Camaret – Pen Hat

Camaret-sur-Mer · Finistère Sud · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Camaret – Pen Hat (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/camaret-pen-hat.

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Pen Hat is a wild sandy cove between the Pointe du Toulinguet and the cliffs of the Pointe de Pen Hir, open to the Atlantic and catching almost every westerly swell. The waves are powerful and hollow, and the peaks shift as the sandbanks move, sometimes within one session. Strong rips run along the rocks at both ends, which makes it one of the more dangerous beaches on the peninsula, for fit, experienced surfers rather than beginners.

Level
Advanced
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard for the hollow, fast waves; something with a little extra volume helps with the hard paddling on bigger days.

When it works

✓ A 1–2.5 m westerly swell with a light NE to E wind, around mid tide on the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore south-westerlies, high tide when the shorebreak dumps onto the pebbles, or a big swell that closes out the bay and pumps the rips.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks
  • shorebreak

Best months

January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December

Local tips

Watch the water for a while before paddling out: currents here can be strong without any clear sign, and the peaks shift with the sand. Expect a lot of paddling to hold your spot, and keep away from the rocks at either end. Weekday mornings are the quiet window; weekends can get busy, and visitors are asked to come in small groups and keep a low profile.

Getting there

From Camaret, take the only road out towards the Pointe du Toulinguet. The cove opens on your left, a few minutes' walk from where you park.

Travel notes

How often it works
One of the most exposed beaches on the peninsula. It starts working when the swell is under a metre and picks up waves from the south-west to the north-west. The catch is wind: westerlies blow it out on many days, and in summer it is often small or flat.
Crowd and vibe
Quiet on weekdays, but it can get crowded at weekends when waves and wind are good. Older reports disagree about the locals: some describe a protective group, others no trouble at all. Come in small groups, keep a low profile and let the regulars go first.
Camping and vans
The Camping Municipal du Lannic and the town's motorhome area at Pen Hir (open all year) are each about 1 km from the beach. The 4-star Camping Le Grand Large is at Lambézen, beyond Camaret town. Sleeping or camping in the clifftop car parks on rue du Toulinguet is banned, and recent visitors report fines. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
Facilities
A wild beach with no cafés, toilets or lifeguards, and swimming is forbidden because of strong currents. Food and shops are in Camaret, about a kilometre away.
Water quality
Swimming is banned at Pen Hat, so the water is not officially tested and has no rating.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SSW–NW works
Size
1.2–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.7 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NNE–E; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best, on the rising tide
Faces
SW (235°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Finistère Sud · All spots

Sources