Discover the ideal winter escape for your family and your dog in the stunning Côtes-d’Armor, France. This region in the quiet northwest corner of Brittany is a true hidden gem. You’ll find extensive sandy beaches perfect for off-leash walks, charming small harbours, and dramatic pink cliffs meeting the turquoise water of the Atlantic. It offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventure, coastal relaxation, and the discovery of the delicious local French delicacies.

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Content:

1. Introduction:
2. Explore the area:
   1. Saint Pabu beach
   2. Erquy village
   3. Pleneuf – Val Andre
   4. Cap Frehel
3. Travel Tips:

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Introduction:

For Christmas 2025, Matt’s parents, his sisters’ family and us spent a week in a rented house near the tiny beach of Saint Pabu, right on the edge of Erquy village. The ten of us spent the week exploring this quiet corner of the Côtes d’Armor. Our days were a perfect rhythm of coastal exploration and delicious festive meals, overflowing with local seafood and wine. We roamed the street market in Pléneuf, where Marcus discovered the deliciousness of crêpes au chocolat. We went to discover the little village of Erquy, the promenade of Val Andre and the Cap Frehel. And of course Skye enjoyed endless, free runs along the coastal paths and winter beaches.

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Explore the area:

Saint Pabu beach

This tiny beach became our “local” during this Christmas getaway. Being less than a kilometer from our accommodation, it was our go-to spot for Skye’s morning walks while the rest of the family took their time waking up. Saint-Pabu itself is a quiet, unassuming little village, but the beach is a hidden gem—especially if you’re into surfing. I also noticed several campsites nearby that would be absolutely perfect for a summer family holiday. One morning, Skye and I took the coastal path GR34 all the way to Caroual Beach. The views from the cliffs were stunning and it was great to take some fresh sea air.

Note – Dogs are not allowed on Saint Pabu beach from the 15th of May to 15th of September.

Find a great walk from Saint Pabu beach to Erquy on Visorando website.

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Erquy village

Erquy’s town centre is packed with charming shops and restaurants that really showcase the local flavours. If you go, we recommend stopping by the bakery and the fishmonger. The harbour is another highlight, especially if you decide to walk up towards Cap Erquy from which you will have incredible coastal views. Back down by the water, there is a long, breezy promenade with a great playground – perfect if you’re travelling with kids.

Note – dogs are not accepted on the beaches around Erquy from 15th May to 30th September.

Find a great walk around Erquy Cap on Visorando website.

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Pleneuf – Val Andre

While exploring the area, we loved the contrast between Pléneuf and Val-André. Pléneuf feels much more traditional and lived-in, whereas Val-André has that classic, vibrant seaside resort energy.

If you’re there on a market day, the Pléneuf street market is an absolute must. It’s a sensory overload in the best way, packed with fresh seafood, local cheeses, honey, and seasonal veg. We couldn’t resist the galette and crêpe food truck—it’s famous for a reason! Matt went for the classic sausage galette, while Marcus satisfied his sweet tooth with a chocolate crêpe.

Val-André was busier and was bustling with families when we visited. It has a stunning, long sandy beach with a beautiful promenade that was perfect for letting Skye run freely. If you’re travelling with little ones like us, there’s a fantastic playground tucked away in the park just opposite Rue du Maréchal Juin.

Note – dog not accepted on the beach between 15th June to 15th September, except from 19h-10h on Plage de Nantois.

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Cap Frehel

For our final day in the Côtes d’Armor, we decided to visit the Cap Fréhel. It is a spectacular peninsula caught between dramatic cliffs dropping into the sea on one side and wild, wind-swept moorlands on the other. There are two lighthouses standing guard there—one dating back to the 17th century and a newer one built in 1950. Both offer incredible views across the Bay of St Malo. It was a beautiful sunny day, but the wind was absolutely wild so we opted for a short walk around the lighthouses. However if the weather is good and you have enough time, there are endless coastal paths for a proper walk.

Note: Dog authorised on short lead around the cap. Not authorised inside the lighthouse and also not authorised from the 1st May to 30th September on the Frehel beaches.

Find a great walk to discover Cap Frehel on Visorando website.

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Travel Tips:

If you are travelling from UK, we would recommend to take the overnight ferry from Plymouth or Portsmouth to St Malo. Erquy area is then around 1h drive from St Malo. You can even take a couple of days before or after to explore St Malo.

If you are travelling with your dogs, Brittany Ferries have pet friendly cabins. You can find more information to travel with your dog between UK and France here.

Try to visit a street market to buy products cultivated / produced by local farmers. You definitely must try the seafood, cider and galettes. A list of street markets can be find here.

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Have you visited this area of Brittany? Do you think it is a place you would like to go?

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Also, find all our family and dog friendly adventures in France in this page. Want to explore UK, visit this page.