Plovan

Finistère Sud · France

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Plovan is a quiet stretch of the Baie d'Audierne between Penhors and Tréguennec, by the Kergalan lagoon. It is an open beach break over sand with some rock, with lefts and rights that are usually short but run longer on good days. On its day, when the banks line up, it is as good as the better-known beaches nearby, and it is usually empty.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
Shortboard or fish.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m W swell with a NE or E wind, best on a rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore winds, or a swell over about 2.5 m, big enough to close out the bay.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks

Best months

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

Local tips

There is no set peak: walk along the beach near the lagoon and surf whichever sandbank is working. It works at any tide, with the rising tide often best. Expect to surf alone, so be careful with currents on bigger days.

Getting there

From Plovan follow the road to the beach by the Kergalan lagoon; the sand is a few minutes' walk from where you park.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fairly regular. This open stretch of the bay faces west-south-west and picks up most swells from about 1–1.5 m. It has no shelter, so above about 2.5 m the waves break all at once (close out).
Crowd and vibe
Rarely more than a handful of surfers, so you will often be alone. The main groups are occasional surf-school lessons.
Camping and vans
The town's Aire naturelle de Ru Vein is a small campsite about 500 m from the break, open June to September. It has 25 motorhome places with water, toilets, waste emptying and electricity. Reviewers say it fills up in high season. Nearest campsite about 0.5 km away.
Facilities
Ru Vein beach has a car park, toilets, drinking water and a summer lifeguard post. Soul Surfing Skol from Plouhinec gives lessons here when conditions suit.
Water quality
The official Ru Vein bathing site was rated Excellent for 2025, though one sample in late August 2026 was poor. The Kergalan lagoon lies just behind the beach.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SSW–NW works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.7 m, holds to 2.5 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NE–E; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
low, mid, high best, on the rising tide
Faces
WSW (247°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Finistère Sud · All spots

Sources