Nearest airport:
Bordeaux or La Rochelle at 50 Miles
Nearest ferry:
St Malo, Brittany at 250 Miles
Nearest motorway:
A10 junction at 15 Miles
Nearest beach:
beach at 15.0 Miles
Car:
necessary
Known locally as the 'Côte de Beauté', this stretch of coast where the Gironde meets the Atlantic is popular for its calm waters and soft sand. The village of Meschers is 15 minutes by car and offers several sandy coves or longer stretches of beach, ideal for swimming and sunbathing, with restaurants close at hand.
Continuing up the coast, there are beautiful beaches at the towns of St Georges de Didonne and Royan, as well as the wilder dunes and pine forests of the Côte Sauvage. Closer to home, one of France's prettiest villages, Talmont, can be reached in 20 minutes by car.
There are spectacular views of the Estuary from cycle routes along the coast, or from cliffs at nearby Mortagne where there are a number of restaurants beside the attractive marina. Seafood is a speciality of this region and it is also a great opportunity to learn more about wine, cognac and pineau – all of which are produced locally.