Day 1: sand yachting, prepare to be blown away!
Jullouville: the best spot for sand yachting
With its long sandy beaches and westerly winds, La Manche is the ideal place to test sand yachting. From Sciotot on the Cotentin Peninsula to Jullouville, via Utah beach, there’s no shortage of great spots to try this wind sport.
In Jullouville, between Saint-Pair-sur-Mer and Carolles, there’s a vast 2 km long stretch of beach where you might find yourself racing horse riders on their sulkies! In the low season, the beach is all yours and the few walkers on the promenade will have a great view of the sand yachts racing along, with the Chasey Islands as a backdrop. Open to the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel and its winds, the beach at Jullouville is ideal for getting up speed. Prepare for an adrenaline-fuelled ride!
An introduction with the watersports centre
The summer is over and the huge beach at Jullouville is all yours for a sand yachting session. Whether you're a novice or a pro, the Centre Régional de Nautisme de Granville (CRNG - regional watersports centre) offers two hour long, adrenaline-filled sessions. Your instructor will go through all the basics and show you how to handle the yacht. An exhilarating experience!
Sessions depend on the tide times. Contact the CRNG to book a day and a time slot.
What to wear:
- Closed toe shoes or boots
- Warm, waterproof trousers and coat
- Gloves
High tide means no sand yachting
If it’s high tide but you want to get some fresh air, we have the solution! The CRNG also offers catamaran, dinghy, kayak and paddleboard sessions. You can try these watersports at the beach in Granville with a qualified instructor.
Is surfing or wingfoiling more your thing?
Grab your board and hit the surf at Carolles in the low season. Autumn is the best time to catch some waves here, where the beach breaks can reach 2 metres. You probably won't be the only one's enjoying the good swell and cooler water.
If you're well equipped, you can wingfoil all year round in La Manche. In the low season, challenge yourself with the testing conditions produced by the biggest tides in Europe. You’ll need some experience.
Do you fancy a dip but you’re not keen on waves?
Head to the sea swimming pool in Donville-les-Bains. Open all year round (no lifeguard in the low season), you can take a dip or swim lengths here whatever the weather. As a bonus, there's a great view of the Pointe du Lude.
Time for a well-earned treat: discover the brewery L’Écume des Falaises
When a Belgian chemist living in Normandy fulfilled her father’s dream, a micro-brewery was born on the cliffs in Champeaux. In 2017, Adèle joined forces with Martial and together they moved the brewery to Jullouville, close to the sea.
Wheat, tripel, Indian pale ale and seasonal: all of the beers produced are unfiltered, unpasteurised and hand brewed.
On Saturdays you can visit the micro-brewery by appointment. Information and booking on 06 48 04 52 06.
The taproom and shop are open on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The brewery is closed every year in January after the Christmas holidays.
