Camping Les Flots Bleus

The beaut Vendée has beaches famed all over the world, smashing seaside towns, hikes and forests, and the yachts of the famed Vendée Globe sailing race. Camping Les Flots Bleus is 800 metres from La Faute-sur-Mer, a seaside resort with ten kilometres of sandy beach, high sand dunes and one of the country's biggest mussel farms. At the southern end of the peninsula is the nature reserve of the Point d'Arcay and its hikes through the pine and oak forest. Guided tours are available in July and August. Another well-known local seaside resort is at L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer, just over a kilometre away. It's probably most famed for being the centre of France's mussel farming industry, and still has a busy fishing port where fresh mussels and fish are sold. To spy some traditional fishing, wander to the old bridge connecting L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer and La Faute-sur-Mer to see residents using nets to catch crabs and eels. Just over five kilometres away is La Tranche-sur-Mer, one of the most visited seaside spots in the Vendée for its eight kilometres of sandy beach and lively summer entertainment along with its surfing and windsurfing. Facing the town is the Ile de Ré, another popular spot: it's well worth catching the boat to here to wander the island's salt marshes, vineyards and many scenic beaches. If you're up for a day trip, La Rochelle is about 55 kilometres from base, and another famed seaside resort, Les Sables d'Olonne, is within about 60.