Anchorage

Treac'h er Gorlé

Shelter: SE, S, SW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

White sand anchorage on the north-east coast of Île d'Houat, Morbihan, sheltered from winds from SE through S to SW.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the north, keeping clear of the rocks off Pointe Beg Pell and Er Yoc'h islet to the west. Sand bottom holds well, though the depth is hard to gauge on arrival. Depths drop from 3 to 6 metres a cable offshore. Even under the lee of the shore a breeze funnels across the island in a southerly, and a night easterly can push a boat toward the rocky ground, so treat it as a fair-weather anchorage. Anchoring forbidden on the seagrass beds marked on the SHOM chart 7032.

Practical

No services at the anchorage itself. Port de Saint-Gildas lies 0.3 nm east with a small harbour and seasonal visitor buoys. Shops, bakery and restaurants in the village of Houat above the port.

Ashore

Land on the beach by the stairs set in front of a house, which also lead up to the coastal footpath, rather than scrambling the rocks. Sand dune system managed by the Conservatoire du Littoral. Coastal footpath loop around the island, about 8 km total. Village of Houat at 1 km from the anchorage on foot. Beach of Treac'h Salus on the south side reached in 20 minutes walking across the island.

History

Houat was held by monks of the abbey of Quiberon from the 11th century. The fishing harbour of Saint-Gildas was rebuilt after the 1951 storm that destroyed the previous one.