The beach at Mesnil-Val sits at the foot of white chalk cliffs and runs east-west along the Channel shore. It is predominantly pebble, but at low tide sections of sand appear and the rock pools beneath the cliff base become the main attraction — they are rich with anemones, crabs, and small fish. The cliffs on either side frame the view and close the beach into a natural amphitheatre open only to the sea.
Swimming is possible in summer but depends on the tide: the rocks that form the sea floor at low tide become submerged at high tide. Check the local tide tables before wading in. The beach is rarely crowded outside of French summer holiday weeks in July and August, which is most of its appeal. There is no infrastructure beyond a small car park at the road's end.