This trip is best for...
- Families with small children
- Families with older children
- Beach-lovers
- Dog owners
My favourite place to go in France is no question of a doubt Biscarrosse near Bordeaux, South Western France. I have lost count how many times my family and I have visited this beautiful place!
Getting there
We hop onto the shuttle at the LeShuttle terminal in Folkestone, Kent, and in 35 minutes, we have arrived in Calais in France. The drive is approximately 10 ½ hours from Calais to Biscarrosse, and we drive it entirely in one go with a couple of stops to eat and go to the loo, so that we arrive at the destination quicker. There are however many places to stop off at overnight to get a few hours sleep and then get back on the road again – the choice is completely yours. On the drive down, the main towns include Rouen, Le Mans, Tours and Poitiers and there are many villages and services where you can stop off to have a picnic and refuel.
If you're looking for an overnight stop to break up the long drive, look no further than Tours - it's a beautiful university town in the Loire Valley, with a ton of history and a gorgeous botanical garden.
Where to stay
When we go to Biscarrosse, we usually rent privately. We are also fortunate to have family who live nearby so we are lucky enough to sometimes stay with them. There are many different options as to which accommodation to stay in, such as gîtes, private rental, hotels and campsites.
What to do
Let the holiday begin! At Biscarrosse, there are so many places to go and many activities to do. It has two lakes with beaches, Plage de Navarrosse and Plage de Maguide, which are both calmer than the ocean and may be more suitable for families with young children. There are many activities to do around the lakes, with or without children, for example mini golf, pedalo, windsurfing, different walks and so much more.
As well as the lakes, there is also Biscarrosse Plage, which looks directly out on the Bay of Biscay. This is the place to go if you prefer to swim in the sea – the waves are bigger too, so it is definitely where you will find the surfers! There are plenty of places to get food and then go and eat on the beach, and sit-down restaurants too. I’d definitely recommend the ice cream (I have never seen so many flavours offered anywhere else), waffles and crêpes!
Whilst you are in this part of France, I would definitely pop to the Bassin d’Arcachon and climb the Dune du Pilat. Once you have managed to climb the sand dune, you get to experience the most amazing view – be careful, if you dare to walk down the other side, you will have to walk all the way back up (we made this mistake – it’s not easy!).
My best memories as a child were made here and if you have the pleasure of going to Biscarrosse, I hope you love it as much as I do!