Dieppe

Normandie · France

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Dieppe's main beach is a long, broad shingle bank in front of the seafront lawns, running from the castle cliff to the west harbour jetty. It needs a solid Channel swell from the west or north-west, and then gives short, punchy waves that break close to the pebbles, with sand showing lower down at low tide. Locals surf it when the Caux coast is working; on small, clean days it can suit learners and longboards, but on a solid swell it is a quick, dumpy wave for good surfers.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, cobbles
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or fish with some volume; a longboard only on small, clean days.

When it works

✓ A W to NW swell of 1.5 m or more with a light southerly wind, around mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore north-westerlies, a small swell, or high tide, when the waves dump straight onto the shingle.

Watch out for

  • shorebreak
  • currents
  • pollution

Best months

January, February, March, October, November, December

Local tips

Wear boots: getting in and out over the pebbles is the hardest part of the session, especially when the shorebreak is up. At low tide a strong current can run close to the shore, and high tide brings a heavy shorebreak, so the middle of the tide is the usual window. Water quality near the harbour is sometimes in doubt, so avoid the harbour end after heavy rain.

Getting there

The beach is right by the town centre, with the long seafront lawns and roads behind it. Kiters and windsurfers usually gather at the far west end, near the castle cliff.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fickle. This north-west-facing pebble beach only gets surfable waves from a proper west to north-west swell. That mostly comes with autumn and winter storms, and it is often flat in summer.
Crowd and vibe
Few surfers paddle out here; most locals go to Pourville, a few kilometres west. It is busiest in the late afternoon, after work and school. Respect the regulars and the usual right-of-way rules.
Camping and vans
Motorhomes can use the town's Aire du Pollet on Quai de la Marne, by the harbour, about 800 m from the centre. It has up to 60 places, a 48-hour limit and costs roughly €18–19 a night. The nearest campsite is Camping La Source at Petit-Appeville (Hautot-sur-Mer), roughly 4–5 km south-west of the beach. Nearest campsite about 4.5 km away.
Facilities
Town beach with three lifeguard posts from 15 June to 15 September, café terraces and crêpe stands on the promenade. A summer beach base offers windsurf, kayak and SUP; for surf lessons, the nearest school is Surf'in Pourville.
Water quality
The regional health agency (ARS Normandie) rated Dieppe beach excellent for 2025, and it held a Pavillon Bleu (Blue Flag) in 2025. Avoid the harbour mouth at the eastern end after heavy rain.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NNW best, W–N works
Size
1.3–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
6 s minimum, best from 10 s
Wind
Offshore SE–S; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best, avoid high
Faces
NW (323°)

Live cam

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

Nearby spots

All spots in Normandie · All spots

Sources