Then continue along the coast south through Aquitaine and the Médoc, where the Gironde estuary pours into the Atlantic, and draw a straight line 270 kilometres long down to Spain! Your fingers will hover over the fine sand, dune grass and steep cliffs on the Basque coastline, nature reserves and wide open spaces. And there’s plenty of interest along the way.

In Aquitaine, take a wander through the world’s leading wine growing peninsula. Discover the maritime heritage of the Arcachon basin with its huts built on stilts, fishing ports and villages famous for oyster production.

Cap Ferret (not to be confused with Cap Ferrat on the Mediterranean coast) overlooks the basin on one side and the Atlantic on the other and is another destination of the smart French. Try to scale the Dune du Pyla near Arcachon, at 114m the highest sand dune in Europe, and once at the summit, treat yourself to a nice glass of Bordeaux!

Basque Country has a certain charm that can’t be found anywhere else. At the south western point of France, this region offers an amazing view of the ocean and the Pyrénées. Get to know the locals who are proud of their language and culture; watch a pelota ball match in a village square; enjoy grilled calamari and Basque cakes on a sunny terrace. Bidart, a small village on the Basque coast, has developed a reputation as a great beach destination over the past few years, and the place to go to “Catch the Wave” (for surfers in the party), while still preserving its authenticity and traditional charm. Blue Cargo (must book) is a very lively and lovely nightclub on the beach – we highly recommend! For the foodies, a short drive takes you over the border into Spain and the epicure’s heartland of San Sebastián.