Penthièvre (Isthme)

Saint-Pierre-Quiberon · Morbihan · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Penthièvre (Isthme) (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/penthievre.

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Penthièvre is the southern end of the long Plouharnel strand, where the beach narrows into the isthmus that joins the Quiberon peninsula to the mainland, beneath the walls of Fort de Penthièvre. It is an open sandy beachbreak whose peaks can be punchy, peeling or closing out depending on the swell angle and the state of the banks. Its slightly more westerly outlook catches north-westerly swell that misses some neighbouring beaches, and several guides rate it among the most consistent spots in the area. On small days it suits learners; with more swell it is a busy fallback for Côte Sauvage regulars when the coves are too full.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring, summer
Boards
Foam boards and longboards on small days; a shortboard or fish when there is push in the swell.

When it works

✓ A west to west-north-west swell of 0.8 to 1.5 metres with light north-east to east wind, from mid tide towards high on the push.

When it doesn't

✕ Westerly or south-westerly onshore wind, which is common on this exposed isthmus, or swells above about two metres, when the banks close out.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents
  • crowds

Best months

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

Local tips

Locals use it mostly around high tide, when Port Blanc and the other Côte Sauvage coves get too full of water. Look for a bank where the peak peels rather than closes; the shape can change from one storm to the next. In strong wind this stretch fills with windsurfers and kiters, so surf early.

Getting there

Right beside the D768 on the isthmus near Fort de Penthièvre, with roadside parking and a campsite and surf hostel close by; the beach is a short walk over the dunes. Traffic onto the peninsula is slow in summer.

Travel notes

How often it works
Surf-forecast rates it reasonably consistent, though summer is often flat. It is mostly a high-tide fallback when the Côte Sauvage coves are too full.
Crowd and vibe
It is sometimes crowded, mainly by surfers who come over from the Côte Sauvage at high tide. On windy days, windsurfers and kitesurfers share the water.
Camping and vans
A campsite and a surf hostel sit close to the beach. In our directory, Camping de l'Océan in Saint-Pierre-Quiberon is about 2 km away. Nearest campsite about 2 km away.
Facilities
In summer there is a lifeguard post, toilets and drinking water at the Penthièvre ocean beach.
Water quality
The Penthièvre-Océan monitoring point was rated good every season from 2022 to 2025. In 2026, one of its 14 samples was only average.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SW–NW works
Size
1–2.2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NNE–E; handles onshore up to 15 km/h
Tide
high, mid best, on the rising tide
Faces
WSW (255°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Morbihan · All spots

Sources