Biarritz to La Rochelle (1 Viewer)

[Norm]

End of September we will be travelling West from Beziers in the South accross to Biarritz and then North along the coast to La Rochelle.
Any reccomendations would be appreciated especially for sites with foot access to shops restaurants etc.
Is there anywhere with easy access to Biarritz??

 

[magicsurfbus]

Biarritz is known locally as BAB (ie Biarritz - Anglet - Bayonne) as the three towns have virtually merged, but they all have different characters.

There are three aires around Biarritz, all close to the sea with regular bus services along the beach front and through the town centre. Our favourite is Anglet, Boulevard des Plages. A little way down the road is the aire at La Barre, Avenue de l'Adour, by the river Adour which is better placed for exploring Bayonne by bike or bus. Worth checking when that's open though as I don't think it's available all year round. Our least favourite is Avenue de la Milady on the south side of town, which is quite cramped and is noisier due to nearby traffic and the airport, but it does have EHU on a first come first served basis if needed. I'm pretty certain most of the campsites are south of Biarritz, for example at Bidart. We tried one there once but didn't like it much - expensive and too much like a Surrey suburb, complete with privet hedges and rather too many Brits peering over them. I speak from experience, having lived and worked in the Surrey suburbs

Heading up towards La Rochelle we've been to Biscarrosse-Plage and Lacanau-Ocean and used the aires there rather than the campsites. Lacanau has more of a surfy vibe, whilst Biscarrosse is frankly a bit tacky by French standards but you can camp in the woods and walk to the beach and local supermarket without paying too much attention to the resort. We also visited Mimizan-Plage without stopping overnight. OK if you just want the beach but we weren't very taken with it otherwise. The Dune de Pyla is worth a look if you don't mind a climb. Various sites and aires in the vicinity.

Across the Gironde we've always like La Palmyre for its variety of beaches and the cycle tracks but it's a low key resort, not a quaint fishing village.

If you've not been on either the Ile d'Oleron or the Ile de Re save some time for them whilst you're in the area. If time is tight, opt for Re.

 

[Gaston aires]

Whilst we avoid toll roads most of the time. The coast road around Biarritz is so slow and full of speed bumps its worth the toll price to avoid the area.
Phil

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[Robert Clark]

There's a fantastic aire at Andernos Les Bains - great seafood restaurants and Oysters and a supermarket within walking distance.

 

[Norm]

Thats a great help Guys, thanks.
We'll certainly take on board the Air at Biarritz Magicsurfbus, and will avoid those South given we come from Surrey (although not the suburbs !!!)