Searching for Surf Along Brittany’s Rugged Coastline

Waiting for the waves in Finistère, Brittany, France
Waiting for the waves in Finistère, Brittany, France | © Valentin Figuer / Culture Trip

Senior Commercial Content Editor

Jutting out into the Atlantic, at France’s northwestern tip, sits the region of Brittany – one of the country’s top destinations for surfers.

Unlike the long, flat, dune-backed beaches that occupy the rest of France’s Atlantic coast, Brittany’s landscape is rugged and varied, with countless inlets and peninsulas, each with their own distinctive character.

La Pointe de la Torche is at the centre of Brittany’s surfing scene

The waves around this unspoilt stretch of coastline are just as varied. Rocky reefs, point breaks, sandy beaches and sheltered coves all offer different wave conditions, and the Atlantic swells provide something for all tastes and abilities.

In the winter months, the coastline is battered by big swells and erratic weather, while summer offers gentler waves combined with light morning offshore winds. Spring and autumn see consistent swells and mild weather, making these seasons the ideal time for a surf trip. However, as local junior surfer Aurélien Buffet explains: “the jagged coastline means that whatever the orientation of the waves or the wind, those willing to explore will always find a good spot to surf.”

The waves along the the Brittany coast in France are ideal for surfing at all levels

The town of Penmarc’h is the focal point of Brittany’s surf scene, with the main break of La Torche serving up consistent rights and lefts breaking over soft white sands. To the south, you’ll find Pors Carn, which hosts a gentle right hander on a high tide reef. Thanks to the curve of the bay, the waves remain clean here on a variety of wind directions, making it a reliable base for a day of surfing.

Walk the dunes along La Palue Beach in Brittany

The beach is also the site of the 29 HOOD surf club and school – the central hang-out for Brittany’s surf community. Established by talented local surfers Thomas Joncour and Alan L’Helgoualc’h, 29 HOOD prides itself on much more than just teaching people to surf.

Local surfer Aurélien Buffet and Thomas Joncour, co-founder of 29 HOOD surf club

“I think technique is just about 10 percent of what I teach through my surf lessons,” Joncour explains. “Most of it is helping people to feel what a unique outdoor activity surfing is.”

Aurélien Buffet catching a wave just off Pors Carn beach

Joncour is well versed in the abundant surfing spoils of his beautiful homeland and has always been keen to share his wealth of knowledge.

“They founded this club as a place for kids to train and develop their surfing in a community environment,” says professional surfer Ian Fontaine, who grew up under Joncour’s tutelage. “He taught me that surf culture is about discovering places and being passionate and adventurous.”

The 29 HOOD surf club in Brittany is about community as much as surfing

To the north of Penmarc’h, the spectacular “Solar Wind Road” hugs the coastline, giving surfers the opportunity to explore the 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of beach break peaks that extend into the distance. The bright lights of the town quickly make way for a patchwork of fields, which back right onto the dunes. Thanks to a local law, no new development is permitted within 300 meters of the beach, ensuring this pristine stretch remains idyllic for centuries to come.

The “Solar Wind Road” in Brittany weaves its way along the coastline

You rarely lose sight of the sea as you wind your way north, past a procession of tiny ancient chapels and into the town of Plozévet. Here, shaper Robin Goffinet, of Robsurfboards, specialises in creating hand-crafted custom boards, using the most environmentally friendly materials available. His designs include an innovative model using a natural cork core, instead of foam.

Robin Goffinet shapes boards for his company Robsurfboards, based in Plozévet

Further north, across the Baie de Douarnenez, you’ll discover another of Finistère’s most stunning surfing hotspots, the Crozon peninsula. Along its western edge sits La Palue beach, which picks up all available Atlantic swell, making it one of the most consistent breaks in the region. Long walls with occasional barreling sections peel along this expansive white sand beach, bookended by craggy outcrops.

Robsurfboards are handcrafted in Brittany

Following the coast round, you’ll reach Plouguerneau, where narrow coves and towering cliffs present a stark contrast to the low-lying land and wide open beaches of South Finistère. Granite boulders worn smooth by thousands of years of Atlantic onslaught tumble down into a series of coves, where the waves break fast and hollow at high tide. While this stretch favours larger swells, more common in autumn and winter, it’s well worth a look in the summer months too. Spend a sunny afternoon hiking the coast, searching for a secluded peak among the rocks.

The coast of Brittany is wild and rugged

And therein lies the true magic in the Brittany surfing experience: the opportunity to explore an unspoilt coastline, surrounded by beautiful scenery, breathe in the fresh sea air and maybe find your own slice of surfing solitude.

The Atlantic coast offers some of the best surfing in France

There’s so much for everyone in Brittany. To find out more about Brittany’s activities and outdoor adventures, visit brittanytourism.com.
This branded content article was published as part of a commercial campaign that has now ended.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article