Crowd & Localism
Mid-week sessions are quiet. Summer weekends bring families, swimmers, and beginner surfers who fill the water. No reported localism, but give swimmers space and read the beach layout carefully in peak season.
Manche, North France, France
Sciotot
49.503, -1.855
Edited by Tom Jackson
Verified May 2026
Editor-reviewedCross-checked against WannaSurf
At a glance
- Sciotot is a a-frame over beach, mellow beach break peaks.
- Beginner to intermediate ability, working 2-6 ft.
- Peak September to April.
A-frame · BeachBeginner → Intermediate2–6 ftJan – Dec
A beach break on the Cotentin Peninsula's west coast, Sciotot sits between the better-known spots of Siouville to the south and Le Rozel to the north, offering a mellow, accessible option for surfers at the lower end of the experience spectrum. It picks up swell from a wide W to NW window and starts working at under 1ft, making it one of the more consistent options on this stretch when the Atlantic delivers. Offshore winds come from the S to SSW, which is when the neighbouring break at Siouville also fires, so check both before committing. Crowds are thin mid-week but summer weekends draw swimmers and learners in numbers. Bottom: sand. Season: autumn through spring for quality, summer for crowds and learners. Consistency: moderate. If you need board or wetsuit rental, you will need to search in Les Pieux or a nearby town, as no hire facilities have been confirmed at the break itself.
Wave fit
Skill suited
Beginner → Intermediate
BegIntAdv
Best months
Jan – Dec
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F
M
A
M
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D
Character
Mellow beach break peaks.
Conditions
When it worksOptimum tide
All tides
Trip planning
Quick facts
Wetsuit
4/3
What to bring
- Longboard or funboard for small days
- Shortboard 6ft to 6ft 6in for mid-size swell
Lineup
Mellow lineup
Where it sits
Location
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About this break
What it's actually like
Access & Facilities
Drive through Les Pieux and follow signs for Sciotot. Multiple car parks are available at the beach. No board or wetsuit rental confirmed on site. Bring your own equipment or arrange hire in Les Pieux before arriving.
Nearby Alternatives
When S to SSW winds are blowing, Siouville to the south goes offshore and is worth the short drive. Le Rozel to the north is a step up in quality and handles size better, a natural progression when Sciotot is too small or too crowded.
10-day swell, wind and tide
Sciotot 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 Sciotot yet.
More breaks in North France
If this isn't your wave
Pourville-sur-Mer
mellow sheltered beach peaks · A-frame · Mixed
Beginner → Intermediate
Yport
long wrapping left-hand reef · Left · Reef
Intermediate → Advanced
Wimereux
mellow beach peaks · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Intermediate
La Mauvaise Greve
punchy Atlantic beach break with long walls on bigger swells · Varies · Mixed
Intermediate → Advanced
Les Blancs Sablons
sheltered sloppy beachbreak peaks · Varies · Beach
Beginner → Intermediate
Le Gouerou
hollow fast beachbreak peaks · A-frame · Beach
Advanced
Siouville
punchy a-frame beachbreak peaks with walling sections · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Intermediate
Boutrouilles
punchy reef-anchored beachbreak peaks with wedging sections · A-frame · Mixed
Intermediate
Gold Beach
jetty-sheltered sandbar peaks, rights and lefts · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Intermediate
Cap Frehel
punchy hollow beachbreak peaks · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Vaucottes
soft shingle beachbreak peaks with occasional left on SW swell · Left · Mixed
Beginner → Intermediate
Etretat
short fast point break walls over mixed reef · Right · Mixed
Beginner → Advanced
Plan a trip
Build a trip around Sciotot
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Frequently asked
What you need to know before paddling out at Sciotot
What skill level is Sciotot suited for?
Sciotot is a beach bottom, mellow beach break 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 Sciotot work best at?
Working size is 2 to 6 ft. Below 2 ft the swell goes flat. Above 6 ft it tends to close out.
When is the best season to surf Sciotot?
Sciotot fires from September through April. Outside that window the swell window narrows and the lineup goes quiet.
What swell direction does Sciotot need?
Sciotot switches on with swells out of the W to NW (270 to 315 degrees).
What type of wave is Sciotot?
Sciotot is a a-frame-breaking wave over beach. Mellow beach break peaks.
How crowded is Sciotot?
Lineup is mellow. Visiting surfers fit in fine if they wait their turn.
Sources
- WannaSurf
Sciotot
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