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Start from the car park at the Meschers-sur-Gironde port business park.
(S/E) From the car park, take Impasse des Carrelets, pass the boules court and follow the path on the left which runs alongside the sea. After a circular bend to the left, join the road. Continue to the right, pass the hamlet and reach a junction a few metres further on.
(1) Take the path on the right which climbs up onto the sea wall, follow it and reach the small village of Talmont-sur-Gironde.
(2) Leave your bikes in the cycle park along the sea wall and explore the village on foot. Then head back towards the D145 road.
(3) At the roundabout, take the third exit and immediately turn onto the small road on the right heading north. It is a no-entry road except for bicycles. There is no motor traffic on this road.
(4) Stop at the information sign about storks on the right-hand side of the road.
200 metres further on, on the right, there is a stork’s nest, usually occupied, but there are also many other birds to spot.
Continue straight on. Cross the D244E2, then at the three-way junction, continue to the left.
(5) At the sharp right-hand bend, leave the road and continue straight ahead along the path. This path is circular and joins the D244 at the “Chez Filleux” campsite
(6) Turn left, pass Bardécille and follow the road until it crosses a small wood.
(7) At the junction, leave the D244, which climbs to the right, and continue straight on. After about 50 metres, turn left onto the small road just before a copse. Follow this road, passing through the hamlet of Biscaye (the only climb of the walk) and reach the next junction at the hamlet of Beauregard.
(8) Turn left and head towards Beloire.
(9) At the four-way junction, turn right, then left onto the D117. After about 300 metres, take the first path on the right.
(10) Turn right and follow a hedge. At the four-way crossroads, continue straight ahead, still following the hedge.
(11) At the end of the hedge, at the crossroads with a solitary Italian pine, turn left. Enter Meschers-sur-Gironde and turn left onto the D145.
(12) At the roundabout, take the road straight ahead, which leads down towards the village centre. Pass the cemetery on your right and continue to the next crossroads with the war memorial.
(13) Turn right, towards Plage des Nonnes, until you reach the start of the descent towards the beach.
(14) Turn left and follow the road that runs along the top of the cliff.
(15) Cave dwellings. Continue to the harbour.
(16) If the lock is closed, you can reach the harbour car park by crossing over the lock; otherwise, walk around the basin (D:A).
