Crowd & Localism
Weekday sessions are essentially empty. Weekend crowds stay light, with only a few surfers typically in the water. Localism is not reported as an issue. Standard lineup respect applies.
Ille-et-Vilaine, North France, France
Le Sillon
48.670, -2.005
Edited by Tom Jackson
Verified May 2026
Editor-reviewedCross-checked against WannaSurf
At a glance
- Le Sillon is a varies over beach, mellow shifting sandbar peaks.
- Beginner to intermediate ability, working 2-5 ft.
- Peak September to March, water 9-17°C.
Varies · BeachBeginner → Intermediate2–5 ftJan – Dec
A mellow sandbar break on the northern French coast, Le Sillon delivers accessible, forgiving waves that rarely carry real punch but stay fun in the right conditions. SW to NW swells of 2-5ft with light offshore easterly winds produce the cleanest rides. It starts working at under 1ft and can hold up past 8ft, though quality drops off noticeably with size. Mid tide tends to organize the sandbars best. Beginners and intermediates will feel at home here, the crowd is thin on weekdays and only marginally busier on weekends, so there's room to work on turns without the stress of a competitive lineup. Bottom: sand. Season: autumn and winter for the most consistent swell. Consistency: moderate, dependent on Atlantic groundswell reaching the coast. Wave lengths run short on average, stretching to 50-150m on better days, so manage your expectations and treat it as a practical training ground rather than a destination session.
Wave fit
Skill suited
Beginner → Intermediate
BegIntAdv
Best months
Jan – Dec
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Character
Mellow shifting sandbar peaks.
Trip planning
Quick facts
Water temp
9° to 17°C
Wetsuit
5/4 + booties (winter); 3/2 (summer)
What to bring
- Longboard or funboard for small days
- Shortboard 6ft to 6ft 6in for 3-5ft range
Lineup
Mellow lineup
Where it sits
Location
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About this break
What it's actually like
Access & Facilities
Le Sillon sits in the Saint-Malo area of northern Brittany. The beach is accessible by road with parking nearby. Amenities are available in Saint-Malo town. Water temperatures in this stretch of the Channel and north Breton coast drop sharply in winter, so a 5/4 with boots and gloves is not excessive from November through March.
Nearby Alternatives
When Le Sillon is flat or blown out, the broader Brittany coast offers sandbar and reef options that pick up more open Atlantic swell. Explore north-facing beaches farther along the coast or head south toward the Finistère peninsula for more exposed breaks when a solid NW or W swell is running.
10-day swell, wind and tide
Le Sillon surf forecast
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Forecast by Windy.app
Stay nearby
Camps within boat range
Browse all France surf camps
No vetted camps within boat range of Le Sillon yet.
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hollow fast beachbreak peaks · A-frame · Beach
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punchy a-frame beachbreak peaks with walling sections · A-frame · Beach
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Boutrouilles
punchy reef-anchored beachbreak peaks with wedging sections · A-frame · Mixed
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Gold Beach
jetty-sheltered sandbar peaks, rights and lefts · A-frame · Beach
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Cap Frehel
punchy hollow beachbreak peaks · A-frame · Beach
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Vaucottes
soft shingle beachbreak peaks with occasional left on SW swell · Left · Mixed
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Etretat
short fast point break walls over mixed reef · Right · Mixed
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Frequently asked
What you need to know before paddling out at Le Sillon
What skill level is Le Sillon suited for?
Le Sillon is a beach bottom, mellow shifting sandbar peaks, break suited for beginner through intermediate surfers. Beginners can give it a go on the smaller end of the size range.
What size does Le Sillon work best at?
Working size is 2 to 5 ft. Below 2 ft the swell goes flat. Above 5 ft it tends to close out.
When is the best season to surf Le Sillon?
Le Sillon fires from September through March. Outside that window the swell window narrows and the lineup goes quiet.
What swell direction does Le Sillon need?
Le Sillon switches on with swells out of the SW to NW (225 to 315 degrees).
What type of wave is Le Sillon?
Le Sillon is a varies-breaking wave over beach. Mellow shifting sandbar peaks.
How crowded is Le Sillon?
Lineup is mellow. Visiting surfers fit in fine if they wait their turn.
Sources
- WannaSurf
Le Sillon
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