Vendée in May, June, July…: do as you please with the top outdoor activities!
With the fine weather, the May bridges… and the summer season, the Vendée is brimming with more or less sporty ways to get out and about: surfing in Bretignolles-sur-Mer, gravel in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, canoeing in Apremont, hiking-bivouacking in the heart of the Marais Poitevin or even the unusual practices of wingfoil and waveski surfing on the coast of Little California…
An enchanting coastline, verdant bocage countryside, surprising Marais Poitevin and Marais Breton, endless plains criss-crossed by rivers and 1,800 km of cycle routes. This multi-faceted geography provides a superb playground for outdoor activities. Here are the top outdoor activities to enjoy in the Vendée. Many of them have already tried out these activities, which are featured in this mini-series.
The new discipline of waveski surfing on the Veillon beach at Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
Among the nuggets of the Vendée coastline, Veillon beach is a jewel. This site of great beauty is classified Natura 2000. Infinity in sea, sky and golden sand. The perfect way to spice up your beach time is to try Waveski Surfing with Paddle Aventure, a new surfing sport from Australia. A cross between surfing and kayaking, it involves catching waves while seated on a small inflatable board, double paddle in hand. Not so easy, but so much fun. We do ask our instructors to come along…
www.paddleaventure.fr
The unusual practice of wingfoil in Les Sables d’Olonne
How about breastfeeding in the Ch’noue basin, a small saltwater lake in Les Sables d’Olonne? A flat stretch of water, clear waters a little warmer than the open sea, a very pleasant natural environment, this is the spot for wingfoil fans. With your wing firmly in hand and the foil of your board upright, you can let yourself glide, fly or jump over the water, with jubilant sensations. A little acrobatic at first, but the Vertime wingfoil school offers introductory courses.
www.lessablesdolonne.fr
A different kind of sail, but one that still gives you the lively pleasure of being in the wind, that of the sand yachts on the long beaches of the Saint-Jean-de-Monts region. The new two-seater floats are a joy to ride, either solo or in pairs. A breathtaking, unforgettable experience.
www.paysdesaintjeandemonts.fr
Fancy a ride through tunnels of greenery? The Original Vélo Tour organization offers tailor-made tours in the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park. The program for these special days includes boating in the morning, a producer’s picnic at lunchtime, and cycling in the afternoon. A lover
guide you along the secret paths and cycle tracks of this fragile and enchanting green paradise.
How about a guided hike with your donkey, just like in the mountains? Pieds d’Aventure offers atypical excursions, between woodland and coastline, by the day or weekend. It’s the ideal family outing to introduce children to walking and the countryside. And the valiant little donkey is happy to carry the bivouac or the little ones who are too tired…
Another experience is a nautical hike. Depart from Sallertaine, nestled between land and sea, the town overlooks the salt marshes of yesteryear. La Route du Sel organizes canoe trips with a twist on the Châteauneuf marshes. In the evening, at dusk, with a candlelit dinner, by waterbus or on your own, at your own time, with visits and picnics, it’s all magic!
www.laroutedusel.com
En Gravel in Saint Gilles Croix de Vie
We’ve fallen in love with this lightweight, stable hybrid mountain bike. The Gravel, whose English name indicates that you can pedal even on gravel, is the friend of free rides… In Vendée, a pioneer in cycle touring, three Gravel circuits of 50, 60 and 100 km cross the hinterland of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de Vie. These loops cut through dune areas, marshlands, vineyard trails and nugget villages such as Soullans and St-Hilaire de Riez, before returning to the historic sardine fishing port of St-Gilles, with its rich heritage.
Bivouac in Saint-Vincent-Sur-Graon
Adventure is adventure. Détours Vagabonds takes you by canoe on the Lac de Graon to the woods, where you’ll set up your hammock and sleep under the stars, after enjoying the joys of a real trapper’s bivouac in front of an open fire. We set off again in the morning, almost cowboy-like, but not lonely.
Canoeing in Apremont
Two bases, La Chaize-Giraud and Apremont, welcome families and friends who decide to row with a smile for an hour or a day, in a canoe, kayak or paddle. Whether you’re looking for a wild ride or a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge, you’ll find a wide range of circuits to suit all tastes.
Jaunay and Vie. Between stone bridges and vegetation, wild flora and water reflections, these free moments are soothing and easy to follow. On page with heart.
www.en-vendee.com
Surfing all along the Vendée coast, in Brétignolles, La Tranche sur Mer and all along Little California…
The Vendée coast is a veritable playground for surfers, with varied spots from Bretignolles-sur-Mer to La Tranche-sur-Mer, not forgetting the famous Petite Californie and its fine sandy beaches. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced surfer, you’ll find waves to suit all levels.
“Surfing is a real moment of conviviality,” confides Mario, a young local enthusiast who has been surfing for over fifteen years. A regular at Plage des Dunes, Bretignolles-sur-Mer, he emphasizes the quality of the spot: “Superb waves and fine sand. It’s a place that attracts a lot of people, and that’s part of its charm”.
