Locmaria-Plouzané – Porsmilin

Locmaria-Plouzané · Bretagne Nord · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Locmaria-Plouzané – Porsmilin (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/locmaria-plouzane-porsmilin.

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Porsmilin is a powerful left over rock and sand in the Anse de Bertheaume, on the south-facing coast of Locmaria-Plouzané at the mouth of the Goulet de Brest. It only breaks in a big swell from the south-west to west, ideally 2–3 m or more out at sea, and then gives rides of 50–150 m from a narrow take-off; the wave's shape suits bodyboarders as much as surfers. It is sheltered from westerly winds, which makes it a storm-day option for Brest surfers, and it gets very busy when it works.

Level
Advanced
Break
Reef break, rock
Waves
Lefts
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or bodyboard for the steep, powerful left.

When it works

✓ A large SW to W swell of 2–3 m or more with a N to NNE wind, around mid tide on the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Anything but a big swell, and southerly onshore winds.

Watch out for

  • reef
  • rocks
  • currents
  • crowds

Best months

January, February, March, October, November, December

Local tips

The take-off zone is small, so the line-up packs together quickly; go early on weekdays and expect a full line-up at weekends and whenever a westerly swell arrives. Mid tide on the rising tide is the usual window. Watch for rock patches and the current through the bay. If the peak is too crowded, the nearby coves of Dalbos and Déolen also have waves on big swells.

Getting there

From Brest follow the signs for Locmaria-Plouzané and then Porsmilin beach (Rue de Porz Milin). The free car park is a couple of minutes' walk from the sand and has toilets and showers.

Travel notes

How often it works
A storm-day spot. The bay faces south, so it needs a south-west to west swell of 2–3 m or more to bend in. It is mostly flat in summer. The bonus is shelter from westerly winds, so it often works when the open coast is blown out.
Crowd and vibe
Few surfers in the week, but very crowded at weekends and on good swells. The take-off area is small, and it is one of the closest good waves to Brest. Surfers and bodyboarders share the peak, so be patient and call your waves clearly.
Camping and vans
The municipal Camping de Portez is about 0.5 km east, above Portez beach. It has 94 pitches, open April to mid-October, with motorhome services. A small motorhome area sits just below it. Nearest campsite about 0.5 km away.
Facilities
Toilets, drinking water, a first-aid post and summer lifeguards are at the beach. Minou Surf School is based here and teaches at Porsmilin when conditions suit.
Water quality
Rated good by the French health ministry in 2022, 2024 and 2025, and excellent in 2023. A stream runs onto the beach, and a few samples each summer come back average.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SSW–WSW best, S–W works
Size
3–4.5 m offshore swell; starts at 2.5 m, holds to 6 m
Period
12 s minimum, best from 15 s
Wind
Offshore NNW–NNE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
S (170°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Bretagne Nord · All spots

Sources