Plage de Biville

A hidden beach in the dunes

Between Vauville and Diélette, in the town of La Hague, Biville beach stretches for several kilometers of fine sand, squeezed between the ocean and tall dunes. We're in the Anse de Vauville here, between Cap de Flamanville and Nez de Jobourg, a still wild corner of Normandy where naturism has been freely practiced for a long time.

The nudist zone isn't marked by an official sign, you find it starting from a big bunker (on the Vasteville side) and it then extends northward. Past this landmark, towels get laid down without swimsuits, in a setting of dunes and sea wind.

How to get there

There's no parking right next to the naturist beach: you have to park at the Clairefontaines campsite, in Siouville-Hague, then walk about 20 to 25 minutes along the coast to reach the swimsuit-free area. The walk is part of the experience, it also filters out casual visitors.

Access is free year round, but really depends on the Manche weather: wind, tide and rain can turn the outing into a tricky hike rather than an afternoon of sunbathing.

Atmosphere on site

The naturist part of Biville has a well established reputation among gay visitors, with an atmosphere that sometimes slips toward the libertine depending on the area and the day. It's a spot known to regulars from the region as well as visitors from further away, including from abroad.

The local community is present and rather welcoming to newcomers, which makes first visits easier for anyone discovering the place.

A protected setting

Biville is part of a nature reserve of more than 600 hectares that also covers the towns of Héauville, Vasteville and Siouville-Hague. The high dunes and fine sand give this beach a still preserved look, far from the crowded, developed naturist beaches.

This wildness comes at a price: no shops, no showers, no lifeguards. You come to Biville for raw nature and the atmosphere, not for comfort.