Saint-Georges-de-Didonne - the caves - Meschers

A very pleasant walk with magnificent scenery. You will pass along fine sandy beaches, close to magnificent fishing huts and sumptuous limestone cliffs in which real troglodyte cities have been carved out (Regulus and Matata caves). A visit to the seaside resort of Meschers will precede your return through the Suzac forest.
⚠️ 16/04/2025: Route modified on the hike sheet due to passage through private property.

Details

559852
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 97 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 92 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 35 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in one of the car parks on Avenue du Président André Dulin (the spaces furthest from the sea are free).

(S/E) Then walk down to the beach and turn left. At the end of the beach, go up the path on the left and join the Chemin du Fort de Suzac.
Then turn right and join the coastal path.

(1) At the tip of Suzac, take the path on the right to pass near the fort and continue south on the coastal path.
At the end of the path, take the D25 to the right for about 30 metres, Avenue Paul Rouillet

(2) Go around the La Crique restaurant on the left to reach Suzac Beach.
Cross the beach to its southern end.

(3) Then take a small path on the left that joins Allée des Merles. On the left, continue to the D25.

(4) Continue right on the path along Boulevard de Suzac.

(5) On the right, take the Rivaud passage in front of the Terrasse aux Arômes, which will take you to Les Vergnes beach. Continue south along this beach.

(6) Walk to the beach huts and back. On your return, leave the beach via Avenue des Vergnes, rejoin the D25 and continue south on the right.
At the roundabout, take the road opposite, Rue des Lauriers, which is a no-entry road. At the next crossroads, turn right onto Rue du Fief des Sables. Continue to the end.

(7) At the Les Sables campsite, turn right onto Avenue des Nonnes and turn left at the next crossroads onto Boulevard de la Corniche. Turn left into Allée Notre Roche

(8) Enjoy the view and return to Boulevard de la Corniche. Follow it to the right.

(9) Continue right along the coast to the Régulus, Arts and Matata caves. Then head south-east, still following the coastline. You can go down near the carrelets. You will reach Pointe de Mescher.

(10) Then head back up towards Meschers via Avenue du Port. At the church car park, turn left and follow Rue Paul Massy all the way to the end.

(11) At the war memorial on Place de Verdun, turn right onto Avenue de Royan towards the veterinary surgery. Continue to the roundabout.
Cross the roundabout and continue along Rue du Château d'Eau (the street on the left of Route de Paris). Keep walking straight ahead. Pass the place called Le Compin.

(12) At the next crossroads, at a place called La Maison Jaune, turn right onto Allée des Paons. At the next fork, continue left.

(13) At the cistern, take the path on the left before the fitness trail. At the next fork, turn left.

(14) At the next crossroads, turn left.

(15) When you reach the paved road, Allée du Phare aux Lapins, turn left and then at the T-junction, take the path on the right after the gate: Allée de la Forêt.

(16) At the next crossroads, turn left off the tarmac road (go around the houses).
Continue along this road and, at the D25, turn left to return to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 10 m - Avenue du Président André Dulin
  2. 1 : km 1.61 - alt. 25 m - Footpath on the right - Estuaire de la Gironde
  3. 2 : km 2.67 - alt. 9 m - La Crique Restaurant
  4. 3 : km 3.21 - alt. 6 m - Climb back up the path
  5. 4 : km 3.78 - alt. 33 m - D25
  6. 5 : km 4.32 - alt. 6 m - Passage du Rivaud
  7. 6 : km 5.21 - alt. 3 m - Carrelets
  8. 7 : km 6.26 - alt. 28 m - Camping des Sables
  9. 8 : km 7 - alt. 23 m - Viewpoint - Allée Notre Roche
  10. 9 : km 7.3 - alt. 26 m - Turn right towards the caves
  11. 10 : km 8.71 - alt. 9 m - Pointe de Meschers
  12. 11 : km 10.32 - alt. 21 m - Place de Verdun
  13. 12 : km 12.66 - alt. 11 m - Crossroads at the place known as La Maison Jaune
  14. 13 : km 13.15 - alt. 14 m - Cistern
  15. 14 : km 13.73 - alt. 23 m - Crossroads
  16. 15 : km 14 - alt. 12 m - Allée du Phare aux Lapins
  17. 16 : km 14.47 - alt. 11 m - Path on the left
  18. S/E : km 14.97 - alt. 10 m - Avenue du Président André Dulin

Notes

Bring a hat and water in hot weather.

Worth a visit

You can visit the Régulus Caves (€4/person): Régulus Caves
or Matata (€5/person): Matata Caves

(6) At low tide, visit the two coves, Plage des Vergnes, and return the way you came.

Stroll through the small village of Meschers.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 46 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 9719497

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route at the start of the hike has been corrected and poses no problems, but the route at the end sent me into the bushes several times when all you have to do is follow the main path to finish the hike!
Overall, a very beautiful hike with very varied landscapes (town, beach, forest, cliffs), despite the slightly long urban section on the way out of Meschers.

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User 16541646

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Another magnificent coastline under the sun! An easy and very pleasant hike!

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GigiBS
GigiBS

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent scenery.
However, there are a few negative points to note:
. On leaving Meschers, the route is concrete, not very interesting and long.
. Poor directions and we lost our GPS in the Suzac forest at landmark 13, the cistern.
We were able to connect to another app to find our way back.

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Olive62
Olive62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with magnificent views of the beautiful little beaches in the form of coves and cliffs of the Matata caves. I did this out of season (Easter weekend), so there was no one there and despite the bad weather I enjoyed it.

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choupy40
choupy40

I don't think the Visorando app is at fault. Some of these trails have been around for a while and the terrain can change. That's what your comments are for.
I've been using this app since it first came out and I've never had any complaints. It's not perfect, but if you use your GPS properly, you should be able to find your way if there are any changes on the ground. Your GPS problem may be with your device. It's worth checking

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Museau de sardine
Museau de sardine
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Unclear route, when stopping due to a detour around private property, no reliable route, we got lost at the end of the circuit, route off the trail, inaccurate GPS position, I don't think I'll use this app again and definitely won't recommend it. I came across other hikers who were also lost and using Vidorando. Parish specific to Brittany

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martinet-galopins
martinet-galopins
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with beautiful views of the coast and cliffs. The caves are superb, and I recommend visiting both sites as each is interesting and complements the other

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Elisae
Elisae

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, no particular difficulties.
Please note that part of the route at the start (between points 4 and 5) is no longer accessible: the campsite is closed (asbestos and private property issues?), but there is an easy detour.

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Mayamimi
Mayamimi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike along the coastline, with a cave to visit (entrance fee), returning inland with little of interest.

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Anne Laure 37
Anne Laure 37

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike to follow (I usually get lost quickly!) where you pass through beautiful and very diverse landscapes. I really loved it, and in October there was no one else there. Note: the name of the restaurant is no longer Suzacabana (I can't remember the new name)
A must-do hike!

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chailloux
chailloux

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hike starting from point 9, going up through the forest towards point 15.
the section from 11 to 15 is not easy to follow; do not follow the Visiorando route.
Between 3 and 4, the side path is no longer accessible, but between 4 and 5, you can pass through the point de l'arneche.
You need to make a detour towards the Nonnes beach.
a beautiful hike, but the trail needs to be reviewed

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Rescoussié
Rescoussié

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Enjoy your walk, although the visit to the caves is a bit short, and the way back via Meschers is poorly signposted

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chipie33290
chipie33290

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike; don't hesitate to descend after Matata Cave to get as close as possible to the carrelets.
The section between the port of Meschers and the forest is indeed much less interesting, but there's not really any other way to do it if you want to make a loop.
Thanks for the route

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Jaquounet
Jaquounet
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike for the section along or on the coast (beaches). The section between Meschers and the hamlet of Le Compin is uninteresting (suburban area). The last part of the route in the Suzac forest requires particular attention (risk of getting lost).

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MAMIEJO
MAMIEJO

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty walk along the coast to Meschers. My friends followed me, somewhat sceptical, but they loved it. Admittedly, the return journey is very different, but in June the colours are beautiful in the countryside.
There was also some confusion at the end. The fitness trail no longer exists. There are several cisterns, but we met some people and found our way out of the forest. A little adventure is always good.

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