Vasselot Coastal Dune Circular Loop

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The first part of the hike is on the beach, along the edge of a shifting dune, sometimes on old sections of the Coubre coastal forest, returning via a path through the undergrowth.
The Visorando app is highly recommended (to locate (2) in particular).

Details

n°28057311
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.65 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 11 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 11 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 16 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -1 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: La Tremblade (17390)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.792147° / W 1.205871°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1330OT, 1332ET
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Description of the walk

Park in the Galon d'Or car park, accessible from the D25.
Please note: the beach and forest boundaries on the IGN map are incorrect. The dunes appear to have shifted significantly since the IGN's last update.

No markings

(S/E) From the car park, take the access road to the coast. When you reach Anse du Galon d'Or, turn left.

(1) About 250 m further on, turn left to cross the dune and reach the beach. Follow the beach on the left, with the Dune Littorale de Vasselot on your left, pass Pointe d'Arvert and continue along the beach for another 600 m or so.

(2) The Visorando app is almost essential here to know where to leave the beach. Go back up to the top of the beach and then cross the dune cordon on the access road between the beach and a large car park. Go up the car park, keeping to the right, and take the first wide path on the right, perpendicular to the car park. Reach a crossroads with the cycle path and follow it to the left for about 200 m. Then look out for a path branching off to the left and marked VTT 4.

The MTB 4 markingsare reversed and are placed on posts that are fairly easy to spot, even when walking in the opposite direction

(3) Follow this path. When you reach the cycle path, you will see a map of the MTB 4 trail to follow on this section in the forest. Continue straight ahead.

(4) Further on, cross a road leading to a beach car park, then a wide sandy track.

(5) Return to the tarmac cycle path and follow it to the right. Continue straight ahead at the next two junctions with forest tracks. About 50 metres after the second junction, take a path on the right (Mountain Bike 4). Ignore a path leading off to the left, cross a path and then turn right to rejoin the tarmac cycle path.

(6) Follow it to the left. About 100 metres further on, take a path on the left. Cross four forest tracks.

(7) Cross the tarmac cycle path, then continue straight ahead to cross a car park and rejoin the marked MTB 4 trail.

(8) Further on, rejoin the tarmac cycle path, follow it to the right for a few metres, then take a path on the left, which leads back to the Galon d'Or car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - Galon d'Or car park
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 3 m - Crossing the dunes
  3. 2 : km 3.96 - alt. 5 m - End of the route on the beach
  4. 3 : km 5.12 - alt. 4 m - Mountain bike 4
  5. 4 : km 5.68 - alt. 5 m - Crossing the road
  6. 5 : km 6.34 - alt. 5 m - Section on cycle path
  7. 6 : km 6.83 - alt. 11 m - Section on cycle path
  8. 7 : km 7.83 - alt. 5 m - Crossing the car park
  9. 8 : km 8.19 - alt. 5 m - A few metres on the cycle path
  10. S/E : km 8.65 - alt. 5 m - Galon d'Or car park

Notes

Updated on (2) to address the issue raised in the comment dated 19/11/2023

Easy hike, easy going on the fine sandy beach, standard hiking equipment.

The Visorando app is useful for following this route: there are no landmarks on the beach to indicate the point (2).

As indicated at the beginning of the description, the IGN map is completely out of date with regard to the boundaries of the beach and forest. The entire first part of the hike between (1) and (2) is on the beach.

It is best not to do this hike during the summer holidays to avoid the crowds on the beach, but also on the marked mountain bike section.

The marked mountain bike trail 4 never strays far from the tarmac cycle path, which you can follow if in doubt.

Worth a visit

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

A remarkable example of a shifting dune, the Vasselot Coastal Dune shows recent signs of retreat, causing the coastal forest to recede with it.
For information on the creation of the Vasselot Coastal Dune, follow this link.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
isarouselle
isarouselle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As the dune has receded, you can walk along the beach until point 2. At point 2, look for the wooden walkway leading to the dune with the sign "accès prioritaire pompiers" (fire brigade priority access).
During the summer, there are many cyclists on the cycle path, so it is best to avoid it. To do this, at point 5, cross the path to reach a sandy track, which you follow for a few dozen metres before turning left onto a path and continuing further on the left onto the VTT4 track.

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chassignol
chassignol

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Luckily we had the Viso app, because without its GPS it would have been difficult to find our way around the many forest tracks. A magnificent route.

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r.ammeux
r.ammeux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

First half on the sand by the ocean. Beach and sea as far as the eye can see. Fresh air. Second half on pretty paths winding through the forest.
A lovely walk. Easy to follow route.

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Zou48
Zou48

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Hike completed on Monday, 18/11/2024.
Between 1 and 2, we walked along the beach, then returned via the indicated path (through the forest).
Point 2 is easy with a GPS or the VISORANDO app, which I was discovering for the first time.

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grandin
grandin ★

The itinerary has been modified following the issue reported in the post below.

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grandin
grandin ★

The itinerary has been modified following the issue reported in the post below.

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JLaBallade
JLaBallade
• Edited:

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

ATTENTION!!!

Crossing point number 2 is no longer accessible due to erosion of the dune, so it is not possible to reach the forest as planned on the route.

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Dav106
Dav106
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely mix of beach, trail and road.

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ricardo1972
ricardo1972
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is straightforward and suitable for families.

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ap75rb17
ap75rb17
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

With the significant coastal erosion at Pointe Espagnole, it would be necessary to review the route at this location (1).

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