A review of just some of the fabolous beaches by Angela Bird  :
 

Croix-de-Vie  A little ferry runs across the harbour mouth to the dunes next to the Grande Plage on the south side of the river.
St-Gilles-sur-Vie On the south side of the estuary, restaurants line the quay overlooking the harbour. If you want a beach you need to follow signs to the Grande Plage, across a small canal bridge. Pont-Jaunay The dunes between St Gilles and Brétignolles have at last been protected, so this is one of the wilder beaches you will come across.

Brétignolles-sur-Mer To the south are some mini cliffs, then another beach - La Normandalière .

Brem-sur-Mer Brem itself is a little set back from the beach, but there are some good sandy areas here. The Parc d'Attractions des Dunes is a must for anyone with small children. A little farther south is a wild spot called Havre de la Gachère, where the river Auzance meets the sea. Not so good for swimming, but great for out-of-season solitude.

Close to the very chic resort of Les Sables D’Olonne  Sauveterre in the Forest of Olonne, full of fragrant pine trees and shady picnic spots, is an attractive beach  midway between La Gachère and Sauveterre,

La Chaume A pretty fishing village at the tip of the peninsula opposite Les Sables-d'Olonne, La Chaume is full of narrow winding streets lined with low-whitewashed houses . As well as one or two tiny beaches among the rocks, is a wide, sandy beach called the Paracou, just to the north of La Chaume - another great surfing spot.

Our personal favourite is the delightful coastal town of La Tranche SurMer.