In Brittany, the swell generated by oceanic depressions offers the coast a good range of conditions, particularly out of season.
Do not let the freshness of the water (between 11 and 15 degrees) stop you: equipped with a 4-3 mm wetsuit and neoprene slippers, you are ready to ride the Celtic waves, in landscapes of a penetrating and endless beauty ... Almost alone on the line-up at this time of year.
Here are the top 3 must-see sites that will get you hooked.
Read the file: Brittany: the
Figaro
travel guide
La Torche, the most famous wave of Armor
La Torche, at the southern end of Audierne bay (Finistère), is the most popular surf spot in Brittany - it is even the cradle of it, and regularly hosts competitions.
On this long unspoiled beach bordered by dunes and tulip plantations, the westerly swell creates a
beach break
all year round
(wave breaking on a sandy bottom) perfect for beginners and longboard enthusiasts;
however, it can reach up to 3.50 m when ideal conditions are met.
If there are too many people in the water, fall back to the spots very close to Tronoën or Porz Carn.
The sunset sessions are unforgettable ...
GETTING THERE:
allow 30 minutes by car from Quimper.
Take direction Ploemeur / Penmarc'h, then Pointe de la Torche.
WE LOVE:
the very serious
Surf Camp XXIX
welcomes, in a Bigoudène farmhouse close to the spot, 12-17 year olds during school holidays (from 530 € / child).
The rest of the year, alone, with family or friends, you can sleep there (from 25 to 60 € / night) or participate in the adult surfcamp with full board during the long weekends in spring and autumn, with lessons in the morning and material available in the afternoon (www.esb-latorche.com, from 115 € / adult).
The Crozon peninsula, a paradise for confirmed surfers
Crozon, Palue beach.
CRTB / The Eye of Paco
It feels like the end of the world.
Nestled in the hollow of a sublime promontory separating the bay of Brest from the bay of Douarnenez, the wild beach of La Palue (Finistère) is one of the most beautiful in Brittany.
Virgin of any construction, 2 km wide, it is a very consistent, regular spot, reserved for good surfers because the currents can be strong.
When the swell comes full west, at high tide, the waves are powerful, hollow;
you can also "tuber" (being covered by the lip of the wave, which is the ultimate figure in surfing) when the wind comes from the east.
On the peninsula, the waves of Lostmarc'h, Kerloc'h, or Goulien are also very well known.
GETTING THERE
:
allow an hour's drive from Brest or Quimper.
Take the direction of Crozon, then Morgat, then La Palue.
WE LOVE:
PhilaDelphia
, a surf house with retro decor, run by two board
sports
enthusiasts, five minutes from the peninsula's spots.
Dryer for wetsuits, racks for boards, walk-in shower to rinse off after a session ... Everything is done to facilitate your sliding stay.
Surf camps are organized on a weekend or weekly basis (Crozon-Morgat, tel .: 06 73 28 43 20, phila-delphia.fr, from 20 to 90 € / night / person, surfcamp from 130 to 320 € / person ).
Read also: The 5 most beautiful beaches in northern Brittany
The Quiberon peninsula, for all levels
Port Bara beach in St-Pierre-Quiberon.
CRTB / Gaêlle Le Boulicaut / Morbihan Tourism
Surfing on the Quiberon peninsula, in Morbihan, is a whole art of living. The eastern side is perfectly sheltered and provides quality waves that are easy to catch. Departing from Plouharnel, labeled "City of surfing", the spots of Sainte-Barbe, La Guérite and Mané Gwen are popular with beginners, intermediate levels and longboarders.
We progress quickly, since there is little current and room for everyone on these long stretches of golden sand.
It is on the wild coast, facing the offshore swell and the prevailing winds, that we find more demanding spots, such as Port-Blanc, Port-Rhu and Port Bara, reserved for
seasoned
riders
.
On these 8 km of steep cliffs, enchanting coves and caves accessible only at low tide, the waves breaking on the
reef
are stronger, even very big in winter.
Read also: From Quiberon to Belle-Île, a charming stopover in southern Brittany
GETTING THERE:
rent a car at Auray station, for easier access to the spots of the wild coast (from Plouharnel-Carnac, 15 minutes out of season… And up to one hour in summer, because of traffic jams!).
WE LOVE
:
pledge of a secure and passionate education,
ESB Plouharnel
is one of the 9 certified schools of the ESB network (Brittany Surf School), located on the best Breton spots (www.ecole-surf.com, tel. : 02 97 52 41 18).
It also offers a duplex surf lodge (weekend off season 290 €), and a space for discussion and relaxation in a very Californian spirit, the ESB Shop & Café (Plouharnel, tel .: 02 97 14 29 95 ) where you can find healthy meals, boards and clothes.
Practical notebook
Surf lessons at La Torche.
CRTB / GUILLIAMS Laurent
PROGRAM THE BEST WEATHER SLOT FOR A SURF TRIP
By downloading the Surf Report and Windguru apps on your smartphone.
SHOPPING
We play it Californian with
the iconic unisex surf shorts
made in Saint-Malo by Hoalen, the Breton Abercrombie & Fitch created in 2006. The brand offers its hoodies, T-shirts and other neoprene wetsuits in pretty
ocean stores
at Brest, La Trinité-sur-Mer, Crozon, Saint-Lunaire or Kelerdut;
the latter remains open all summer until 9 p.m. in “beach bar” mode (www.hoalen.com).
Member of "Lost in the swell", a band of adventurers scouring the globe in search of virgin waves, Ronan Gladu is THE Breton surf photographer.
For nearly 20 years, he has been tracking the most beautiful sessions on the Armorican coast, immortalized in a
beautiful
240-page
book
,
Barravel
(on sale at www.ronangladu.com, € 48).
Barravel, surfing in Brittany by Ronan Gladu.
Ronan Gladu
Want to buy a
100% Breton hand-shaped board
?
In his Plume avion workshop, 20 minutes from La Torche, Laurent Guéguen offers all kinds of alternative boards, produced to measure in small quantities, inspired by 60's and 70's designs (Plozevet, Finistère, tel .: 06 82 34 54 74 , plumedavion.com).
Gaël Le Thellec, who went through the Boulle school, manufactures
old school models in
hollowed-out paulownia wood, oiled or varnished, terribly attractive (Combrit, Finistère, tel .: 06 59 38 58 39, www.gawoodsurfboards.com).
Camille Prigent's wax.
Rivages House
Eco-friendly because 100% natural and biodegradable, the
local wax
with a stylish covering designed by Camille Prigent only contains beeswax, coconut oil and pine sap (€ 5 , Maison Rivages, Keradraon, Finistère, by appointment only, tel .: 06 27 10 57 30, rivages.myshopify.com; also on sale at the Wood and Sea surfshop in Brest, tel .: 02 90 82 56 55).