La Vélodyssée – de Hourtin-Plage au Bassin d’Arcachon

Set off for the stage of the forest road which links Hourtin Beach (‘Hourtin-Plage’) to Carcans Beach (‘Carcans-Plage’). This wide, paved route is shared with road traffic, but is safer in the summer period when cars are not allowed. You are on the EuroVelo 1 route. At the crossroads of the paths for Hourtin Beach (‘Hourtin-Plage’) and the Contaut lagoon (stop 10 on the North Médoc coastal stage), go towards ‘Carcans-Plage’. Continue on this wide track which contains several crossroads that either take you off to the ocean on the right or to the Carcans-Hourtin lake to the left. Here, you will find a dense network of tracks and variable forest routes, often uneven narrow paths paved over with concrete, designed more for mountain bikes. Those which head to La Gracieuse or Bombannes take you away to discover the charms of the largest natural lake in France: 18 km long and 5 km wide.

Just before the end of the forest route, you arrive at a junction (km 16.6). Turn left in the direction of Maubuisson. If you turn right, you rejoin Carcans Beach where you can find any services you might need in order to properly begin another stage. However, the path that takes in the beach and heads to the South is narrow in places (50 cm).

Once you’ve set off in the direction of Maubuisson, you will come across some houses before joining up with the RD 207 road and heading off towards ‘Lacanau-Océan’. Take this beautiful dedicated cycle path over the hills and through the woods, surrounded by inland dunes and deep ravines. The landscape is superb and surprising. It is the consequence of an age-old conflict that goes back more than 5000 years: the old dunes and their oak woods that open to the West are in conflict with the more recent dunes that open to the East, fixed by the plantation of pine trees. It is this struggle which has led to the creation of the natural lakes and which explains the hilly nature of the area. You pass close to ‘l’étang de Cousseau’, a protected nature reserve where you can find naturalist guides and a nature trail. The flora and fauna are unique and well-preserved.

You come out on to the Bordeaux-Lacanau cycle track, the oldest one in Gironde (completed in 1980 by the regional council along the old railway tracks). You take this track when you turn right towards ‘Lacanau-Océan’ (km 26).

You go past a first roundabout, go through two small tunnels and arrive at a second roundabout where you turn left towards Longarisse. Ride past Lacanau Casino. A little further on take a right turn towards the ocean.

Next, turn left in the direction of Le Porge-Le Gressier, until you reach the plage du Lion (Lion beach) car park, where you’ll find a place to stop and rest. Appreciate the landscape, full of twisted pines, and the dunes that stretch out as far as the eye can see. Follow the signposts for Le Porge using the beautiful paved route (km 37). Go straight ahead to la plage du Gressier (double bend left/right).

When you arrive at ‘Porge-Océan’, you’ll appreciate the opportunity to take a well-deserved rest. Continue to the right in the direction of La Jenny on a beautiful new track.

Cycle through the La Jenny naturist estate (km 47.6)

You’ll eventually reach Le Grand Crohot (km 55), a very popular beach in the Lège-Cap Ferret commune, home to whatever services you may require.

Continue to a junction, where you continue straight towards Andernos-Arès. The network of tracks that cover the Cap Ferret peninsula begins here. If you wish to continue on the EuroVelo 1 route, you might opt to take this network to find the Bélisaire jetty on the way to the tip (‘la pointe’) of Cap Ferret, where a ferry can take you to Arcachon and to the tracks that run along the South of the Bassin d’Arcachon.

If you have chosen to go straight, you’ll meet another intersection.

Head towards Claouey before you arrive at the point where the path meets up with the ‘Tour du Bassin d’Arcachon’ track (km 63). Refer to the ‘Vélodyssée- from the North of the Bassin d’Arcachon to the gateway to les Landes’ in order to continue your journey...