The D-Day Landing Beaches in Normandy were the setting for Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944. It was a battleground and a place of slaughter. Today they are a place to enjoy, including with your dog. This is no more than what the veterans wanted and fought for – enjoying in freedom what had been taken away in 1940. Here are some guidelines…
Utah Beach
The only D-Day Landing Beach in the Manche département, its role was to cut off and capture Cherbourg. 23,250 men of the US 4th Division landed in relative safety. Concrete remains can be observed at low tide, and shells (there are mussel and oyster beds!).
- The long fine sandy beach in the commune of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont was once called ‘la Madeleine’ after the chapel there. Dogs can roam freely.
Omaha Beach
32,750 men of the 1st and 29th Divisions landed at ‘Bloody Omaha’, taking heavy casualties – at the western end at Vierville-sur-Mer in particular. Omaha Beach is arguably the most dog-friendly of all the D-Day Landing Beaches and the cities of Vierville-sur-Mer, Grandcamp-Maisy and Colleville-sur-Mer welcome dogs.
Interestingly, military planners code-named part of Omaha Beach ‘Dog’, and the motto of the Rangers who scaled the cliffs at the Pointe du Hoc is ‘Lead the Way’. There is also a short cove bound by rocky cliffs. However, take care as this pebbly beach is small, there is rockfall, an offshore reef, and the tide can cut off your dog, so keep it on a lead here. N.B. There is also the occasional… nudist.
Gold Beach
Between Asnelles and Ver-sur-Mer 25,000 British soldiers of the 50th Northumbrian Division landed with light casualties. Gold Beach is one of the most popular and unspoilt beaches in Calvados and has a wonderful view west towards the remains of the Mulberry harbour just off the coast of Arromanches. The beach at Saint-Côme-du-Fresné is also pleasant and the high ground there is great for walking the dog. The Gold Beach/America Museum in Ver-sur-Mer also welcomes dogs. Lastly, in Longues-sur-Mer, also in the Gold Beach sector, is a huge German gun battery, with walks down to a large bunker that once formed part of the Atlantic Wall.
- Arromanches beach: No dogs allowed on the beach.
- Asnelles beach: No dogs allowed on the beach.
- Meuvaines beach: Dogs allowed on the beach all day on a lead.
- Ver-sur-Mer beach: No dogs allowed on the beach, but allowed in the area west of the lifeguard station, before 10am and after 7pm if kept on a lead.
- Graye-sur-Mer beach: No dogs allowed on the beach, but they are allowed in the area west of the Pearson house on a lead.
Juno Beach
15,000 men of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division with 2nd Armoured landed along a five-mile wide sector known as Juno Beach, straddling Courseulles-sur-Mer with Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer on one side, and Graye to the west. There were heavy casualties. Their objective: Caen and its airfield at Carpiquet.
- Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer: From 1 July to 31 August, you can walk your dog on the east and west ends of the beach, outside the bathing area. Otherwise they must be kept on a lead the rest of the year.
- Courseulles-sur-Mer: Dogs are allowed on a lead all year round from the Cap Fun campsite to the Cale du Platon in Bernières-sur-Mer. From the 15th of June to the 15th of September, at low tide, dogs are allowed on a lead before 11.30 am and after 6.30 pm in the east and west zones. Outside these times, dogs – even on a lead – are not allowed on the beaches or dunes in the Croix de Lorraine area.
- Bernières-sur-Mer: Dogs are allowed on a lead outside the supervised bathing areas. In July and August, dogs are not allowed on the seawall between Place du Canada and Cale du Platon or on the sandy areas in front of and behind the beach huts.
- Attractions: The America-Gold Beach Museum is dog friendly. Dogs are allowed inside the museum at the Juno Beach Centre. Small dogs are accepted at all times, large dogs between 1pm and 2pm and by appointment only. A dog kennel with bowl is available.
Visit the Côte de Nacre with your dog
Sword Beach
The easternmost of the D-Day Landing Beaches saw 21,400 men of the British 3rd Infantry Division land six kilometres east of the Canadians, between Lion-sur-Mer and the western part of Ouistreham (Riva-Bella). Their objective was to secure the bridges in the Orne valley and capture Caen. Dogs are welcome at the eastern end of the beach in Luc-sur-Mer, as well as at the eastern end of the beach in Ouistreham, between the casino and the ferry port.
- In Luc-sur-Mer, you can take your dog to the beach on the eastern breakwater. Its distance from the road and its wild character make it one of the most pleasant spots in the town.
- At Ouistreham Riva-Bella, dogs can be walked on a lead on the eastern part of the beach towards the ferry terminal, as well as at the Pointe du siège.
- Attractions for visitors: The Pegasus Bridge Memorial and the Atlantic Wall Museum are dog-friendly. So is Radar Station 44 in Dover, which has a dog bar and welcomes dogs of all sizes on a lead.
Thematics