Port

L'Aber Ildut

3.7Lanildut, FranceNorth Finistère and Iroise

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Maximum length: 45 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 7 ft

Ria on the west coast of Finistere in Brittany, between Le Conquet and Le Four lighthouse. About 500 moorings mostly on buoys, max draught 2.3 m.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the W through the buoyed channel between Le Lieu and Men Tensel rocks. Follow the leading lines exactly, 079 degrees to enter then 041 degrees past the first mark. Tidal streams in the aber reach 3 knots at springs. Entry is tricky at night, and a green entrance buoy has been reported unlit and out of position, so keep a close watch on the plotter and sounder. The outer channel is exposed to the W and is best not entered in a big westerly swell at low water; once inside the aber the shelter is good. VHF 9 for the harbour master.

Practical

Around 500 moorings, mainly on buoys in the aber, with only about six visitor berths on the Lanildut pontoon, so expect to raft three or four abreast in season, around 25 euros for a 9 metre boat. The harbour office is often unmanned and slow to answer VHF or phone, best caught about 08:30. Diesel at the fuel pontoon, water and electricity at the pontoons. The sanitary block is shared with the working port and its shipyard, dated and often dirty, so carry toilet paper and expect cold showers, though one recent visit had hot water. The Toad boatyard on site is well regarded for repairs. Bakery, a small supermarket about 10 minutes on foot and two restaurants near the quay.

Ashore

Lanildut is the leading seaweed landing port in Europe, handling around 35000 tonnes of kelp per year. The Maison de l'Algue museum on the quay explains the trade. Coastal path GR 34 runs along both banks of the aber. Porspoder village and the granite coast of the Pays d'Iroise stretch N along the path.

History

Pink granite quarried from the Aber-Ildut quarries in the 19th century was shipped out of here for major civil works, including the base of the Statue of Liberty pedestal in New York.