Le Verdon – Plage Saint-Nicolas

Le Verdon-sur-Mer · Gironde · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Le Verdon – Plage Saint-Nicolas (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/le-verdon-saint-nicolas.

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Saint-Nicolas is the ocean beach of Le Verdon, a long stretch of fine sand at the very tip of the Médoc where the Atlantic meets the Gironde estuary. It sits out of the main swell window and only comes alive in big winter swells, when the open Médoc beaches are closing out. On those days the sandbanks give short, fast, hollow peaks, both lefts and rights, that bodyboarders especially rate. It is a spot for experienced surfers only: the estuary current is strong and the setting is lonely.

Level
Advanced
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter
Boards
A shortboard or step-up with plenty of rail for short, hollow sections; bodyboards suit it well.

When it works

✓ A big west to north-west swell of 2–3 m or more, a south or south-east wind, and low to mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Any normal swell under about 1.5 m, which barely reaches this corner, and northerly or westerly onshore wind.

Watch out for

  • currents
  • rips
  • pollution

Best months

January, February, March, November, December

Local tips

Treat it as a big-swell back-up for the north Médoc: check it when Soulac and Le Gurp are maxed out and the wind is from the south. The ebb and flood of the estuary drive strong currents along the beach, so never paddle out alone and watch how fast you drift. The water near the estuary can be murky after rain. The part of the beach closest to the Pointe de Grave is closed to bathing.

Getting there

From Le Verdon follow the route de Brémontier and the 'plage océane' signs through the forest; a free car park lies a few hundred metres back and the path crosses the protected dunes of the Banc Saint-Nicolas in about ten minutes. A summer lifeguard post with showers stands at the main access; walking left the beach becomes a naturist area.

Travel notes

How often it works
It works only on big winter swells, when the other spots close out, and summer is mostly flat. Surf-forecast says it does not work very often.
Crowd and vibe
It is rarely crowded. Wannasurf lists it as empty on weekdays and with few surfers at weekends.
Camping and vans
Sunelia La Pointe du Médoc in Le Verdon-sur-Mer is about 3 km away. Nearest campsite about 3 km away.
Facilities
There is a free car park a few hundred metres back and a summer lifeguard post with showers at the main access.
Water quality
The Saint-Nicolas monitoring point was rated good every season from 2022 to 2025, all five 2026 samples were good, and the beach holds the 2026 Pavillon Bleu. Surf guides still warn of murky, polluted water near the estuary, especially after rain.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NW best, W–NNW works
Size
2.5–4.5 m offshore swell; starts at 2 m, holds to 6 m
Period
11 s minimum, best from 14 s
Wind
Offshore ESE–SSW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
low, mid best, avoid high
Faces
NNW (339°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Gironde · All spots

Sources