Trez Hir (Plougonvelin)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) is a sandy, tidal beach in the Brest region where wind and water conditions can change notably with the tide. Multiple guides describe generally flat-to-choppy conditions with clear/clean water, but current effects (rips/undertow and stronger currents near points of the bay) are recurring safety considerations. For kitesurfing, SE wind is repeatedly identified as the best direction, with a summer thermal pattern described as active from May to September and adding an extra boost on top of background wind. Typical reported wind strength in the best periods is roughly 15–25 knots, with moderate gustiness. The beach is described as protected and forgiving on some tide/wind combinations, but low tide can make the water shallower and more technical for beginners—some reports note on-foot distances of roughly 50–100 m before you’re out of shallow water. For surfing, the beach is described as a powerful left-hand beach break that is often “fallback/rare” when other exposed western beaches close out. High tide is consistently emphasized; rides are generally short, and the spot can be hollow/powerful on the right swell. However, one surf guide also describes it as rarely breaking (around a handful of days per year), so it’s important to come prepared for limited windows. Safety-wise, expect rocks at multiple points (including near the ends of the beach) plus hazards such as buoys/man-made elements, swimmers during peak season, and undertow/rips. Lifeguarding is reported as seasonal in July–August with stated hours, and rescue availability is described as limited—so riders should plan to operate within their comfort and local rules (including summer kitesurfing restrictions/zones when the beach is busy).
- SE-driven kitesurfing in a sandy bay
- Summer thermal season (May–September) described for wind enhancement
- Shallow at low tide can challenge beginners (but improves safety when tides are managed)
- Seasonal lifeguards in July–August
- Great all-rounder for kitesurfing with SE wind emphasis and generally protected bay water.
- Easy beach access with a short walk and car-based approach.
- Seasonal lifeguard coverage in July–August is reported.
- Water is described as crystal-clear/clean.
- Tidal depth changes can make the water shallower and more technical at low tide (especially for beginners).
- Rocks/ends of the beach and buoys/marine hazards are present.
- Rips/undertow (and generally stronger currents near points) are reported.
- Surf is infrequent and requires the right swell/tide conditions.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Summer SE thermal winds are described as a key feature; some sources also describe wind as more frontal/Atlantic-influenced in winter.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Often described as moderate-gusts.
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy bay beach.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Small — Surf wave size is described as small in one physical summary; other surf notes describe it can hold on bigger swell up to several meters.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Kitesurfing conditions are described as choppy; wind and tide can create chop.
- Launch
- Medium — Tidal beach with easy access and a short walk; flat to shallow at low tide.
Through the year
Weekend crowded in summer; weekdays few surfers. Quiet during winter weekdays.
Winter months (November to March) see frequent Atlantic storms; regional notes also highlight storm-active autumn through March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A choppy, protected sandy bay/launch with tidal depth changes. SE wind is described as the best direction for kitesurfing. Reports indicate the beach can be shallow for beginners at low tide (on-foot distance 50–100 m), but it is considered suitable across levels depending on wind strength and tide.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–11 m²
Freeride/cruising style in the bay; typically protected water with moderate wind. One report also describes it as suitable for bump-and-jump and freeriding especially in SE/S winds.
Protected flat-to-chop water with progressive depth, becoming shallow at low tide. Foil-friendly, but the shallow sand and rocks at the ends require attention.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly is explicitly stated; also noted that shallow sand/rocks matter.
- Min Depth
- progressive; on foot 50–100 m
A beach-break that is described as a powerful left-hand option with limited frequency (rarely breaks, about ~5 days/year in one guide). Works best on big swell and when other western exposed beaches close out; high tide is needed.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- SSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide only / best at mid-to-high tide depending on the guide.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Semi-sheltered by the bay setup, but still described as a beach break that can need sufficient swell to work.
- Wind Effect
- Wind effect varies by direction: best with NW offshore wind is described; offshore in North/North-West is also noted for surfing quality.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds up to ~2.5 m before closing out in one report; another guide notes it can hold up to 4 m+ on the bigger swell side.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality described as good; one source rates quality as average.
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Some sources also describe summer beach conditions as often mushy/short, but it can become hollow on good days.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Short — Normal rides typically under 50 m; occasional good days longer (50–150 m) are reported. Another source notes ~50 m typical ride length.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal <50 m; good days 50–150 m; elsewhere described as short rides around ~50 m with mushy waves that can hollow on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) in the full forecast view.
Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–26 ktsGusts 43 kts
- Direction
- SW227°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2426 kts
- Windy days
- 4/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–2.7 m9s period
- Temperature
- 9–16 °C
Over the next 7 days, Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–26 kts, peaking around 26 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 43 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.4–2.7 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- rips
- undertow
- buoys
- man-made hazards
- swimmers
- ships
- strong-currents
- boats
- moorings
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguarded in July–August (12h–19h) is noted.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Sea rescue is described as limited in the area; sea-specific emergencies are handled by the regional SNSM system (with multiple stations in the wider Brest/Iroise area). In general, 112 applies for emergencies.
Rules of the spot
Speed limit around the coast: 5 knots within 300 m of shore (and a 5-knot coastal band restriction is noted). Kitesurfing can be restricted/prohibited in summer peak afternoons when the beach is crowded with swimmers; follow any locally marked summer zones.
- Kitesurfing restricted to specific zones or prohibited during peak summer afternoons due to swimmers.
- No-kiting near swimmers / summer-only zones.
- Avoid low tide when the beach becomes more technical due to shallows/sand.
- Be aware of rocks at the ends of the beach (especially at high tide when submerged/less visible).
- Check tide and avoid rocky areas at the ends during high tide.
- Rips/undertow are reported—stay mindful near shore and currents.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Brest
- Nearest Town
- Plougonvelin
- Nearest Airport
- Brest Bretagne Airport (BES)
- Parking
- Several parking areas along the promenade and near the beach entrance are described; access typically requires a car plus a short walk (reported as <5 minutes in one note).
- Access
- From Brest, drive west on D789 toward Le Conquet; follow signs for Plougonvelin / Plage du Trez-Hir / Le Trez Hir. Continue about 1–2 km to the beach (as described in one access note).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Hotels, apartments, and a campsite are located in Plougonvelin.
- Food & Drink
- Numerous restaurants, cafes, and bars are located on the beach promenade.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is described as available via local surf schools and shops along the promenade.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage is described as limited in the wider regional context.
- Gear Repair
- Yes
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 Trez Hir (Plougonvelin)?
The best overall months at Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Trez Hir (Plougonvelin)?
Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) works with SE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Trez Hir (Plougonvelin)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Trez Hir (Plougonvelin): Kitesurfing: 9–11 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) suitable for?
Trez Hir (Plougonvelin) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Beginner · Surfing: Expert.