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La Torche - Plomeur (Pays Bigouden) kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot
France · Bretagne
Overview
La Torche is the most famous kitesurf spot in France and one of the most celebrated in Europe. Located on the commune of Plomeur in the Pays Bigouden (Finistère), this rocky headland juts into the Baie d'Audierne and offers two completely different faces: the right side (La Torche / Tronoën beach, Plomeur commune) and the left bay (Pors Carn, Penmarc'h commune).
Classified Espace Naturel Sensible and Natura 2000. FFVL-labelled spot. Local association BAF Kite (Bigouden Air Force) — members in red lycra, present on the spot and available to help with launches.
MANDATORY RULES:
FORBIDDEN to launch your kite on the grass or dune at any time of year — rig and derig on the beach only.
June 15 to Sept 15: right side of the point tacitly reserved for surfers (local agreement — must be respected). Left side (Pors Carn, Penmarc'h commune): kite only in the yellow-buoy channel (prefectoral order) — do not exceed the end of the channel.
Spot forecast for La Torche - Plomeur (Pays Bigouden)
Sunrise 08:43 · Sunset 19:20
Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo
Tides
Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 3.3 km from the spot.
- Tuesday 20 October High tide · 3.2 m Low tide · 2.1 m High tide · 3.4 m Low tide · 1.9 m
- Wednesday 21 October High tide · 3.4 m Low tide · 1.9 m High tide · 3.7 m Low tide · 1.6 m
- Thursday 22 October High tide · 3.6 m Low tide · 1.6 m High tide · 4 m Low tide · 1.3 m
- Friday 23 October High tide · 3.9 m Low tide · 1.3 m High tide · 4.3 m Low tide · 1 m
- Saturday 24 October High tide · 4.3 m Low tide · 1 m High tide · 4.5 m Low tide · 0.7 m
La Torche - Plomeur (Pays Bigouden): when to go?
Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)
329h
in May · 26 rideable days
The season runs from March to May, peaking in May: 24 rideable days a month and 329 hours of usable wind, at 15 °C. The low point is January, at 18.5 days.
Kiting is forbidden here from 15/06 to 15/09. 15 juin–15 sept : côté droit interdit kite (accord tacite surf). Côté gauche Pors Carn : chenal balisé bouées jaunes obligatoire (arrêté préfectoral Penmarc’h). Ne pas dépasser la fin du chenal.
Rideable days per month
Wind strength when it is rideable
When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 53% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 9 °C. The wettest month is January, with 114 mm.
Monthly averages: La Torche - Plomeur (Pays Bigouden)
| Month | Rideable days | Usable wind | Temperature | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.5 | 165 h | 9 °C | 114 mm |
| February | 20.5 | 217 h | 11 °C | 60 mm |
| March | 23.0 | 233 h | 12 °C | 62 mm |
| April | 23.5 | 284 h | 15 °C | 50 mm |
| May | 26.0 | 329 h | 17 °C | 24 mm |
| June closed | 27.0 | 358 h | 19 °C | 18 mm |
| July closed | 29.5 | 397 h | 19 °C | 47 mm |
| August closed | 25.5 | 312 h | 21 °C | 20 mm |
| September closed | 25.5 | 291 h | 18 °C | 35 mm |
| October | 20.5 | 191 h | 17 °C | 76 mm |
| November | 19.0 | 173 h | 14 °C | 71 mm |
| December | 19.5 | 187 h | 11 °C | 55 mm |
Photo gallery of La Torche - Plomeur (Pays Bigouden)
Technical details of La Torche - Plomeur (Pays Bigouden) spot
The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.
Depending on conditions: S.
Local association recommendations
FFVL-labelled spot.
BAF Kite (Bigouden Air Force) is the local kitesurf association — members recognisable by their red lycra, always ready to assist with launches and ensure local rules are respected. Website: baf-kite.org
Local kitesurf schools: La Torche Kite Surf (Yvan Quilfen, BPJEPS, itinerant spots in southern Finistère), So Kite.
Spot functioning
From Quimper, head for Pont-l'Abbé then Plomeur. At the exit of Plomeur, turn right towards La Torche (D785). Large free car park on the spot (2 disabled spaces). Toilets, showers, crêperies and surf shops on site. Campervans: grassed area 500m away.
For kitesurf:
NW/W/SSW wind (right side, off-season): launch and land on the La Torche side, north beach of the headland. Large open launch area.
NE/N wind (Pors Carn, left side): access via Parking des Cyprès (Penmarc'h side). Enter water via the buoyed channel in season.
In summer: if the zone near the point is occupied by families, move to the middle of the Pors Carn bay — harder car access means fewer people.
Rigging: grassed area for inflation/deflation only — launching on vegetation is strictly forbidden. BAF Kite members in red can assist with launches.
Beach lifeguard supervision: July-August by the SDIS du Finistère, 13:30–19:30.
Spot opening date · Required level
- Spot opening date
- Open all year round
Open year-round. Accessible 24/7 outside seasonal restrictions.
Beach lifeguard supervision (SDIS 29): July-August, 13:30–19:30.
Summer kitesurf restrictions (15 June – 15 September):
Right side (La Torche/Plomeur): tacit agreement — reserved for surfers. Do not kite in this zone.
Left side (Pors Carn/Penmarc'h): kite only in the yellow-buoy channel (prefectoral order). Navigation limit = end of the channel.
Year-round: FORBIDDEN to launch on grass, dunes or car parks. Rig and derig on the beach only, at all times.
- Required level
- Advanced
On the water
Beach break with sandy bottom. Waves from 0.5m to 3m+ depending on swell and season. Waves peel for tens of metres along the point. An "ascenseur" (rip channel) runs along the right side of the point — allows surfers and kitesurfers to pass the break easily without paddling out hard. At low tide, calmer zones suitable for freestyle.
Tides: rideable at all tides but the morphology changes dramatically. High tide: narrow beach, shorebreak, reduced launch space. Low tide: very wide beach, good sandbars, "Les Méchants" rocks exposed to the NW of Pors Carn — strictly avoid this zone.
Strong lateral currents — baïnes (rip currents) can be very powerful. Never ride alone.
Parking
Large free car park with direct spot access, including 2 disabled spaces. Toilets and showers on the car park. Campervans: grassed area 500m away, no services. Alternative access on the Pors Carn side via Parking des Cyprès (Penmarc'h commune).
Wind specificities
The dominant wind is northwest, which funnels powerfully around both sides of the headland giving side-on to side-onshore conditions — ideal for wave kiting. Seasonal breakdown:
Spring (Mar-May): west to southwest winds, moderate to strong swell, uncrowded — best period for advanced kitesurfers.
Summer (Jun-Sep): northwest thermal 12–18kt, consistent from late morning to 6pm. Smaller swell but usually present. Very crowded.
Autumn (Oct-Nov): powerful Atlantic depressions, swell 1.5–3m+. West to SW dominant. Excellent for wave kiting.
Winter: storms, swell up to 4m. Experts only.
Right side (SW/NW): side-onshore starboard tack, ideal angle for waveriding. Pors Carn side (NE/NW): side-on starboard. Wind is consistently stronger than forecasts suggest — the headland creates local acceleration.
Hazards
Les Méchants: rocky reef visible at low tide northwest of Pors Carn — strictly avoid, dangerous sucking currents.
Baïnes and lateral currents: very powerful, can carry a rider away quickly. Survey the beach at low tide before riding.
Shared spot: large numbers of surfers, bodyboarders, SUP and swimmers. Right side tacitly reserved for surfers in summer. Manage right of way carefully at all times.
Dunes and vegetation: Natura 2000 zone — never cross the ganivelles (dune protection fences), respect all marked paths.
Wetsuit: required year-round — 3/2mm in summer, 5/4mm or 6/5mm with hood and boots in winter.
Swimming prohibited outside lifeguard hours — tell someone on shore before riding.
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Webcams near La Torche - Plomeur (Pays Bigouden)
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Schools, shops and places to stay nearby
Directory: France- Twenty Nine - École de Surf de Bretagne La Torche Kite school · Plomeur400 mfrom the spot
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La Torche Surf School & Shop
Kite school · Plomeur1.5 kmfrom the spot
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B.Brother - École de surf de Pors Carn
Kite school · Penmarc'h1.5 kmfrom the spot
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Rise Up - École de surf
Kite school · Plomeur1.5 kmfrom the spot
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