Pornichet – Bonne Source

Pornichet · Loire-Atlantique · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Pornichet – Bonne Source (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/pornichet-bonne-source.

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A long sand beach south of Pornichet's marina, broken up by rock outcrops, where a big swell produces a short, powerful shorebreak with bowly sections. It only works around high tide, when the bowls and steep shorebreak make it one of France's best-known skimboard spots and a favourite of bodyboarders looking for airs. Rides are short, rarely beyond 50 m, and it takes a large south-west swell to get into the bay. Stand-up surfers are few and it is usually empty.

Level
Advanced
Break
Reef break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
Bodyboard or skimboard suit it best; stand-up surfers need a short, responsive board for the steep bowls.

When it works

✓ A large south-west swell of about 1.5–2 m or more with a north to east wind, around high tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Low tide, when the rocks are exposed and there is no wave, small swells, and south to south-west onshore winds.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • reef
  • shorebreak

Best months

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

Local tips

Time it for the top of the tide; a local's verdict is that high tides from September to April are the best, and better still with a solid swell and an offshore wind. The shorebreak is heavy and the bottom mixes sand and rock, so walk the beach at low tide to see where the outcrops are before surfing it at high.

Getting there

On avenue de Bonne Source in Pornichet, with parking and bike racks nearby; the beach has toilets, a first-aid post, restaurants and a beach club, and the coastal path runs along the dunes.

Travel notes

How often it works
Wannasurf says it only breaks sometimes. It needs a solid swell, an offshore wind and a high tide, and it works best from September to April.
Crowd and vibe
Wannasurf calls it a peaceful spot, with few surfers even at weekends. It is famous for skimboarding.
Camping and vans
Camping Bel Air and Camping du Bugeau in Pornichet are about 1 km away. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
Facilities
The beach has toilets, showers, drinking water, a summer first-aid post, restaurants and a beach club.
Water quality
The Bonne Source monitoring point was rated good every season from 2022 to 2025, and all eight 2026 samples were good. The beach holds the 2026 Pavillon Bleu.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SSW–WSW best, SSW–W works
Size
2.5–4.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1.8 m, holds to 6 m
Period
11 s minimum, best from 14 s
Wind
Offshore NNW–NE; handles onshore up to 15 km/h
Tide
high best, avoid low
Faces
SW (220°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Loire-Atlantique · All spots

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