Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist)

KitesurfingWindsurfingWingfoilingSurfing
Freestyle, Freeride
Best for
Beginner
Skill Level
Flat, Shallow, Chop, Small waves
Spot Type
Moderate
Crowd Level

This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.

About this spot

About

Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) is a large sandy beach spot on the Brittany coast with strongly tidal conditions. At low tide the water can retreat very far, leaving mostly sand/small pools, while mid-tide and especially high tide can provide more consistent “foot”/wading coverage across much of the beach and wider riding areas. For kitesurfing, the combination of a wide sandy launch area and extensive shallow water at the right tide makes Keremma a strong beginner progression venue—particularly when the bay fills. At the same time, tidal currents can develop near channels and the Kernic bay mouth (east side), so riders should plan their sessions around the tide and avoid the current zone. Wind is dominated by westerly to north-westerly patterns, with north-easterly thermal reinforcement showing up in summer afternoons. Thermal effects are most notable as sunny afternoons develop, typically later in the day; this can add stability compared with purely frontal setups. Wind direction guidance from sources emphasizes working the West to North-East window while avoiding offshore or very gusty south/southeast winds. Safety and access require attention to local environmental rules and practical logistics: the site is within a protected natural area with restricted launch/riding zones, and swimming-zone restrictions can apply during July and August. Dogs must be leashed and are only allowed off-season, and the Odé Vraz parking area floods at high tide above tide coefficient 80—so tide timing matters before you park.

  • Very large sandy beach with plenty of setup space
  • Strong tidal variation creates changing water depth and riding conditions
  • Summer thermal reinforcement that can improve wind stability in the afternoon
  • Beginner-friendly kite conditions at the right tide window
Great for
Kitesurfing freestyleKitesurfing freerideKitesurfing waveKitesurfing foilKitesurfing straplessWingfoil freerideBeginnersAdvanced riders
What's great
  • Huge sandy beach with lots of space for setup and progression
  • Flat-water/lagoon-like conditions at the right tides make it very beginner-friendly for kitesurfing
  • Regular wind opportunities with good overall reliability; summer thermal reinforcement can improve conditions
  • Good kite spot reputation and is described as a reference destination in northern Brittany
Heads up
  • Tidal water depth changes dramatically; very shallow at low tide and foot/coverage depends on tide
  • Strong current near the Kernic bay mouth (east side) — must be avoided
  • Protected dune/bird environment with zone restrictions; swimming-zone limits can apply in summer
  • Parking can flood at high tide above tide coefficient 80
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Practical spot guide

Wind, water and seasons

Wind

Direction
W, NW, NE, N
Offshore directions
S, SE
No-go directions
S
Wind Range
15–25 kts
Wind Type
Thermal — Summer thermal lifts on a predominantly westerly regime; also influenced by frontal patterns depending on season.
Reliability
Over 200 navigable days per year reported; generally good reliability with frontal systems and summer thermals.
Gust Factor
Steady — Sources describe steady/regular wind; some mentions of light gusts depending on system/afternoon conditions.
Best Months
January, February, July, August, November, December
Recommended Kite Sizes
9–12 m²

Water & beach

Water Type
Flat, Shallow, Chop, Small waves
Beach
Sand — Perfect sandy beach described; sand bottom.
Beach Size
Big
Waves
Small — Small shorebreak/small-wave description from multiple sources.
Chop Level
Light chop — Mostly flat/lagoon-like when conditions align; perturbations/chop can increase with less favorable wind (e.g., NW perturbations).
Launch
Big — Wide sandy launch with about 500 m of usable beach at low tide; narrows to roughly 100 m remaining at high tide. Self-launch is described as easy.

Through the year

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
9–19 °C
Water Temperature
6–23 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
Jan–Apr: 5/4mm + Boots, Gloves, HoodMay–Sep: 3/2mm or 4/3mm
Crowds by Season

Busy during July and August; quieter and more spacious during spring and autumn.

Storm/Rain Season

Late autumn and winter (November to February) bring the most frequent rain and stronger Atlantic storm systems.

By sport

What to expect for each.

KitesurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

Large sandy beach with a broad shallow area; beginner-friendly at high tide due to available flat water/lagoon-like conditions at the right tide windows. Flat-water lagoon at low tide and freestyle/freeride suitability depending on tide and wind.

FreestyleFreerideWaveFoilStrapless
Kite Sizes
9–12 m²
WindsurfingSkill Level

Freeride and bump-and-jump style riding described; flat water in the bay at high tide supports speed and carving.

FreerideSlalomFoil
Sail Sizes
5–7.5 m²
WingfoilingSkill Level

Highly suitable due to flat-water areas, but water depth is very tidal; best at high tide and further out away from the very shallow bay.

Foil Friendly
Yes — Foil-friendly noted; minimum depth guidance is given for the bay conditions.
Min Depth
Approximately 1.0m required; best at high tide in the bay.
Wing Sizes
4–6 m²
Surfing

Can turn into a shorebreak wave spot when swell is huge at Dossen; otherwise small/shorebreak tendencies.

Beach break
Shelter
Exposed — General beach exposure; described as shorebreak-like and sensitive to swell size.
Wind Effect
Primarily a beach/shorebreak setup depending on swell; wind direction can change conditions and exposed sections can become more challenging as swell increases.
Bigger Swell
Becomes a shorebreak-focused wave spot when swell is very large at Dossen.
Forecast

Check the forecast before you go

See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) in the full forecast view.

Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) wind and wave forecast summary

Wind
3–25 ktsGusts 41 kts
Direction
SW227°
Strongest day
Sat, Oct 2425 kts
Windy days
4/712 kts or more
Waves
0.5–3.6 m10s period
Temperature
8–18 °C

Over the next 7 days, Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–25 kts, peaking around 25 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 41 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.5–3.6 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

What to know before you launch

Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.

Hazards

  • Rocks (including rocks that form a lagoon at low tide)
  • Strong current near the Kernic bay mouth (east side) — avoid
  • Offshore wind conditions
  • Tidal currents
Ability Level: Beginner
Recommended Safety Gear
HelmetImpact vestBootsHarness

Rescue & support

Lifeguard
Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard presence mentioned.
Rescue & Self-Rescue
Limited — Spot-level sources mention no rescue for the immediate spot; regional context indicates managed rescue via coastal stations with limited coverage.
Emergency Info
Pan-European emergency number 112. Nearest major hospital in Brest (regional emergency services noted). Rescue availability described as no/none for spot-level; regionally managed rescue is limited.

Rules of the spot

Protected natural area with restricted riding/launch zones to protect dunes and nesting birds. Ornithological reserve: navigation prohibited in the Goulven ornithological reserve (west side). Dogs must be leashed and are only allowed off-season; dogs prohibited on the beach from 1 June–30 September. Kitesurfing can be prohibited in swimming zones during July and August.

Restrictions
  • Navigation prohibited in Goulven ornithological reserve (west side).
  • Dogs prohibited on the beach 1 June–30 September; leashed only and allowed off-season.
  • Kitesurfing restricted in swimming zones during July and August.
  • Launching/riding restricted to specific zones within protected dune/nesting bird areas.
Local Tips
  • Avoid the strong current zone near the Kernic bay mouth (east side).
  • At high tide, a thermal breeze from the North can kick in during summer afternoons.
  • Best ridden roughly from 2 hours before to 2 hours after high tide.
  • Check tide times before parking: Odé Vraz car park floods above tide coefficient 80.
  • Do not navigate west into the Goulven ornithological reserve (navigation prohibited).
  • Consult local signs (e.g., Maison des Dunes) for up-to-date environmental restrictions.
  • At low tide the water can retreat very far, leaving mostly sand and small pools.

Getting there & access

Nearest City
Brest
Nearest Town
Plouescat
Nearest Airport
Brest Bretagne Airport (BES)
Parking
Multiple parking areas within about 200 m of the beach. Odé Vraz main car park floods above tide coefficient 80; consider alternative parking at/near Keremma beach to the west.
Access
From Brest: drive toward Lesneven, continue toward Plouescat; follow signs for Keremma or Maison des Dunes. Proceed through the Keremma forest to Odé Vraz camping/parking and cross the dune to reach the beach. Multiple access points/car parks are within about 200 m of the beach.
Cost Level
Moderate
Local Language
French
Amenities

What's on the beach

Parking
Toilets
Camping
Picnic area
Accommodation
Direct — Camping is located at Odé Vraz / Keremma area (summer only). Additional gîtes/hotels in Plouescat and Plounévez-Lochrist.
Food & Drink
Small bar/snack options at Odé Vraz area near the campsite in summer; more options in Plouescat.
Equipment Rental:
Available through local schools/centers in the wider area and serving mobile kite operations.
Gear Storage
Storage primarily available through local nautical centers (membership/student context).
Gear Repair
Basic repair available in the region; specialized kite/sail repair may require traveling to Brest.
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

The area

Off the water

Best time to visit: May to September (with emphasis on summer) for the best combination of weather and daylight.
Dunes de Keremma0 km

A 6 km dune system offering scenic walks and biodiversity, forming a prominent natural landmark on the Keremma coast.

Keremma Coastline (Kerurus to Kernic)

A highlighted stretch of white sand beaches and wild dunes from Kerurus toward Baie du Kernic.

Côte des Sables

The Sandy Coast offers scenic coastal views and beach exploration across the northern Finistère region.

Maison des Dunes1 km

Interpretive center focused on the natural and cultural history of the Keremma dunes.

Sentier des Douaniers (GR34)0 km

Long-distance coastal hiking trail following the Brittany shoreline.

Keremma Beaches and Dunes0 km

Extensive sandy beaches and dune paths suitable for walking and nature observation.

Plages de Keremma0 km

Expansive sandy beaches suited to family outings and nature exploration during low tide.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

Latest reported conditions

Spot questions

Frequently asked questions

When is the best season at Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist)?

The best overall months at Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) are May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are January, February, July, August, November, December.

Which wind directions work at Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist)?

Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) works with W, NW, NE, N winds. Offshore directions are S, SE. No-go directions are S.

What equipment sizes are recommended at Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist)?

Recommended equipment sizes at Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.

What skill level is Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) suitable for?

Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate.