Les Conches and Bud Bud are located on a golden stretch of beachbreaks between Longville and La Tranche. This spot is quite a snapshot of what you’d find in the Landes area. Backed by dunes and accessible via paths through the pines, it’s popular with surfers of all levels. With a big campsite and a car park nearby, it can get busy, especially during the summer months. If the scene is too crowded at Les Conches, you can always walk south towards Bud Bud or La Terrière for a more relaxed vibe.
The surf can vary significantly here. At Les Conches, you’ll find waves that are easier to ride, often with more wall than tube. It typically handles swell sizes from about 1 meter (3 ft) to 2.5 meters (8 ft), with the best results when the wind is coming from the northeast and the swell is coming from the northwest or southwest. The waves can be beach breaks coming from either the left or the right, depending on the banks, which change over time. As you head south towards Bud Bud, the waves tend to pick up more power and hollowness. Higher tide can bring in some more walling waves, but they also might taper off through channels, giving you a longer ride.
For those looking to avoid the typical crowds, La Terrière is a good alternate spot further south, offering its own good banks. Keep in mind that when swells pick up and it’s big, the paddling can get a bit tough due to rips. This place is best from September to February, giving you consistent waves with autumn offering warmer water and winter ramping up the swell size and power. You can ride a variety of boards here, from shortboards and funboards to longboards and bodyboards, making it a versatile spot for different types of surfers.