Plage de Trestraou

Plage de Trestraou is the main beach of Perros-Guirec, a resort on the Pink Granite Coast, the Côte de Granit Rose, in the north of Brittany, and it is the busiest and most family-friendly beach in the area. It is a long curve of fine pale sand, about one and a half kilometres in length, facing north-west across the bay toward the Sept-Îles archipelago, whose low islands lie a few kilometres offshore. The beach is backed by a promenade, a row of villas and small hotels, and a green headland on one side, and it has all the facilities of a resort, including a sailing and nautical centre, a children's club, a casino, restaurants and cafés. In the summer the beach is supervised by lifeguards, and the season runs from spring to autumn.

The tides are strong here, as everywhere on the north coast of Brittany, and the sea can retreat a long way, leaving a wide expanse of sand, so it is wise to check the tide times and the bathing flags. At high tide the water comes close to the promenade. The sea is cool, even in summer, but the sandy bottom shelves gently, and the beach is a favourite for children and for sailing lessons, windsurfing and kayaking.

The islands are a main attraction. The Sept-Îles are a nature reserve, the largest seabird sanctuary in France, and they are home to thousands of pairs of birds, among them the gannets, which nest on the island of Rouzic in a huge white colony, along with puffins, razorbills, fulmars, cormorants and kittiwakes. Grey seals can also be seen on the rocks. Landing is permitted only on one island, the Île aux Moines, which has an old fort, but boat trips leave from the beach at Trestraou in the season and sail around the archipelago, giving close views of the birds and seals. The trips depend on the tide and the weather, so check the schedule and book ahead.

The coastline of pink granite is the other glory of Perros-Guirec. A path called the Sentier des Douaniers, part of the GR34 coastal trail, runs from the end of the beach to Ploumanac'h, a village about two kilometres away, through a chaos of huge pink and orange granite boulders eroded by wind and sea into the shapes of animals, faces and piles of cushions. The path ends at a small lighthouse on the rocks, and the walk takes about an hour each way and is one of the best in Brittany. The Phare de l'Île Vierge and the Église Saint-Jacques are among the local sights, and the Marché de Perros-Guirec adds local colour.

Access to the beach is free. Parking near the seafront is limited in July and August, so arrive early or use the car parks in the town. The beach suits families, walkers and bird lovers.