Dogs are tolerated from 8pm to 10am on the other beaches (Plage du Défend and Plage Nord, excluding the Promenade Théodore Porsain) provided they are kept on a lead. From 1st June to 30 September: day and night bans on the south beach (from the bridge to Pas de la Fontaine) and on the north beach (promenade Théodore Porsain).

Access is permitted from October to April.

Dogs are allowed on Les Gouillauds beach (between Les Grenettes and Gros Jonc). Plage des Batteries: dogs are tolerated for 100 m west of the beach. Dogs are tolerated, on a lead and under their owner’s responsibility, on all beaches from 1st October to 31st March. Total ban from 1st April to 30 September (Article 17 of 12/2010) along the length of Gros Jonc beach as far as Petit Sergent beach. Stray pets will be seized and taken to the Association de Protection des Animaux Rétais (APAR) . Guide dogs for disabled persons and rescue dogs are permitted all year round on all the beaches in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré.

Total ban from 1st July to 31 August and during all school holidays in all zones.

Authorised from 1st October to 31st May on La Grange beach. Authorised from 1st September to 30 June on the Martray, Marielle, Pointe de Grignon and Radia beaches.

Saint-Clément-des-Baleines

They are permitted from 15 June to 15 September from 7pm to 9am on the Conche-des-Baleines and Côte Sauvage beaches.

Authorised from 8pm to 10am from 1st June to 30 September – Authorised without restriction the rest of the year. Prohibited from 1st June to 30 September from 10am to 8pm.

Coming to the Ré island with your pet | Destination Île de Ré

Enjoy the beach with your dog

Dogs are great travelling companions and have their place when you’re on the Ile de Ré.

However, there are a few rules to observe for your four-legged friends in order to preserve the quality of the beaches. Dogs may be allowed on the beaches of the Ile de Ré freely, at certain times, with or without a lead, or they may not be allowed at all.

To make things clearer, and to ensure that you can enjoy the beach with your dog, while respecting everyone, here is a list of authorisations by village:

Rivedoux-Plage
Sainte-Marie-de-Ré
La Flotte
Saint-Martin-de-Ré
Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré
Dogs are allowed on Les Gouillauds beach (between Les Grenettes and Gros Jonc).
Plage des Batteries: dogs are tolerated for 100 m west of the beach.
Dogs are tolerated, on a lead and under their owner’s responsibility, on all beaches from 1st October to 31st March.
Total ban from 1st April to 30 September (Article 17 of 12/2010) along the length of Gros Jonc beach as far as Petit Sergent beach.
Stray pets will be seized and taken to theAssociation de Protection des Animaux Rétais (APAR). Guide dogs for disabled persons and rescue dogs are permitted all year round on all the beaches in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré.
La Couarde-sur-Mer
Loix
Ars-en-Ré
Saint-Clément-des-Baleines
Les Portes-en-Ré

Guide or assistance dogs:
The dog can access various public areas, such as all the beaches on the Ile de Ré. As the dog’s owner, you simply need to be in possession of a disability card, an instructor’s certificate or a “foster family” card for training the dog. Experienced dogs and dogs in training have the same rights (if accompanied by their trainer).
For more information on the accessibility of guide dogs, please refer to the official link here.

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Artem Beliaikin Edbhawfxnta Unsplash
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Artem Beliaikin - Unsplash

Why are dogs banned from the beach?

Dogs are often banned from beaches for health and safety reasons.
But did you also know that our dog friends, when they run on the beach or leave their faeces there, cause serious problems for wildlife? Keeping your dog on a lead, and taking a short diversions in front of a flock of birds to leave them alone, means preserving the future beauty of our beaches.

Did you know?

Gravelots, small birds that have become rare, nest at the top of beaches and lay their eggs in the sand, which makes them very vulnerable.
Walkers and dogs are all sources of disturbance that can destroy their nests. It is therefore essential to take particular care not to harm these harmless animals.

Walking your dog in the forest?

It can be tempting to untie our pets when we go for a walk in the forest. But this seemingly harmless act can have a significant impact on wildlife.

All year round, dogs must remain under their master’s supervision and not stray more than 100 metres.

In spring, the rules become stricter: from 15 April to 30 June each year, a ministerial decree (up to date as of 16 April 2021) requires dog owners to keep their pets on a lead outside forest paths*. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to €750.

*Forest paths are understood in the broad sense to include forest roads, paths or tracks, in particular the GR, but also all footpaths. However, forest partitions, firebreaks and parcel boundaries are not considered to be paths.

Contact your local council

Contact your local town hall, as trapping vermin in a game reserve area may result in an annual ban (by municipal decree and depending on the local hunting associations!).