A grey but warm and fairly bright day – we are quite comfortable here in this Pine forest park up by the sea so have decided to chill a bit and just walk rather than moving on. The only sounds are the crashing of the waves when the tide is high and twittering of birds in the trees and the occasional passing helicopter – so lovely and peaceful.

We start the day by clambering along the footpath over the dunes….

To our first beach of the day – Plage du Vivier….

Here we enjoy a lovely walk to wake us up and put us in the mood for some breakfast and yes a little bit of housework – I can ignore the sand in my bed no longer!

Refreshed and feeling good about a briefly de-sanded van we set out in the early afternoon along the boardwalk across the dunes to Biscarrosse Plage (the satellite village situated on the coast to Biscarrosse village a couple of miles inland) – the houses here are mostly single story chalets or small apartment blocks but as with many others we have seen looking pretty closed up….

We wander down through the village and there are a few signs of life with a couple of bars open serving lunches but generally it feels a bit like a ghost town – at the far end we join the beach – Plage Sud….

The tide appears to be on its way out with just a glimmer of what could be above the huge crashing waves….

Central beach looks like it is fighting a bit of a battle with the sand being moved around on top of the dunes by a digger….

A little further on is Plage Nord which eventually leads on to Plage du Vivier where we were this morning but we decide to continue you back to the van using the broad walk as it is easier going. Plage Nord…..

Before leaving we watch a while as a surfer enters the water to take on those rather spectacular waves and enjoy the pretty rose coloured skies beyond….

Thoughts of the day:

• A surfer just somehow completes the shot.
• I know I keep repeating my self but this is my ideal location – I guess the only thing missing is some mountains in the background – remind you of anywhere? Of yes and maybe the odd island!

Today’s stats:

• Miles driven – 0
• Miles walked – 7
• Beaches – 4
• Aire – £14.11 EHU

Another cracking day, may be a little more cloud around but still warm and just well nice! A little bit of a driving day today as we plan to drive around Arcachon Bay to get back onto the coast proper and see how the second half of the Cote de l’Argent measures up. We stopped off at Arès to check out the beach there….

Just a thin strip of sand that was being cleaned / flattened or evened out by a digger – not sure which but rather randomly undergrowth on the shoreline – we didn’t stop long before driving around the bay to Arcachon a rather vibrant seaside town still very much open and doing a fair trade on this sunny lunch time. We found parking and took a wander down to the sea front and along the promenade backing Plage de Eyrac….

Here you could be tempted to swim as being within the bay it is sheltered from those Atlantic waves we have been admiring this past week, and indeed a few hardy folk were but mostly people we just sat out side the street bars enjoying the sunshine eating and drinking. From here we moved to the other side of the town almost back on the open ocean but just sheltered by the spit of Cap Ferret and walked along Plage Abatilles and then Plage du Moulieau….

Wandering back along the streets of this rather well to area – am guessing that if you have ‘Sotheby’s’ and ‘Christie’s’ estate agents within half a mile of each other it probably isn’t even worth looking in the window!

Moving on we come to today’s piece de resistance (I’m learning!) – Dune du Pilat – Europe’s tallest dune….

Standing some 100m above sea level – approx 2.7km long and 500m wide and absolutely amazing sight. I confess to being a little out of breath getting up there and that was using the steps and we didn’t even get to the highest point as poor Tilly was being absolutely blasted by the sand and really not enjoying herself and too be fair we have done so much soft sand walking of late, so we enjoyed the view and then took the easy way back down the soft slope.

A short drive to our final stop of the day – Plage de Petit Nice…

And a nice walk along the firm damp sand before heading to our Aire for the next couple of nights in Biscarosse and settling in for the evening.

Thoughts of the day:

• Imagine….

• Isn’t nature amazing?

Today’s stats:

• Miles driven – 85
• Miles walked – 7
• Beaches – 5
• Aire – £14.11 EHU

Another lovely mostly sunny day as we wander down to Lac d’Hourtin for our morning stroll…

The waters are flat calm and incredibly clear and there is even a little sandy beach, though there are signs saying no swimming which seems a shame….

We enjoy a good walk before heading back to the coast for our first proper beach walk of the day at Plage d’Hourtin….

A magnificent sweep of dune backed sands, much as we have come to expect on this coastline, but of which we will never tire.

Our next stop is much the same at Plage de Carcans….

Here they have recently embarked on a major planting of different grasses, I guess in an attempt to try and keep the sand on the beach and from encroaching on the small resort here….

We enjoyed a fine walk here as parking was very straightforward and plentiful, though unusually chargeable during the season before moving onto our final location for the day – Lancanau. Parking here was much trickier and all very much chargeable, though we did manage to find a little spot towards the far end of town and walked back over the dunes….

Down onto South Beach and along to Central Beach….

The small town was buzzing on this lovely sunny Sunday afternoon which is nice to see and something we haven’t seen for quite some time. Our Aire for the night is on the outskirts of the town and we were soon settled for the evening.

Thoughts of the day:

• We are really enjoying this area which almost has an island feel to it – separated from mainland France by the river Gironde to the east, spectacular sandy beaches and dunes to the west, with forest land and lakes running through the middle – what more could you ask for?
• I cannot image the beaches ever being busy apart from around the resorts but I’m equally sure that it is much nicer driving and walking around now whilst it is quiet – we drove for 12 miles along the forestry road from Carcan to Lancanau and didn’t meet another vehicle or see another soul

Today’s stats:

• Miles driven – 32
• Miles walked – 6
• Beaches – 4
• Aire – £15.09