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 "Arnèche"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 "Arnèche" 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.

Walks in the south of Charente Maritime

This walk is characterised by walking through open fields so don't pick a hot day because it requires some steady climbs in the blazing sun.

Starting point : Chez Carré

Distance : 15 kms

going : moderate

Start the walk at the hamlet called" Chez Carré" and follow the tarmac road which goes past "Le Banchereau" and "Romefort". Turn left at the crossroads, walk past a Charentaise house " Chez Doublet" Traffic is very limited. Continue until you reach a narrow tarmac road on your right, Follow the narrow road, then turn left , keep ahead , walk past the hamlet called "La petite vache" then as you emerge into the open field follow the track you reach the hamlet called "La grande vache" . Shortly after passing "La grande vache" you will soon come in sight of a Roman bridge where you can have a rest for a while in the shade .Then a few hundred metres ahead turn right and walk along the tarmac road, walk past the Charentaise houses on your right and take in the view over the Gironde Estuary , Meschers , Talmont... After a while the narrow road emerges onto another tarmac road. From there you can consider returning to the departure point or taking a detour to the village of Talmont. If you turn left you will see the church of Talmont and if you turn right you will return to the starting point. The day we did this walk was so hot that we decided to turn right and return to the starting point. This section of the walk steadily and gently climbs but you may enjoy extensive views over the estuary, carry on up to a footpath sign and then continue walking on the obvious path , you will pass through a small wood before reaching the road that goes from Arces to Epargnes. Cross the road and take the footpath just ahead. Now walk past the farm on your left. The track continues to climb gently for a long section. Keep going and in the distance you can see the village of " Javrezac" and the water tower of Cozes. Keep to the track and then turn right. You will not walk through Javrezac. Then continue along the track through vineyards until you reach the tarmac road signposted Epargnes, walk along the road for a few metres to the crossroads, at which point, turn right. Then at the next road junction turn left , past the beautiful Charentaise house " Chez Doublet" and at the next junction turn right , walk past " Romefort" and follow the road to "Le Banchereau" , take in the view over the Gironde estuary, continue the same tarmac road until you reach the starting point " Chez Carré" On the one hand this itinary gives you the opportunity to observe birds of prey such as Milans, buzards...But on the other hand this is a walk which perhaps should best be attempted by the relatively fit as there are some long steady climbs.