Plougonvelin – Le Trez Hir

Plougonvelin · Bretagne Nord · France

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Le Trez Hir is Plougonvelin's main beach, facing south-east at the back of the Anse de Bertheaume, near the entrance to the Goulet de Brest. A big south to south-west swell wraps in to a hollow, powerful left on a sand bar over flat rocks, and it breaks more often than its sheltered position suggests. The first peak suits beginners and the outside reef is for experienced surfers. It is the fallback when Trégana and the open coast are too big.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or a mid-length with some volume for the short, powerful waves.

When it works

✓ A big S to SW swell with a north-westerly wind, from mid to high tide on the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Low tide, small, northerly or north-westerly swells that cannot reach the bay, and south-easterly onshore winds.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks

Best months

January, February, March, October, November, December

Local tips

Save it for the days when a big south-westerly swell is closing out Trégana and the open coast, and aim for the hours around high tide. Watch for rips and for rocks and moorings in the bay. It is usually quiet in the week but can fill up at weekends when it is one of the few places breaking.

Getting there

From Brest take the D789 towards Le Conquet and turn off for Plougonvelin. The beach lies in front of the Trez Hir seaside resort, with the Fort de Bertheaume at the western end of the bay.

Travel notes

How often it works
Rarely breaks, only a handful of days a year. The beach faces south-east inside a bay, away from the open ocean. It needs a big south to south-west swell to bend in, usually on storm days when the open spots are too big.
Crowd and vibe
Few surfers on weekdays. It can get crowded at weekends when it is one of the few places breaking.
Camping and vans
Les Terrasses de Bertheaume sits above the bay about 1 km west of the beach. It has a pool and a path down to the small Perzel beach below. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
Facilities
A full resort beach with lifeguards from early July to late August, toilets, showers, a first-aid post and a bar. The Plougonvelin water-sports centre next to the sand hires out equipment, and the beach has step-free access.
Water quality
Rated good by the French health ministry in 2022, 2024 and 2025, and excellent in 2023. A couple of 2026 summer samples were only average.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SSW–WSW best, S–W works
Size
2–3.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1.2 m, holds to 5 m
Period
11 s minimum, best from 14 s
Wind
Offshore WNW–N; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, avoid low, on the rising tide
Faces
SE (135°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Bretagne Nord · All spots

Sources