Biscay: The inshore route - recommendations?

Tim Good

Tim Good

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Ok so after a summer in Norway last year we were meant to sail south and cross the Atlantic last December but we didn't. So we are now planning to head south on April 1st instead. This means we have time to enjoy the coastal waters of Biscay and all that it offers. I know very little of this area.

Has anyone got specific recommendations of areas, harbours, anchorages and inland adventures? I'll make a list of everything recommended mark them off in my charts to visit :)

Edit: setting off from Plymouth.
 
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Depends on how long you want to take, really. Raz de Seine to the Spanish border brims with islands, anchorages and harbours. Belle ile, Golfe de Morbihan, Arcachon would be my top 3 but it is very easy to spend a full season cruising Atlantic France whilst moving every couple of days.
 
Plenty to see and do down to La Rochelle but after that it is straight across to N Spain which I am told is a bit of a flog or motor sail, then along the coast to the NW corner of Spain again I am told that it doesn't hold much interest. When crossing Biscay I have always gone the offshore route but have spent many years cruising down the western Atlantic coast of France and its islands.
 
Quiddle said:
Depends on how long you want to take, really. Raz de Seine to the Spanish border brims with islands, anchorages and harbours. Belle ile, Golfe de Morbihan, Arcachon would be my top 3 but it is very easy to spend a full season cruising Atlantic France whilst moving every couple of days.
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Thanks! Golfe de Morbihan Looks very cool!
 
An awful lot depends on what you like doing. For the sailing and anchorages it's probably true that the N coast of Spain is not as superb as the Rias further W, but they're pretty good by any normal standard especially if you like exploring, good food and few tourists.

The Picos de Europa are one of the best mountain ranges for climbers or walkers anywhere. Gorges a mile deep, hundreds of miles of trails, all a short car drive from such welcoming ports as Ribadasella or Gijon. And remarkably few people compared to the French Alps for instance.
 
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N & S Brittany is a good seasons cruising in It's own rite.
The corner is best avoided, so as said by Petehb once at La Rochelle you head for N Spain, avoiding the firing range. I enjoyed most of the ports I visited on the N coast but I only went as far E as Santander. Heading W you might strike lucky and get an E wind, but it blows from the W or NW mostly.
If you want to spend the season in the Rias, you would be better heading straight across from Camaret towards La Coruna or there abouts.
 
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jdc said:
The Picos de Europa are one of the best mountain ranges for climbers or walkers anywhere. Gorges a mile deep, hundreds of miles of trails, all a short car drive from such welcoming ports as Ribadasella or Gijon. And remarkably few people compared to the French Alps for instance.
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+1, although the Covadonga Lakes area is a horrible tourist trap in summer. Fuente De also swarms with coach trippers, although the cable car is majestic and lifts you into a wild and remote walking area.

Most of the north coast is relatively undiscovered and a joy to visit. Just don't expect Mediterranean weather: it's more like the West Country plus a few degrees C.
 
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petehb said:
Plenty to see and do down to La Rochelle.
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+1. We did the Channel Islands then stopped basically everywhere we could from St Malo round to La Rochelle (in fact we did it South to North). 3 weeks for Brittany and 3 weeks for Morbihan down to La Rochelle.
Like you, we are of the mind to start early - April and May are much quieter and, in my view, better than July around there.
 
+ a few to what’s been said.

I find the Atlantic coast of France S from La Villaine not half as interesting as S Brittany. La Rochelle is and Isle du Re (St Martin de Re) are worth visiting though.

I’ve also enjoyed N Spain and very much like the lack of tourists. The food and scenery were memorable.
 
Hi Northcave,

We did this route last summer and loved it! Some highlights of the French side were the Glenans, Houat (great beaches and fishing), and Vannes although we weren't 100% keen on Morbihan itself. Le Croisic was also a nice little port.

On the Spanish side we liked Elantxobe, Castro Urdiales (Santander and Bilbao were mainly convenience stops for us), San Vicente de la Barquera and Ortigueira - a little known Ria that is very beautiful, well sheltered and has a free marina - probably the best place we stopped at all summer.

There's a couple of videos on our youtube channel if you'd like a taster.

Cheers

Ryan
 
SV Kittiwake said:
Hi Northcave,

We did this route last summer and loved it! Some highlights of the French side were the Glenans, Houat (great beaches and fishing), and Vannes although we weren't 100% keen on Morbihan itself. Le Croisic was also a nice little port.

On the Spanish side we liked Elantxobe, Castro Urdiales (Santander and Bilbao were mainly convenience stops for us), San Vicente de la Barquera and Ortigueira - a little known Ria that is very beautiful, well sheltered and has a free marina - probably the best place we stopped at all summer.

There's a couple of videos on our youtube channel if you'd like a taster.
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Amazing thanks Ryan!!!
 
northcave said:
Thanks! Golfe de Morbihan Looks very cool!
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You need to study the tides carefully when entering the Morbihan. Only half-decent anchorage left is off Ile D'Arz, all the other suitable areas have now been buoyed over so they can charge you. Vannes is worth a visit on market day, though.
My favourite is Ile Houat, Villaine river, La Rochelle and Ile de Re. I also like Arcachon, which has a good marina and stunning beaches/dunes nearby, but crossing to N Spain from there is a slog. Best to go back up to Belle Isle before setting off as that should offer you a reach of some sort (usually close!).
Most important - take your time and enjoy (best shellfish around too).
 
Last time, we did day hops down the French west coast to La Rochelle, then 40 hrs to Gijon and then day hops west along the coast. Lots to see, you could spend 2 seasons on that trip and still miss quite a few places.
 
From North Brittany round to Lorient and then across to Galicia a couple of times. Brittany memorable. The nw coast of Spain is beautiful, but the weather can be grim. I was in Gallicia for two weeks in August and it rained nearly every day. It's very green for a reason. We once took the train over the hills to Corunna which was bathed in warm sunshine. The rias past Finisterre are lovely so if I was doing it again I would have a leisurely cruise down to say La Rochelle and then straight across to Ceideria.
 
S of the Gironde there is a military firing range. almost all the way to the Spanish border. it extends 60m to sea. You seem to have a safe passage up to 1m out to see... think on that in a rising westerly!!!!
The firing range stops at various times of the year.

Best passage is from La Rochelle to Gujon (pronounced Hehhon). Santander is a lovely place, but there in only one marina in the bay and that's mile from the city accessible only by bus. It is a long slog from Santander to Gijon with ew if any stopping places.

WARNING... if approaching Gijon from the East, there is a dangerous wreck on the rhum line between the last headland you round and harbour entrance..

The cidre bars in Gijon are lovely.. though cidre tastes... well I leave that to you.
 
If you want to keep length of legs down and don't fancy the exposed Medoc coast then Port Medoc to Mutriku (well worth visiting) is the shortest, 150nm and took me 21 hours last summer with considerable tidal assistance out of the Gironde.
 
Tomahawk said:
S of the Gironde there is a military firing range. almost all the way to the Spanish border. it extends 60m to sea. You seem to have a safe passage up to 1m out to see... think on that in a rising westerly!!!!
The firing range stops at various times of the year.

Best passage is from La Rochelle to Gujon (pronounced Hehhon). Santander is a lovely place, but there in only one marina in the bay and that's mile from the city accessible only by bus. It is a long slog from Santander to Gijon with ew if any stopping places.

WARNING... if approaching Gijon from the East, there is a dangerous wreck on the rhum line between the last headland you round and harbour entrance..

The cidre bars in Gijon are lovely.. though cidre tastes... well I leave that to you.
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Is there nowhere to call near Biarritz?
 
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