France · Loire-Atlantique
Pen Be
Loire-Atlantique, France
On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 21.6 | 0.4 |
| Thu 3 | 21.8 | 0.5 |
| Fri 4 | 21.9 | 0.5 |
| Sat 5 | 22.7 | 0.4 |
| Sun 6 | 22.3 | 0.6 |
| Mon 7 | 22.4 | 0.6 |
| Tue 8 | 22.3 | 0.9 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Good2016
- 2017: Good2017
- 2018: Good2018
- 2019: Good2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Good |
| 2017 | Good |
| 2018 | Good |
| 2019 | Good |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 15 |
| Feb | 14 |
| Mar | 15 |
| Apr | 17 |
| May | 19 |
| Jun | 22 |
| Jul | 23 |
| Aug | 24 |
| Sep | 24 |
| Oct | 22 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 17 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Sorlock1.3 kmLoire-Atlantique
- Bole de Merquel1.3 kmLoire-Atlantique
- Cabonnais1.8 kmLoire-Atlantique
- Pont Mahe2.1 kmLoire-Atlantique
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Kercabellec, about ~1.9 km away.
- 2 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Chez nous, about ~160 m away.
- 3 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Camping de la Ferme de Pen-Bé, about ~290 m away.
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
Is the water clean at Pen Be?
Pen Be sits on a stretch of coast classed as a coastal bathing site, carrying an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season. Under the EU Bathing Water Directive, national authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season and report the results the following spring — the 2025 rating was published in spring 2026, and 2026's won't follow until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It sits in Loire-Atlantique. You can park about ~170 m away.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. If you're timing a visit around water temperature rather than crowds, July–September is the safest bet, with August typically the peak — expect a cooler, calmer sea either side of that stretch. Kercabellec — the closest town — sits about ~1.9 km from here.
That “Excellent” label comes from a full season of official water sampling, not a single test — it's one step on a four-point scale (Excellent, Good, Sufficient, Poor) reassessed once a year. Today's actual conditions can differ from the seasonal average, so for a live snapshot see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 6 straight years. There are 2 places to eat within a kilometre — Chez nous is the closest, about ~160 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pen Be a safe beach for swimming?
Generally, yes. Pen Be's 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent — the highest tier — backed by 11 of 11 classified seasons rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 6 straight years.
Is the sea warm at Pen Be today?
As of the latest update, the sea temperature at Pen Be is around 21°C — see the “Right now” panel above for live conditions. That's the reading right off Loire-Atlantique.
What's the ideal time of year to swim at Pen Be?
The most reliable stretch for warm water runs through July–September, based on the modeled climatology. That applies to the water around Loire-Atlantique.
What does the water quality rating actually measure?
The grade comes from a full season of official sampling for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring under the EU Bathing Water Directive, which assigns Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. Some countries (Croatia, via IZOR) also publish individual in-season samples ahead of that report; Pen Be doesn't have that feed yet.
How do you get to Pen Be?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. The nearest town is Kercabellec, about ~1.9 km away.