Camaret – Pointe du Toulinguet

Camaret-sur-Mer · Finistère Sud · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Camaret – Pointe du Toulinguet (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-toulinguet.

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A short, fast and heavy left that breaks over boulders and reef in the Porz Naye cove, on the sheltered north side of the Pointe du Toulinguet, facing the entrance to the Brest roads. Normal swells never reach it: it only shows when a big westerly swell bends around the headland, which makes it a storm option for when Pen Hat and La Palue are huge and blown out. The water is shallow and getting down the cliff is part of the challenge, so it is for experienced surfers only.

Level
Advanced
Break
Point break, rock
Waves
Lefts
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard with some volume or a step-up; the waves inside the cove rarely exceed 2 m even on huge days.

When it works

✓ A solid W to NW swell of 3 m or more out at sea (ideally 3.5 m) wrapping round the point, with a S to SW wind, from mid tide up on the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Anything under about 3 m out at sea, which leaves the cove flat or too shallow, or a northerly wind blowing into the cove.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • reef
  • rips

Best months

January, February, March, October, November, December

Local tips

Look before you commit: the wave can close out without warning and the bottom is shallow and sharp. Get in and out through the gap in the reef just to the right of the bottom of the path, and if you are caught inside, let the set pass rather than duck-diving into the rocks. Locals prefer the upper half of the tide, finishing as the tide tops out; lower tides put your fins and feet at risk. A helmet is a sensible idea on a first visit.

Getting there

Drive through Camaret, follow the harbour road to its end and climb towards the Pointe du Toulinguet. Park in the last car park on the right and walk a few minutes to the cliff edge. A steep clay path, slippery when wet and sometimes fitted with a rope by locals, leads down to the cove; carry your board and go down one at a time. The tip of the point is military land and closed to the public.

Travel notes

How often it works
Very fickle: it only breaks a few times each winter. The swell must reach about 3–3.5 m out at sea before enough of it bends round the point into this north-facing cove. Treat it as a storm-day option when the open beaches are too big, not something to plan around.
Crowd and vibe
Usually empty in the week, with only a handful of surfers at weekends. It works so rarely, and the cliff path puts most people off. The few regulars are said to be friendly, so arrive quietly and wait your turn.
Camping and vans
The Camping Municipal du Lannic and the town's motorhome area at Pen Hir (open all year) are both about 1 km away in Camaret. The 4-star Camping Le Grand Large is at Lambézen, on the far side of town. The car parks on rue du Toulinguet are for daytime only, camping is banned, and recent visitors report early-morning fines. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
Facilities
There are no services or lifeguards at the cove or on the point. Cafés, restaurants and shops are by Camaret harbour, about a kilometre's drive away.
Water quality
The cove is not an official bathing site, so it has no water-quality rating. Nearby Veryac'h, which is tested, rated good every year from 2022 to 2025.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SW–NW works
Size
3.5–5 m offshore swell; starts at 2.5 m, holds to 7 m
Period
12 s minimum, best from 15 s
Wind
Offshore S–WSW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid best, avoid high, on the rising tide
Faces
NNE (20°)

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