Saint-Malo – Le Sillon

Saint-Malo · Bretagne Nord · France

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Le Sillon is Saint-Malo's long town beach, running north-east from the walled city to Rochebonne, backed by the sea wall and cut by wooden groynes. It sits deep in the Channel behind a field of rocks, so it only wakes up when a big north-westerly swell gets this far and the tide is high enough to let it in. Then it gives short, friendly peaks for every level, the best of them near the Hoguette groyne and the Thermes Marins; the rocks out front change where the best sets land from swell to swell, and the Rochebonne end usually has more push than the town end near Fort National. Easy access means a crowd whenever it breaks.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A longboard or high-volume board for the usual small days, a shortboard or bodyboard when a winter swell gets in.

When it works

✓ A medium to solid NW to W swell with a light SE to S wind, from mid tide up to high on the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Small swells that never make it this far up the Channel, low tide when the waves break all at once, and any wind from west round to north.

Watch out for

  • crowds
  • rips
  • currents
  • rocks
  • shorebreak

Best months

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

Local tips

Plan around the tide: most sessions happen on the rising tide from mid, and on big spring tides the currents along the groynes get strong. The peaks near the Hoguette groyne and the stretch in front of the Thermes Marins are the usual picks. The town end towards Fort National is weaker, except in a big westerly, when the rocks there give some shelter. At high tide the waves bounce back off the sea wall and the groynes, which makes for awkward backwash.

Getting there

The beach is in town along the Boulevard du Sillon, a few minutes' walk from the walled city, with steps straight down from the promenade. Surf schools and hire shops work from the beach.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fickle. The beach sits deep in the Channel behind offshore reefs, so it only works when a strong west-north-west swell reaches this far. Summer is usually flat. Even in February, its best month, clean surfable days are well under one in five.
Crowd and vibe
It is the town beach, with surf schools on the sand, so good days bring a mix of learners and locals. On weekdays the water is often nearly empty. The regulars are mostly described as friendly, but on big rising tides everyone competes for the best waves by the groynes.
Camping and vans
There is no campsite on the Sillon. The municipal Camping de la Cité d'Aleth is in Saint-Servan, about 3.5 km away in a straight line, and the year-round Aire des Îlots for motorhomes is at Rothéneuf, about 3.5 km north-east. Motorhomes may not park overnight on several seafront car parks (the Davier car park since July 2023), so use the official aires. Nearest campsite about 3.5 km away.
Facilities
In summer there are lifeguards and a first-aid post, plus toilets, showers and drinking water. A bar, restaurants, surf schools and board hire are on the promenade and beach.
Water quality
The ARS rated Le Sillon 'good' on the 2024 season results (published 2025). Saint-Malo beaches often close for a few days after heavy rain, when storm water and sewage overflow, and the group Eau et Rivières has criticised the town for it, so don't surf right after a downpour.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NW best, W–NNW works
Size
1.5–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore ESE–S; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, avoid low, on the rising tide
Faces
NNW (330°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Bretagne Nord · All spots

Sources