Aquitaine

In 1966, the Aquitaine ’s Silver Coast’ was popularised by a big article in American Surfer magazine: “The ultimate combination of good waves, warm water and hot ladies…” Soon enough, surfers from all over the world joined the pilgrimage to France’s south-west. But despite the scenery and non-stop beaches, windsurfers and kiters have been slow to discover the region. The chances of wind are relatively low – high-pressure systems dominate in summer and while sea-breezes do work, they’re usually only enough for big kites. Plus, the Bay of Biscay’s low-pressure-dependant breaks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea: prevailing westerlies arrive onshore at most spots and conditions soon become manic – even locals prefer the inland freshwater lakes to the Atlantic’s wrath. The highest peak in Aquitaine is ‘Dune du Pyla’, Europe biggest at some 120m high.