in July and August. The 2026 health monitoring lists it as supervised and equipped, with showers, toilets and a first-aid post, but no drinking water. The tourist office mentions wheelchair access, with an adult Hippocampe and a Tiralo: entry to the water is assisted, but the approach involves a steep street of about 100 metres. Free parking is on Rue du Port Thomas. Animals are allowed from 16 September to 14 June and banned in season.
What you will see
- A small fine-sand beach.
- Facing north.
Practical information
- Getting there
- La Fosse-aux-Vaults, 35800 Saint-Lunaire; free parking on Rue du Port Thomas, then about 100 m of steep street
- Services
- Toilets, showers, first-aid post, free parking on Rue du Port Thomas
- 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
- The tourist office mentions wheelchair access, a Hippocampe and a Tiralo
- Lifeguarded swimming
- In July and August
- With family
- Very pleasant in the lifeguarded area
- Water quality
- Swimming possible at high and low tide; checks from 15 June to 15 September 2026, excellent
- Tides
- Moderate influence; at low tide, a wider beach; at high tide, the water is closer to the top of the beach
- Orientation
- North
- Activities
- Swimming, the GR 34, hiking on the Pointe du Nick, photography, lazing
- Safety
- Follow the first-aid post’s advice, plan for the steep climb back to the car park, watch children, stay on the coastal path to the Pointe du Nick, check the sea despite the natural shelter
- Best time
- With family, July and August during lifeguard hours; for calm, early morning; for photos, mid tide, spring and September
- Photography
- The top of the access, the Pointe du Nick, the lion-head rock; morning or late afternoon light
- Ideal for
- Calm, families, lifeguarded swimming, the Pointe du Nick, photography, a small beach
- Nearby
- The Pointe du Nick, the Grande Plage de Saint-Lunaire, Longchamp, La Fourberie, Dinard, Saint-Briac-sur-Mer
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.
- Look for the lion-head rock.
- Walk out to the Pointe du Nick on the GR 34.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
Small, intimate, sheltered beach below the Pointe du Nick.
Why come here?
The most intimate of Saint-Lunaire’s beaches, ideal for combining a hike on the Pointe du Nick, calm swimming and a small family beach away from the bustle of the Grande Plage.
How much time should I allow?
2 to 4 hours.
What is the atmosphere like?
Intimate, sheltered, natural and family-friendly.
Is the beach lifeguarded?
Yes, in July and August.
Are animals allowed?
From 16 September to 14 June; they are banned from 15 June to 15 September.
See also the beaches in Saint-Lunaire.
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Traveller reviews
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