Walks in the south of Charente Maritime

This walk offers a superb means of enjoying the coastline of Meschers and the beauty of the estuary.

• starting point : La plage de Suzac
• Going : Moderate
• Time : about 4 hours

Start the walk just in front of the restaurant called "la plage" where you can park your car. Then walk along the beach , you can take off your shoes and enjoy paddling at the same time! Then at the end of the beach turn left. this part is slighly steep until you reach a junction don't turn right , it's a private footpath leading to a house on top of the cliff. Bear left and then right you will walk past log cabins, continue walking the obvious track until you reach a little cove called "Arn�che"This secluded spot ( in low season) is beautiful. Walk along the cove and then climb a flight of stairs to reach the footpath along the estuary. This section of the walk is distinguished by breathtaking views over the estuary . After a while the path takes you to the main road ( Royan - Meschers) continue ahead and then turn right to reach the "plage des Vergnes". Now you will walk along the sea to the end of the beach and then enjoy paddling again in the water for a while .At the end of the beach turn left at the bar and take the tarmac road which takes you to the main road again. Keep on the road until you reach a roundabout and take the "do not enter" signed road and keep on the road as it continues alongside the "corniche" . This is an attractive walk which enables walkers to see beautiful houses on the cliff and it is worth taking in the view from the corniche. Then after a long way you will reach the harbour where you can enjoy an ice cream and have a rest watching the sail boats coming back to the port. Then keep going on the obvious main road until you reach the church. Turn left , go past the post office , the super U . Turn right at the crossroads , then at the first junction turn left past the cementery of Meschers and continue walking to the next crossroads then you will bear right and go past the camping sites there's a road sign saying Royan. Keep walking along the narrow tarmac road as it swings left to the roundabout . You will walk on the same itinerary as the beginning of our circuit, a few metres away on the main road you will reach the plage des Vergnes . If it's high tide you won't be able to walk along the cove called "Arn�che" and will have to walk along the main road for a little while and turn left to join the footpath to "La plage de Suzac"

I do like this walk which offers a diversity of spots.