The most direct route down the west coast involved getting a car ferry across from Royan to Pointe de Grave. To avoid that would have meant a large detour, almost to Bordeaux, so I cycled the short distance to Royan and arrived by ferry in Pointe de Grave at lunch time.

When the sea became visible from the cycle path there was the most surf that I had seen so far on the trip, and the main beach at Soulac-sur-Mer looked very appealing. The area looked like a nice place to stay and I found a campsite which I checked in to around 3pm. It had access to a beach where people were kitesurfing and enjoying the surf and it was a relaxing place to spend some time.

Distance: 22 miles

Maximum temperature: 23 degrees C

Beach next to the campsite in Soulac-sur-Mer

Kitesurfing at Soulac-sur-Mer

Main beach at Soulac-sur-Mer