Keremma (Plounévez-Lochrist)
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
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
- 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
- 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
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
Busy during July and August; quieter and more spacious during spring and autumn.
Late autumn and winter (November to February) bring the most frequent rain and stronger Atlantic storm systems.
By sport
What to expect for each.
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.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Freeride and bump-and-jump style riding described; flat water in the bay at high tide supports speed and carving.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7.5 m²
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
Can turn into a shorebreak wave spot when swell is huge at Dossen; otherwise small/shorebreak tendencies.
- 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.
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.
Other spots in the area
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
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.
- 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.
- 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
What's on the beach
- 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.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A 6 km dune system offering scenic walks and biodiversity, forming a prominent natural landmark on the Keremma coast.
A highlighted stretch of white sand beaches and wild dunes from Kerurus toward Baie du Kernic.
The Sandy Coast offers scenic coastal views and beach exploration across the northern Finistère region.
Interpretive center focused on the natural and cultural history of the Keremma dunes.
Long-distance coastal hiking trail following the Brittany shoreline.
Extensive sandy beaches and dune paths suitable for walking and nature observation.
Expansive sandy beaches suited to family outings and nature exploration during low tide.
From riders who've been here
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.