The Other South of France

If you're a lover of the Ocean and haven't yet visited the stunning shores of the Aquitaine then read on, I'm about to reveal one of France's best-kept secrets.

Between Biarritz and the Arcachon Basin lie some of the most spectacular Atlantic beaches, surrounded by some of the most gorgeous nature reserves and national parks, with a smattering of petite little fishing villages and rustic resorts. It is called the Aquitaine and the beach villas, people, food and wine are all well worth experiencing.

The Aquitaine unofficially begins a little further south than Biarritz, with the sparkling resort of Saint Jean de Luz, a classy, family friendly resort that resides within an historic port on a beautiful bay that oozes old school charm and unforgettable Basque culture and cuisine. The bay has various gorgeous beaches scattered with chic beach houses, cottages and villas that wrap around the bay and promise decadent family holidays.

Further North lies the hip and very trendy Biarritz. This was once a favoured royal holiday resort, which has now been transformed into a very cool holiday resort for surfer dudes and their trendy families. The main beach promenade resembles a catwalk for surfers to flash buff bodies clad in the latest spandex and neoprene. If you're not a surfer then indulge yourself and enjoy the eye candy, which includes a selection of the coolest vintage camper vans. It's so very beautiful and colourful. Biarritz has culture, class and the most vibrant social scene. It also offers six fantastic surfing beaches and some irresistible beach houses and seafront apartments to rent.

If you carry-on further up the coast to Landes, you will notice a dramatic change in the surrounding landscape and coastline. As the rugged southern coastline of the Basque region falls away, the linear character of Landes replaces it with completely straight beaches where the ocean thrashes upon it in a wild and wonderful way. This aspect is of particular interest to the surfing crowd but also appeals to nature lovers who appreciate the misty spray that hovers over the Atlantic day and night. There are also numerous pine forests and nature parks that back onto the beaches and shroud them in a thick green wedge.

Idyllic is the only way to describe these hidden gems. Most popular amongst the surf crowd is the resort of Hossegor, which happens to receive what are considered by some to be the world's best waves. The main beach is a sandy paradise strewn with cool dudes, sporty bikinis, and colourful surf boards. The seafront is vibrant and so is the town, especially in the summer time. Behind the town lies a huge forest and within the forest there is another shoreline - a stunning salt lake surrounded by beautiful beaches, where younger kids can practice their aquatic sports in safer confines.

Right next door to Hossegor lies Seignosse, a wilder version of the same coastline but charming none the less. The village is quintessentially Landes and offers the Francophiles a genuine flavour of this exquisite region. Whilst it is quieter than its neighbours, it offers an oasis and those who fancy a day on a waterslide or a boogie on the dance floor can slip down the road and be back by sunset or sunrise.

There are two more similar resorts, Mimizan and Biscarrosse which include a salt lake, pine forests, and all within a short drive up the coast. Both of these holiday resorts are considered a lake district and offer the most divine forest-lined shores and surf beaches with more top quality waves. Many of these beaches have great dunes for kids to enjoy and plenty of cool cafes on the beachfront where parents can enjoy a relaxing sundowner. Foodies will be in gourmet heaven as the local seafood and produce is beyond the dreams of your average taste buds.

The next stop-off is Arcachon, South Western France's answer to the Riviera yet much more beautiful and chic. The Parisian's love to relax here, but so do many culturally savvy Europeans, who come to enjoy the ambiance, oysters, balneotherapy, cycling routes and the biggest Dune in Europe - Le Dune du Pilat. And there's still more... across the bay, at the tip of the cape that protects Arcachon from the Atlantic, lies an even cooler resort called Cap Ferret, a sort of twin resort town, just as beautiful with equally fabulous beach villas, apartments and hang-outs. Both resorts have escaped ugly commercialization and offer an array of dreamy sandy beaches backed by pines and dunes.

Last stop is over the border and into the Médoc peninsula. A long narrow strip of nature, pine forest and cabernet sauvignon vine with the Gironde estuary to the East, the ocean to the West and some fine beaches to boot. The hardest part is choosing where to base yourself!