Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Pointe de Leyde is a niche, exposed point/reef break off Douarnenez Bay in Brittany, launching from a rocky, supershallow take-off zone. The hazards are real and persistent—submerged and exposed rocks—and the access is described as difficult via steep/rocky paths with a meaningful walk and descent to reach the water.
- Fires only when the swell is large enough to wrap into the bay
- Long, spinning wall can run roughly 200–500 m on good days
- Best month reported as April
- Long, powerful left-hand reef/point break on the best days
- Low-profile, niche spot—conditions are sought after when the right swell arrives
- Best conditions are associated with East wind and large Atlantic swells wrapping in
- Rock hazards and a rocky/supershallow take-off area
- Difficult access (steep/rocky paths and a descent/steep walk)
- Wind is not reliably consistent; waves can be unreliable
- Spot often needs major swell to work and may stay flat otherwise
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — East to southeast winds; sources also describe a frontal wind pattern.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Reported as moderate gustiness.
- Best Months
- April
- Shadow Zones
- Protected by cliffs from southerly winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky shoreline/reef.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Also described as rarely performing below about 1 m and becoming more consistent on big winter swells.
- Launch
- Small — Supershallow take-off zone; rocky entry/launch area.
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Two sources describe difficulty; one explicitly says difficult access.
Through the year
Usually quiet due to difficult access and inconsistent conditions.
Winter months see frequent Atlantic storms (higher rainfall).
By sport
What to expect for each.
A demanding point/reef break off the Douarnenez Bay (locally associated with Les Roches Blanches). It typically needs a solid SW–NW swell to activate; NW is described as optimal. Launch is from a rocky, supershallow take-off zone and the bottom is rock, with an exposed feel.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- W, NNW, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — One source favors low tide; another describes mid tide—confirm on the day.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Often exposed with an exposed rocky launch/lineup.
- Wind Effect
- East and Southeast winds are associated with cleaner/offshore conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Fires on big SW to NW swells; holds and only works properly during major swell events. Also described as firing on big SW to NW swells and rarely below about 1 m.
- Wave Quality
- Average — One source rates quality/conditions as average, while another notes that cleaner days are a minority of the time.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Also described as powerful/long on good days.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — A long, spinning wall can extend roughly 200–500 m on good days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 200–500 m
- Ride Length Details
- Long, spinning wall; commonly described as 200–500 m on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez) in the full forecast view.
Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–26 ktsGusts 41 kts
- Direction
- SW229°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2426 kts
- Windy days
- 4/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–1.9 m10s period
- Temperature
- 9–17 °C
Over the next 7 days, Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–26 kts, peaking around 26 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 41 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.4–1.9 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
- Difficult rocky access
- Submerged rocks and rocky shoreline
- Remote location
- Strong currents during high swell
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported at the spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Yes — Maritime rescue services are provided across the bay by SNSM based in Douarnenez.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest emergency services are in Douarnenez; maritime emergency guidance uses 112 (or 196 for maritime emergencies).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Primarily known to local surfers; access challenges and inconsistency keep it low-profile.
Rules of the spot
Surf-spot guidance emphasizes wearing appropriate thermal protection in cold water and being ready for difficult/remote access.
- Requires very large swell to wrap/activate; rarely performs below about 1 m.
- Check the forecast for very large West swells; otherwise the spot may stay flat.
- Be prepared for a steep walk down to the water.
- Park your car and walk (about 5–15 minutes).
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Douarnenez
- Nearest Town
- Treboul
- Parking
- Small parking area after ~500 m west on a little road from Treboul; difficult to find. Also described as limited parking near trailheads/end of rural roads.
- Access
- From Douarnenez: drive to Treboul, pass Les Roches Blanches, then go straight west on a small road; after ~500 m, find a difficult-to-locate small parking area, then walk 5–15 minutes to the spot.
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Gîtes and campgrounds in Poullan-sur-Mer and Douarnenez.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurants and shops are located in nearby Poullan-sur-Mer or Douarnenez.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals reported at the spot itself; equipment rental is available in Douarnenez via shops/nautical center.
- Gear Storage
- Storage is mainly offered via local nautical clubs or through specific accommodation providers.
- Gear Repair
- Basic gear/sail and board repair is described as available in Douarnenez; specialized workshops are in nearby towns.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez)?
The best overall months at Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez) are April.
Which wind directions work at Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez)?
Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez) works with E, ESE winds.
What skill level is Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez) suitable for?
Pointe de Leyde (Douarnenez) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.