Beach
Plage de Port au Loup
Piriac-sur-Mer · Loire-Atlantique
In Piriac-sur-Mer, Port au Loup is a small, intimate beach mixing sand, rocks and moorings, very pleasant for shore fishing and the GR 34, but not lifeguarded in 2026.
- Suggested time
- 1 hour 30 to 3 hours
- Type of place
- Small sand and rock beach with moorings, shore fishing and the GR 34
- Atmosphere
- Intimate, rocky, maritime and peaceful
- Getting there
- Côte de Port au Loup, 44420 Piriac-sur-Mer. Free parking nearby.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 6/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 1/10
- Reduced mobility
- 3/10
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
Port au Loup lies north of the village of Piriac-sur-Mer, on an indented coast of sand, rocks and small coves. The beach has a small mooring area and is a good starting point for the GR 34, south to the harbour and the Pointe du Castelli or north to Merquel. At low tide, the rocks make swimming less easy but offer good ground for shore fishing. As a bathing site in 2026, it is officially not lifeguarded and has toilets, but no shower, drinking water or first-aid post, no wheelchair access, and animals are not allowed. Its recent water quality record is excellent. The town also states that only Saint-Michel and Lérat are lifeguarded in summer. Small dinghies may be left at the top of the beach from 1 May to 30 September under conditions, without disturbing beach users or the sand fences.
What you will see
- A small beach of sand and rocks.
- A small mooring area.
Practical information
- Getting there
- Côte de Port au Loup, 44420 Piriac-sur-Mer; free parking nearby
- Services
- Toilets, free parking, moorings, no first-aid post
- Parking
- Can be very busy in July and August and on sunny weekends
- Pets
- Animals not allowed during the 2026 bathing season
- Accessibility
- Officially listed as not wheelchair accessible
- Lifeguarded swimming
- Not lifeguarded in 2026; excellent recent water quality record
- Tides
- Low tide uncovers many rocks and makes swimming harder
- Activities
- Careful swimming, shore fishing, the GR 34, small boating, photography
- Best time
- Low tide for the rocks; late afternoon for the view over Piriac
- Nearby
- Piriac harbour, Pors er Ster, the Pointe du Castelli, Merquel, Quimiac
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.
- Come at low tide to explore the rocks.
- Set off on the GR 34 towards the Pointe du Castelli.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
Small sand and rock beach with moorings, shore fishing and the GR 34.
Why come here?
A discreet beach best chosen for the shore, the scenery and hiking rather than supervised family swimming, with views of the Piriac coast and access to the coastal path.
How much time should I allow?
1 hour 30 to 3 hours.
What is the atmosphere like?
Intimate, rocky, maritime and peaceful.
Is the beach lifeguarded?
No, only Saint-Michel and Lérat are lifeguarded in summer in Piriac.
Are animals allowed?
No, not during the bathing season.
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