La Torche Surf Guide – Best Spots / Stays / Seasons
The La Torche surf is the piece de resistance of the Brittany surf scene. Oodles of peaks for all levels spread out on a wide beach. You won’t get bored!
An introduction to La Torche surf
Think Brittany. Think La Torche.
Yep, this is the most famous spot in all of France’s north-western department. For good reason, too.
Boasting a massive beachfront that scythes for 10+ clicks across the coast, it faces the brunt of the big Atlantic. Swell magnet doesn’t quite do it justice – literally the smallest pulses that come in W or NW will power the breaks up, not to mention refracting SW swells. Basically, there’s riding virtually every day of the year.
In terms of the waves, they are classic Breton bawlers. Fat, frothy, chopped by wind, but good for the soul.
Some conditions – SW swells, easterly offshore, low winds – can see things get hollow on the La Torche surf, especially if you head down toward the point and reef breaks closer to the headland.
However, for the most part the surfs here will be sandbank wedges that go left, right, and sometimes simply close out. There’s also a tricky paddle out, but much of the bay is actually fantastic for beginners – just look at all the surf schools that are around.
Reliability is key, so there are majority surf days from December to December in La Torche.
Also, when the rare summer pancake conditions swing round, you get to explore the gorgeous surroundings of Brittany. That comes in the form of fantastic Finistère. Rugged, wave-bashed and breathtaking, it’s filled with coves and crevices and clifftops that are a real ocean lover’s dream come true!
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Read more guides to surf destinations in France or our complete guide to surfing in Brittany
Surfing in La Torche at a glance
The good:
- Loads and loads of beach peaks
- Consistency
- Beautiful Brittany setting
The bad:
- Gets real busy in summer
- Exposed to westerlies
- Hard paddle out
What’s in this guide to La Torche surf?
Where is La Torche?
La Torche pokes out of the very north-western edge of France. It faces the open Bay of Biscay to the west and spreads out along the wide dune lands and sporadic forests of the Audierne.
That makes it a part of the famous Finistère region (yep, it was a place before it was a brand!), which is, in turn, a corner of of Brittany.
Paris is around six hours away by car. The ferry ports at Calais are about eight hours away by car.
Our two cents? You’ll need to either bring your own car or rent to make the most of a surf trip here. Most of the accomodation options in this remote region do the the countryside behind the beaches. They might only be a 5-10-minute drive from the waves, but it’s still a drive, not a walk.
We use RentalCars for hires in France (in our exp they are the cheapest of all, plus there’s nice cancellation policies on lots of bookings).
A guide to the best surf spots in La Torche
La Torche surf goes from the mellow peaks of the sands to the north all the way to the point itself. It’s mainly all sand-bottomed but there are a few reefs and point breaks to sample…
Baie des Trepasses
Baie des Trepasses is one of the most gorgeous beaches in Brittany. It has the added draw of being one of the most consistent beach breaks in the region.
My two cents: It’s best in the summer months as it hoovers up literally any swell and offers nicely powerful waves for beginners but also bigger sets on some days for intermediates.
Beautiful part of France, too. It’s an hour’s drive north of La Torche.
Read more about Baie des Trepasses right here
Tronoën
Tronoën is technically a part of the La Torche Beach. However, we make special mention of it here because it’s one of the places where the waves can mellow across the Audierne bay and offer nice beginner peaks, totally without any crowds. Rips do exist, but they also tend to be easier going.
La Torche beach break
The main beach at La Torche runs for a mega seven miles north to south. That’s seven miles of endless peaks to surf! The most popular places are the easy-to-access breaks to the south end of the bay.
It’s a cinch to park up and paddle out there, but line ups are always busier in the south. There’s a consistent rip – known to locals affectionately as the Elevator – that can help you hop out back.
On good days of SW-W-NW swells with easterly offshores, you can look forward to neat walls that are rippable and sectiony. Even a few barrels when it kicks up 8-10 foot in the winter. Head to the north end of the bay to look for spots to yourself. Beware of pop-up rips. Lots of locals but not much localism.
Pointe de La Torche
Pointe de La Torche marks the southernmost edge of the huge bay of Audierne.
It’s a rugged little block of rock that juts directly westwards into the Atlantic Ocean. Wrap-around SW swells and head-on westerlies when their mellow can come off the point to offer some neat little rights.
You’ll probably be too busy on the beach peaks to even think about this one, but some locals might make the effort to paddle out.
Pors Carn
The more sheltered beach of Pors Carn lies just south of Pointe de La Torche. The sand here turns into a mix of powder and rocks, which shapes any wrapping SW or W swells into nice A-frames and short tubes. They are fun, fast rides that get popular when working, but you still won’t get the same crowds as up on the La Torche beach break.
Les Etocs
Massive winter north-westerly swells can cook up big 2-5 metre waves at this XXL spot. It doesn’t work often but it’s a gnarly contender when it does. Only for experts who know exactly what they’re doing.
Where to stay (for surfing) in La Torche?
There are some pretty fantastic hotels for families and lone surfers on the shores (or, more specifically, in the countryside just behind) in La Torche. Some even have that charming Breton feel.
These are the ones that go top of our list whenever we return…
- Gîtes de Lézinadou – This is a self-catering holiday home with real style. It’s at once modern but also traditionally Breton, and it’s perfectly located for driving to and from the best surf beach in La Torche. It would always be our first pick for a base in these parts. Can’t go wrong!
- Camping de Lanven – A merr 6-minute drive from the La Torche surf points, this lovely campground is super good value for money. It has little chalets and pitches for tents under the pine trees, along with bike rentals and even an onsite petting farm. Great for the summer months.
- Le Trymen – A charming Breton B&B. It offers doubles and triples just around the coastline from the main La Torche surf spots. They all get access to a lovely on-site bar and crepe restaurant, along with mod cons like flat-screen TVs and WiFi. You will need a car to get to the breaks, but that’s the story pretty much anywhere on this shore.
If in doubt, the best way to go about booking accomodation is to use Booking.com’s map feature. It lets you scan the whole area and see exactly how close each place is to the surf spots.
If you fancy something a bit more planned and easy to organise, then you might want to consider a surf camp.
There are a few start-out ones in the La Torche area, but most are further south in the region of Landes. You can check out the places we reccomend in our guide to the top surf camps in France.
Surf lessons in La Torche
Given the sheer quality of the beach breaks here, it’s hardly a surprise that La Torche and neighboring coves are almost certainly the best place in Brittany to do surf lessons.
You’ll pay around $40-60 for a basic package that typically includes about 1.5 hours in the water and some on-beach practice and warm ups. You could also push the boat out and do a proper multi-day course.
Here are some of the best options in the region…
- BBrother Ecole de surf – Under the guiding hand of Kevin and Stephen, you get really informative and hands-on surf lessons with these guys. They’ve got over 15 years experience and really know what they’re doing. There are great bargains on packages of five or more lessons.
- Rise UP – These guys are one of the highest rated schools in France, let alone just Brittany. They’ve got a whole range of options, starting with surf taster sessions for about $40 per person and going all the way to week-long packages that give you loads of experience and are almost garenteed to get you out on the green waves. Book it in advance if you’re traveling between spring and autumn.
When to surf in La Torche?
We’d say the seasons are the single biggest influence on the La Torche surf report. Big winter days can close out the entire bay, for example. Meanwhile, soft summer swells usually attract the beginners and surf camps.
Spring
Probably the best season for surfing La Torche
The La Torche surf report regularly reads clean waves of 5-9 foot during the spring season. In fact, an estimate 30-40% of days during this season are considered surfable, with groundswells originating SW the best of all.
Look for those to get lovely wrap-around walls that power up right handers in the beachfront and peaky hollow waves inside Pors Carn beach.
Summer
The most popular season and best for beginners
Summer sees huge crowds of domestic French tourists retreat to La Torche. Most don’t come for the surfing. They come for the turquoise-tinted waves and the sparkling beaches. Winds tend to be less strong.
Rain is less common. It’s the perfect time to top up the tan, although swimming in the Atlantic isn’t recommended because of big rips.
Beginner surfers will find lots to like, but may have to wait for totally flat days to pass.
Autumn
Good all round surf conditions and cheaper rates
Autumn months mean warmer water (the warmest of the year, in fact) and pretty decent surfing conditions. N-NW swells come down from the top of the Atlantic Gulf Stream with onshores, which mean some close out days but reliable height in the waves.
We’d recommend getting up early to enjoy before the breezes pick up. Smaller crowds and a penchant for Breton’s Indian Summers also make this a great time to take to the water.
Winter
Uber-consistent, big swells, bad weather but great for more advanced surfers
Brittany isn’t known for its mild winters. Yes, they do tend to be wilder than the UK. However, La Torche feels the brunt of any Atlantic storm systems so gets hefty rain dumps between November and April.
That said, there are strong groundswell currents in action all over the French west coast. That means big days of overhead swells are normal.
Things to do when you’re not surfing in La Torche
La Torche is a great base for getting around Brittany and sampling the delights of this wild corner of north-west France. When the waves are flat, be sure to consider…
- Parc naturel régional d’Armorique – Rugged bays, hidden coves, white-sand beaches – there’s all sorts hidden in this vast and rather unknown reserve. It’s just to the north of La Torche and firmly within daytrip territory. Expect a showcasing of the best natural backcountry that Brittany has to offer!
- Quimper – Pay a visit to Quimper to see the largest town in this southern corner of Finistère. It’s only 30 minutes or so by car, but sports a magnificent Gothic-style cathedral and an enthralling museum all about local Breton culture. Guided tours are a great way to go, like this one which also includes a French lesson!
Surf shops in La Torche
La Torche doesn’t have the same overload of surf shops as, say, Biarritz. but, as the de facto capital of surfing in Brittany, it does have its fair share of outlets.
- Twenty Nine – A leading name on the local La Torche surf, scene, Twenty Nine has an outlet on the main road leading to the carpark at the south end of the bay. You’ll see it as you drive in, offering rentals and whatnot. Also drop in for basic needs: Wax, leashes, etc.
- Aumaka Surf – Drive inland a bit to the nearby town of Plomuer and there’s Aumaka Surf. It’s another school-shop mashup. Stock ranges from flip flops to surf fashion, foam boards to wetties.
- Swelladdiction – A proper warehouse of a surf shop that’s got just about everything you could need. Drive inland from the La Torche point to Plomeur town. There’s parking right out front.
Best places to eat in La Torche
La Torche isn’t actually a town. It’s just a beach. Despite there being now official town centre as such, you’ll still find a few enticing eating options dotting the sands. Most are located towards the south end of the plage, near the surf spot of Pors Carn.
- TomCafé ($$) – TomCafé has become a sort of de facto gathering point for surfers after a session. It’s a chilled cafe bar mashup with a great outdoor space. They do things like burgers, plus plenty of beers, cocktails, and French wines.
- Chez Marie-Cath ($$) – Sat right by the sands of Pors Carn and the main parking point for the La Torche surf, Chez Marie-Cath is a chilled French bistro with lovely views of the sea. It’s casual vibe is carried on in the casual eats. The menu touts simple salads, some Breton fish dishes, and plenty of coffee and cocktails.
- Crêperie Le Rayon Vert ($) – The Crêperie Le Rayon Vert is literally right next door to one of the region’s top surf rentals and surf schools. Drop in for a classic French pancake with sugar or savoury and you can grab your board afterwards. Nice outdoor seating. Other dishes on offer apart from crepes include salads and grilled fish.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
