Bretteville, France
Also within 20 km of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Centre nautique de Cherbourg Sailing spot · 0.3 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Collignon Surf spot · 4.3 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Anse du Brick Surf spot · 10.3 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- La Mondrée Surf spot · 13.7 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Biville Surf spot · 14.5 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Vauville Surf spot · 16 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- La Crecque Surf spot · 16.6 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Le bloc Surf spot · 17.1 km from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Watch this spot We email you when Bretteville is worth the trip.
About Bretteville
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces N (347°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (167°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 600 m out (1 in 58). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 10°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 18°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). The town to stay in is Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, 7.6 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 16°C: 3/2 wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 16 h 25 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to LHR, direct.
See flights ORD → LHR · Skyscanner from about £395 returnAdGetting there. 4 h from the airport to Bretteville.
Accommodation.
Stay in Cherbourg-en-CotentinAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Fermanville 12 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 3 places to stay
Places to stay in Fermanville · Booking.com AdCherbourg-en-Cotentin 13 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 28 places to stay · where Bretteville stays
Places to stay in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin · Booking.com AdSiouville-Hague 44 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 9 places to stay
Places to stay in Siouville-Hague · Booking.com AdFlamanville 50 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 4 places to stay
Places to stay in Flamanville · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
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Where it is
Bretteville on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 8, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 38kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 12 knots | 13°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft4 smushy | 5kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 8 knots, offshore | 12°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 8, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 8kJ | wind from the west, 7 knots | 15°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft11 smushy | 15kJ | wind from the west, 24 knots | 13°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 33, too small | 3 ft7 smushy | 62kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-west, 10 knots, offshore | 15°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft12 smushy | 32kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 38 knots | 13°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 28, poor | 3 ft5 smushy | 53kJ | wind from the south-west, 11 knots | 13°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft6 s | 2kJ | wind from the west, 22 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 19, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 42kJ | wind from the south-west, 13 knots | 13°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft9 scrumbling | 25kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 21 knots | 15°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to LHR, then 4h by road. About 16h 25 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctSurf Bretteville
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 3 ft at 7 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Collignon
Best 14:00 to 17:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, offshore wind.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to LHR, then 4h by road. About 16h 25 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Cherbourg-en-Cotentin each day: Anse du Brick, Bretteville, Collignon.
The trip from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, with every spot near it
Rough cost
About £1,115–£2,075 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to LHR, estimated from distance and season, 3 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £395–£820 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £105–£175 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £255–£425 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £240–£445 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £85–£145 |
| Total | £1,115–£2,075 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Brasserie Le CommerceFrench · 0.1 km from the centre
- Le MoulinFrench · 0.1 km from the centre
- Restaurant Le Temple d'AngkorCambodian · 0.1 km from the centre
- Rose de DamasSyrian · 0.1 km from the centre
- Thaï-ThaïThai · 0.1 km from the centre
- Au Saint MichaelPancake house · 0.2 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.