Dune du Pilat

[KungFooBob]

Most of my bike holidays have involved picking a location and then filling in the gaps. I had an epic trip after showing the wife a picture of Lake Bled.

This year I'm half tempted to go to Annecy again because I just love the place, but Bordeaux is an area of Fronch I've not really done before and I think I'd like to see the Dune, just to say I have.

I've been to Tours, Nantes and La Rochelle before, what else should I be taking in on the trip down from the Chunnel?

[Yorick]

The dune is awesome. We camped right below it.
The coast is interesting. We've done that way a few times on bike and in camper

[Cousin Jack]

I'm watching this with interest. France has so far been mainly an en-route to somewhere else. I think it needs a proper visit. Annecy area is good though, I did that some years back.

[Rockburner]

Been there in the van. IIRC there's not a huge amount of interest in the surrounding counryside, and it's mostly flat (that's my rememberance anyway).

The Dune itself is quite impressive, if the winds from the west you get paragliders flying up and down the length of the dune simply on the updraft from the sea-breeze hitting the dune.

[DefTrap]

I'm not much for sightseeing, but on this side Tours, Angers, La Rochelle and Bordeaux are nice. Further down I quite like Biarritz, Bayonne and San Sebastian.

No recommendations as such. Around Bordeaux you could spends days swooping around the roads between vineyards and sunflowers, stopping only for lunch and dinner. There's some great restaurants around there in the middle of nowhere.

[Yorick]

Mimizan is a nice place. Camped by the lake a few times.

[KungFooBob]

Is Cognac worth a visit?

Her indoors liked Epernay.

[Yorick]

Is Cognac worth a visit?

Her indoors liked Epernay.

The huge Cognac building is pretty cool. And the town is OK.

[Rockburner]

Is Cognac worth a visit?

Her indoors liked Epernay.

Yes. Great restaurant right in the town square: "Garden Ice Cafe" : https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@45.69327 ... ?entry=ttu

It's a FLASH regular lunch stop. There's a fantastic road into Cognac that runs along a river valley, and through the vineyards, but I'm damned if I can remember the starting point for it....

[Mr Moofo]

I'm off to Bordeaux in June
That is now on the list!

[Noggin]

I'm watching this with interest. France has so far been mainly an en-route to somewhere else. I think it needs a proper visit. Annecy area is good though, I did that some years back.

If you do go to Annecy, let me know - I'm only about an hour and a half from there, pretty nice roads too Couldn't inflict a visit on KFB cos I was stuck in the rehab centre after the leg break!!

[Sadlonelygit]

It's the smell going into cognac. One deep breath and you'd fail a breathalyser.
St Emillion is worth a visit, just for the history.
As for Bordeaux, one of France's prettier cities.
I can tell you where there are some very good restaurants, or very expensive ones.
Blaye is nice.
Big day out, go visit the bastides inland

[KungFooBob]

I've just booked Le Shuttle for the 6th September, returning on the 14th. £126, £100 of which was £50 worth of Clubcard vouchers. So I've paid £26 for the crossing.

If it's tipping it down all week, I'll spend it in Paris. If it's dry and sunny, Dune du Pilat here we come!

I suppose I should sort some Euro breakdown cover too, just in case.

[ChrisW]

Give the dune my regards - I've only seen it once, a while ago. We had a nice enough lunch in the village/holiday home type area next to it. It's a pleasant little place.

[Mr Moofo]

I've just booked Le Shuttle for the 6th September, returning on the 14th. £126, £100 of which was £50 worth of Clubcard vouchers. So I've paid £26 for the crossing.

If it's tipping it down all week, I'll spend it in Paris. If it's dry and sunny, Dune du Pilat here we come!

I suppose I should sort some Euro breakdown cover too, just in case.

I never made it even though I was only an hour away. The weather was absolutely shit though!

[KungFooBob]

In the last couple of days the forecast for Fronch next week has gone from 25-27c and sunshine to 16c and thunderstorms.

It looks dryer and warmer the further east you get, so I might even end up in Germany rather than western Fronch.

It it looks proper shite everywhere I'll park up in Paris and go on a week long bender.

At least it looks like it will be dry for the ride down to Folkestone tomogga.

[Dodgy69]

Did you take the GS or the Enfield.

[KungFooBob]

GS

Sat in the Chunnel terminal waiting for a train!

Only rained for a teeny bit on the M20, was sunshine and 25c all the way to the Dartford crossing.

[ChrisW]

Happy travels

[Felix]

World sandcastle building competition on? FFS grow up Apart from Clubcard points is 126 quid not a bit spendy considering i can take my bus through for just under 300