hi there, i went there ages ago and stil want to go back!!! the Dune is apparently the largest sand dune in europe!!! 100ft high at least! just keep jumping off the top and see how far down you can get!!!
East of Bordeaux to the coast is beautiful, pine forests, quiet, long sandy beaches and small villages just when you need one. If your on the beach when its windy you'll know about it!! Your in the middle of the bay of biscay, and you might feel like your face is being sand-papered!!! Hence the Dune above!!
The dune is nearly 400 feet high and although they have a corrugated wooden track going up it you will still be knackered when you reach the top,the views are immodest!
Arachon basin offers sheltered bathing in an area renowned for its big waves so is good for kids.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Definately try to visit if your in the area, is quite amazing to see & climb, the views from the top are wonderful. Try to get to the wine town of St Emilion in the hills too. its beautiful!
Hi all
I first visited this area in November 1998 when I was staying in Bordeaux on an work exchange. It was wild and deserted, all the campsites were closed of course, and quite unlike any other area of France I had ever seen. We climbed the Dune in a howling gale and driving rain, (not recommended!) but the effort was worth it for the views over the Bassin d'Arcachon and along the Landes coast.
I went back the following summer with my husband to camp but it was too busy for us and we found the weather to be quite unreliable although we enjoyed exploring the area. We moved on to a peaceful site in the Dordogne after a few days at my friend's place in Bordeaux.
Mid August-the main French hol season is winding down so no need to book(imho)-loadsa campsites in the area-if you Google the various town names in the area you will find links to campsites--
La Cigale at top of Arcachon Basin is a lovely small site, stayed there in June last year, quiet.town is Arres. It's the other end of the basin to Arcachon and the Dune de pyla but near some vast stretches of sandy beach.
------------- bridie
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Stayed at Panorama du Pyla in May last year. Great access to the Pyla dune, in fact right next to it, terraced campsite with access to beach which is steep and with currents so maybe not ideal for swimming. Ideal for paragliding. Don't remember much about campsite, pine trees, great views, generally nothing negative.
Arduous, steep climb to the top with sand blasting our legs. Great view.
Sam - have copied this in from the other thread as people seem to have picked up on this one. V.
Sam, September is a good time for French campsites - but beware, some of them close very early in September! Most sites quieten down considerably the last week in August, as all the French have gone home, and the over-wintering crowd haven't yet started their trek south.
We've done the Dune du Pyla, but it's 27 years ago (when my son was just a baby of six months) - we stayed at Cap Ferret, at Le Truc Vert, which was walking distance to the beach (with Dunes - but the other side of the bay of Arcachon to the Dune du Pyla). There's a station in Arcachon, and probably the best sites, in terms of surfing are at Biscarosse just a bit south. (This is from the www.campingfrance.com website, so you can look at all other areas too). My son has been surfing around there (they did some paragliding from the Dune du Pyla, too - but they were in cars) - and stayed at Domaine de la Rive. The site closes on the 7th September. It has access to a private beach (thinking of your guitars, fires, etc - just remember to clear up, says the mum in me!!!). It does take Camping Cheques ( www.campingcheque.co.uk ) for the last week (from 30th August) meaning a night on site for two would cost only £10.30. It has a great pool complex, too, plus a restaurant, pizzeria, bar and snack bar, plus lake with watersports, hires mountain bikes, and for any 'retros' a skateboard park!!!! The problem may be that some sites don't accept single sex parties whatever their ages - my son's party included girls, so can't answer for Domaine de la Rive. You'd have to ask the site directly. You'll find lots of places hire out wetsuits, boards, etc, all along that coast so you shouldn't have any problems with equipment.
There's another site on the Camping Cheque website (Camping le Petit Nice) which is in the Dune du Pyla area, and stays open until 30th September - it takes Camping Cheques from 1st September, and you can have 7 nights on site for 6 Camping Cheques). Haven't any experience of this site, though, but it's in the area you want.
We visited the Dune from Biscarosse Plage (Domaine de la Rive) last year.
It was a nice day out, pretty spectacular views.
I didn't think the climb was too strenuous (mid August, quite a hot day) and I am pretty unfit, but it was steep and my vertigo kicked in big time.
At the top it was painful to stand as we were sandblasted by the wind, I guess it depends which side of the dune the wind is on - we were ok while walking up.
Kids loved it, wanted to run all the way down till we pointed out they'd have to climb back up!
I remember thinking the car park was a bit pricey, and it was very full when we went. The restaurants etc. at the Dune were pretty expensive and there wasn't anywhere to eat your own picnic in comfort.
Definitely take plenty of water to drink, it was thirsty work climbing.
We tried a couple of the beaches near the dune, but to be honest we thought Biscarosse Plage was nicer.
Stayed August 2008 on way to mimizan. Parked up overnight at bottom of dunes for less than a tenner. Cant remember if any tents or caravans but ideal for motorhomes. didnt get there till 8pm but still plenty of pitches.
Would recommend an evening visit to watch sunset. obviously select a clear evening. Would imagine not as busy as during day but still a popular time to go.
Sat on dunes with cool box of wine and fresh fruit while kids tried to find where the dune ended and the beach began. just remember to remind them its a lot harder to get back up.
A few cups of wine and one sunset later and its all for one and one for all as we hurtled down the dunes to the stalls and shops below, where u can purchase food or for us the mandatory fridge magnet and remove some of the sand.
so... in short, a great place for an overnight stop, especially for families. just remember its all uphill to get there although steps are provided to scale the dune. but it has rated as one our most popular unexpected stopovers by both children of a reasonable age, ours being 7,9 and 15 and so called adults, me being 43ish and mrs T a bit less than 43.
if you've got the legs then its got to be done.
oh, an the winner of the race down was.... "whos the daddy".
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Dune du Pyla and Arcachon Bay
