Harbour

Au Petit Sud De L Ile Meulon.

Name: Au Petit Sud De L Ile Meulon.
Address: Porspoder, FR

Porspoder, FranceNorth Finistère and Iroise

Maximum length: 16 m
Maximum draught: 2.4 m

Anchorage off the south side of Île Melon, an uninhabited islet 300 m off the Porspoder coast in the Chenal du Four, north Finistère.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the west, leaving the Roche Amant cardinals to starboard. The channel between the islet and the mainland dries at low water of springs and is cluttered with drying rocks. Hold tide and avoid the southerly swell that runs through the Chenal du Four. No lighting and no buoyage on site.

Practical

Forain anchorage only, no buoys. Sand and weed patches among rocky heads, tenue irregular. Two boats maximum before crowding. No services. Nearest marina berths at L'Aber Ildut, 1.1 NM SE, with water, diesel and capitainerie on VHF 9.

Ashore

Landing by dinghy on the southern beach of the islet. The island carries four menhirs, one tumulus, two cairns and five dolmens, a Neolithic group inventoried by the Service Régional de l'Archéologie. Coast path GR34 runs along the Porspoder shore 400 m east, leading south 4 km to Lanildut, the main kelp port in Europe.

History

The islet was one of the main granite quarries of the Aber-Ildut area in the 19th century. The pink and grey granite cut here paved streets in Brest and was shipped from the foreshore by sailing coasters.