The ‘Silver Coast’ unfurls along the Atlantic seaboard in a magnificent swathe of white sand stretching some 200 km between the mouth of the Gironde and Biarritz. Edged by pine forest, the dunes march up to 5 km inland interspersed by two-bit towns packed to the gills with bronzed youth in summer, then shut up and virtually deserted from September to May.

Surfing is the name of the game here with world-class events held at Lacanau-Océan and Hossegor in mid to late August. Soulac (to the north of Lacanau), Biscarrosse and Mimizan are also popular. Swimmers should beware strong currents.