Mesnil-Val is a small seaside hamlet on the Alabaster Coast, about 20 kilometres north of Dieppe and just a few kilometres from the border with Picardy. The setting is dramatic: white chalk cliffs rise above a rocky beach that reveals stretches of sand at low tide. It is quieter and less developed than the better-known resorts along this coast, which is precisely the point.
The beach is the main attraction. At low tide the rock pools are excellent for exploring, and the cliffs on either side frame a natural amphitheatre open to the Channel. Swimming is possible but depends on the tide — check locally before wading out over the rocks. The GR21 coastal path passes through, making Mesnil-Val a good stop on a longer walk along the cliffs between Le Treport and Dieppe.
The village itself is tiny — a scattering of houses, a campsite, and not much else. For restaurants and shops, the nearby town of Criel-sur-Mer is a short drive or walk inland. This is a place for people who want a stretch of Norman coast to themselves, the sound of waves on pebbles, and nothing more complicated than deciding when to open the wine.