Overview

Berck-sur-Mer has one of the largest fine-sand beaches in Europe — several kilometres of open beach without rocks, with the sea retreating 2-3 km at low tide. It is a flagship spot on the Côte d'Opale and an ideal playground for kitesurf, landboarding, mountainboard and speed-sail.

At low tide, large natural tidal pools (baïnes) form along the coast — flat, shallow water perfect for beginners and freestyle. At high tide, 300-400 m of beach remain between the water's edge and the sea wall. The spot works from S to N via W. N wind can be disturbed by buildings — check the Fort-Mahon anemometer. Marked kite zone in summer. Opale Kite school on site since 2011.

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Spot forecast for Berck-sur-Mer - Grand Beach (Côte d'Opale)

Sunrise 08:22 · Sunset 18:54

Open-Meteo

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 5.3 km from the spot.

Monday 19 October High tide 05:46 · 7 m Low tide 12:21 · 3.8 m High tide 19:04 · 6.9 m
Tuesday 20 October Low tide 00:56 · 3.8 m High tide 08:13 · 6.9 m Low tide 13:33 · 3.9 m High tide 20:47 · 7.1 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 02:28 · 3.8 m High tide 09:21 · 7.3 m Low tide 15:28 · 3.8 m High tide 21:47 · 7.5 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 04:10 · 3.4 m High tide 10:14 · 7.8 m Low tide 16:44 · 3.2 m High tide 22:35 · 8.1 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 05:10 · 2.8 m High tide 10:58 · 8.4 m Low tide 17:36 · 2.5 m High tide 23:16 · 8.7 m

Berck-sur-Mer - Grand Beach (Côte d'Opale): when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

336h

in July · 28 rideable days

The season runs from April to August, peaking in July: 26 rideable days a month and 336 hours of usable wind, at 19 °C. The low point is January, at 19 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 62%13-20 knots · 34%21-30 knots · 4%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 62% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 6 °C. The wettest month is September, with 110 mm.

Monthly averages: Berck-sur-Mer - Grand Beach (Côte d'Opale)

Monthly averages — Berck-sur-Mer - Grand Beach (Côte d'Opale) — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	19.0	176 h	6 °C	104 mm
February	20.5	205 h	9 °C	102 mm
March	20.0	172 h	12 °C	42 mm
April	22.5	241 h	15 °C	56 mm
May	27.0	285 h	17 °C	64 mm
June	27.5	346 h	19 °C	54 mm
July	28.0	336 h	21 °C	80 mm
August	24.0	299 h	22 °C	66 mm
September	22.0	246 h	19 °C	110 mm
October	19.0	176 h	15 °C	104 mm
November	19.5	180 h	11 °C	97 mm
December	19.0	167 h	8 °C	68 mm

Photo gallery of Berck-sur-Mer - Grand Beach (Côte d'Opale)

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Technical details of Berck-sur-Mer - Grand Beach (Côte d'Opale) spot

The spot works with winds from N, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Depending on conditions: NNE, SSE, S.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable

Local association recommendations

Opale Kite — kitesurf school at Berck-sur-Mer since 2011, Esplanade Parmentier north side. Instructor Jérôme, BPJEPS certified. Year-round. Kite, wing, landkite. opale-kite.fr

FFVL certified spot.

Spot functioning

Access: Esplanade Parmentier, north side — Parking Terminus (note: close to mussel beds). Kite zone on the north side of the summer markings. Opale Kite school: Esplanade Parmentier north side, since 2011, year-round, BPJEPS — opale-kite.fr. Baïne d'Authie (north section): access via club nautique des Sternes — experienced riders only.

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Beginner

Wind specificities

Works from S to N via W (W is direct on-shore). Due S: slightly side-off, usable but less stable. N: can be disturbed by buildings along the sea front — check Fort-Mahon anemometer. At low tide: flat tidal pools ideal for freeride and freestyle. Mussel beds (bouchots) to the north — identify the yellow marker buoy at low tide. E: offshore — do not practice.

Hazards

In summer (July-August): central bathing zone forbidden for kite — stay in the marked kite zone (north side, near club nautique des Sternes). Mussel beds (bouchots) north of spot: emerges at low tide — watch for the large yellow marker buoy. Baïne d'Authie: beautiful but for experienced riders only (limited space to launch). At high tide with large coefficients: shore break possible. E: offshore — dangerous. Very busy in summer (landboards, cyclists, bathers).

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