Atlantic coast.

Thanks to the fabulous weather we've been enjoying for the last week or so, we took a few days off  (from what I'm not sure!!) and went on a trip to the Atlantic coast, south-west of Bordeaux with the campervan.
Our first stop was at St. Emilion, famous of course for wine, but also a really beautiful old town. The sun was hot and the restaurants and their terraces were full of people enjoying lunch outside. I've been here several times before and it remains one of my favourite French towns.

 

All around for as far as the eye can see are immaculately laid out vineyards, dotted with elegant chateaux. 

After lunch we continued towards the coast. I was keen to go back to Arcachon, so this is where we were heading for. I was convinced the famous sand dune (la Grande dune du Pilat) was at the north of the harbour entrance, just outside the town. Despite a few confusing road signs sending us to the south (and the satnav having a funny 5 mins) we stayed heading north, following my gut feeling, until we arrived at Andernos-les-Bains. It was only then that I realised that just maybe the signs, the satnav and the map were all right, and I was wrong!!!

Ooops! Never mind, we found a lovely area on the seafront where we parked up and went on our bikes all around the town and along the prom. When we returned to the van we set ourselves up for the night. This turned out to be free as it was out of season... perfect. We like 'free' .

The next morning we cooked bacon and made butties with a fresh baguette. Yum! Then we set off (again!) for Arcachon.

The town and the beaches were busy with it being Sunday, so we continued along the coast a bit further and decided to go back to the dune the next morning when it would be quieter. We found a pretty area in the pine woods with beach access, so we spent the afternoon on the beach, and stayed there with some other campervans overnight. (Another freebie!)

 

 

In the morning we went back to the famous sand dune and climbed to the top where the views were amazing. The trees beneath us looked tiny, and the dune stretched south as far as the eye could see.

 

 

 

The sheer size doesn't come across in the photos, but it's quite impressive. Almost 3km long, 500m wide from the forest to the beach and about 115m high. Although it does move about 1m per year further inland due to the wind, it would appear to have always been to the south of the harbour entrance, and never to the north!! 

From here we drove south along the coast to Biscarosse Plage. Vast, empty surfing beaches all the way down to Biarritz and Bayonne, before turning inland and back 'home' .