From Vieux-Boucau to the Étang de Moïsan

Park in the large car park on the Esplanade des Arènes in Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains, near Avenue de la Liberté.

(S/E) Head north, towards the Arènes. Walk along the right-hand side of a large park with picnic tables, then come out onto the dual carriageway of the Promenade des Arènes. Turn left and walk for about 150 m. You’ll come to a pedestrian crossing.

(1) Cross the road carefully and follow Boulevard du Marensin opposite, then Chemin du Junca. You’ll reach a T-junction and the Le Vieux Port campsite.

(2) Turn sharp left, go through the barrier and follow the track signposted: ‘Access to the South Beach’, which winds through the dunes in an S-shape. You’ll reach a Y-junction and a cycle park. Optional: take a detour to the left to admire the ocean; otherwise, turn right and look out for a wide track in the sand, about 50 metres further on to the left.

(3) Follow this track, which runs alongside the dunes and narrows further on into the vegetation just after a wide sandy area. Keep the signal box in sight.

(4) At marker 10, after a short climb up the sand, follow the track which turns to the right and leads into the forest along a wide path. Then keep to the left. You’ll notice traces here and there left by Storm Klaus in 2009. At marker 3, walk at the foot of a dune, then rejoin the path. Join the tarmac road leading to the Messanges Semaphore.

(5) Turn right onto this road, then, about 120 m further on, leave it on the right, heading south-east. Keep to the left, then arrive at an X-junction.

(6) Turn onto the^first path on the left, heading north-east, then join a tarmac road and follow it to the left. Walk for about 50 m and look out for a blue-marked path on the right.

(7) Turn right onto this path, which runs alongside a stream, passes to the left of the Étang de Moïsan and runs alongside the pastures where the Landes marine cows graze (information board). Pass an observatory, then arrive at a wooden footbridge.

(8) Cross this footbridge and head off to the right, towards the north-west, following another stream. You’ll come to a wide track.

(9) Turn right onto this track, which runs alongside the Étang de Moïsan and leads to a Y-junction.

(10) Turn left, then keep left. You’ll come back to the X-junction you passed on the way there.

(6) Turn left heading south. Ignore the tracks to the left and right, then reach the boundary fence of a campsite. Turn left onto this track, which becomes a tarmac road. You’ll reach the Route des Lacs (D652).

(11) Cross it carefully and follow the path opposite which leads into the forest. Keep to the right at a Y-junction, then arrive at the Lou Pignada campsite. Take a short detour to the left and join the cycle path: Léon – Soustons.

(12) Turn right onto this cycle path, cross two roads and continue straight on until you reach the sign for ‘Centre ville Vieux-Boucau’.

(13) Leave the cycle path, turn right onto Rue de la Gare, then onto Rue de la Gendarmerie. Cross the Route des Lacs (D652) with care and continue to the end of the Grand Rue. Cross the bridge over the Courant de Messanges. Turn right, rejoin Avenue de la Liberté, then head for the car park (S/E).

For reference: the author’s time for this route was 2 hours 35 minutes (excluding breaks)