Penmarc'h – Pors Carn

Penmarc'h · Finistère Sud · France

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Pors Carn is the long sand beach just south of the Pointe de la Torche, curving towards Saint-Guénolé. It is hollower, faster and less crowded than La Torche, with sand and scattered boulders shaping the peaks and a tube by the central rocks at mid tide. The corner by the point gives a fun right when La Torche closes out, and far out in the bay an outer reef holds very big swell, around 5 m. Currents are strong, and locals count it among the more dangerous spots in Brittany, so it is for experienced surfers.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Some company
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
Shortboard for the hollow beach peaks; a proper big-wave gun only for the outer reef.

When it works

✓ A 1.5–3 m W to WNW swell with an E to ESE wind, from mid to high tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore west to north-west winds, or a small swell, which wraps in weakly and breaks less often than at La Torche.

Watch out for

  • currents
  • rips
  • rocks

Best months

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

Local tips

Check the left end of the beach, by the point, when La Torche is maxing out: it can give a fun right even in a west-south-west wind. The mid-tide tube by the central boulders is the wave most locals come for. Don't surf here alone, and leave the outer reef to people who know it. Kite and windsurf riders also use the beach once the wind gets up.

Getting there

Park at the La Torche car park and walk over the point. Or take the road towards Saint-Guénolé before reaching La Torche and follow it for about 3 km, until the beach appears on the right just before the houses; the sand is a short walk from the road.

Travel notes

How often it works
Less reliable than La Torche. It faces north-west on the sheltered side of the point, so it needs a solid swell; winter is best and summer is usually flat. That shelter is also its strength: it often works when La Torche is too big, and the outer reef only breaks in very big swell.
Crowd and vibe
Usually empty, on weekdays and weekends alike. It gets busier when a big swell sends surfers over from La Torche. Locals are friendly but like to keep it quiet, and it is one of Brittany's more dangerous spots, so never surf it alone.
Camping and vans
Camping de la Torche in Plomeur is about 2 km away. Camping de la Joie in Saint-Guénolé is about 2.5 km south; it is open April to mid-September and has motorhome services. Saint-Guénolé also has paid van parking on rue Michel Le Gars (about €5.50 a night in season, no services). Nearest campsite about 2 km away.
Facilities
There are toilets, showers, a car park and lifeguards from 1 to 7 pm, early July to late August. Cafés and restaurants are nearby, and the La Torche surf schools are a short walk over the point.
Water quality
The ARS rated the water excellent every year from 2022 to 2025. One sample in August 2026 was only average.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SSW–NW works
Size
1.5–3 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 5 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 13 s
Wind
Offshore E–SE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid, high best
Faces
WNW (290°)

Live cam

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

Nearby spots

All spots in Finistère Sud · All spots

Sources