THINGS TO DO · BY BIKE
4 rides mapped out, from an easy family outing to a long sporty tour.
Indicative routes, based on OpenStreetMap cycle paths. Always follow the signs on site.
Cap Ferret is best discovered by bike. It is completely flat, cycle paths run through the pine forest from one end of the peninsula to the other, and a few pedal strokes take you from the oyster huts of the Bassin to the big ocean beaches. Here are our 4 favourite bike rides in Cap Ferret, from a family outing to a long tour for keen cyclists, all shown on the map below.
⚠ Wildfire update, November 2026: after the Saumos megafire (summer 2026), some of the forest paths in the north of the peninsula, between Lège, Le Porge and Le Grand Crohot, remain closed until further notice. The rides along the Bassin, from Claouey to the Pointe, are not affected. The affected rides are shown with dotted lines on the map.
BEGINNER
The perfect ride with children or at the end of the day. You follow the Bassin from village to village: Piraillan, Le Canon, L’Herbe and then La Vigne, with their painted wooden huts, oyster harbours and narrow little lanes.
What to see on the way: the harbour of Le Canon and its oyster huts, the chapel of the Villa Algérienne in L’Herbe, the harbour of La Vigne.
Our tip: stop at an oyster hut. A dozen oysters facing the Bassin is the real Cap Ferret. The lanes of L’Herbe are narrow, so leave the bike and finish on foot.
BEGINNER
A quiet cycle path, almost entirely under the pines, linking the village of Lège to the Grand Crohot beach. No hills, plenty of shade, and a great reward at the end: one of the big ocean beaches of the peninsula.
What to see on the way: the pine forest, the dune and the Grand Crohot beach.
Our tip: bring your swimsuit and a picnic, and set off early in summer when the path is quieter. On the ocean side, only swim in the lifeguarded area.
⚠ Good to know (November 2026): after the summer 2026 megafire, the Vélodyssée cycle route is closed until further notice between Le Grand Crohot, Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret. The Grand Crohot beach has reopened, but some forest paths are still closed. Check with the town hall before you go and respect the barriers.
INTERMEDIATE
The ride that shows you the whole peninsula. Start in Claouey and head south through Petit Piquey, Piraillan, Le Canon, L’Herbe and La Vigne, to the village of Cap Ferret, the Bélisaire jetty, the lighthouse and finally the Pointe, facing the Dune du Pilat.
What to see on the way: the Bélisaire jetty, the Cap Ferret lighthouse and its 258 steps, the Pointe facing the Pilat and the Banc d’Arguin.
Our tip: the way back is also 22 km, so plan 44 km for the day. At the Pointe, the sand takes over: leave the bike and finish on foot.
ADVANCED
For keen cyclists: the whole peninsula in a single loop. On the way out, you ride along the ocean side through the forest, via Le Grand Crohot and Le Truc Vert, to the lighthouse and the Pointe. On the way back, you return along the Bassin through the oyster villages. The terrain stays flat: the challenge is the distance.
What to see on the way: Le Grand Crohot, Le Truc Vert, the lighthouse, the Pointe, then all the Bassin villages.
Our tip: take two water bottles and a puncture repair kit. With an e-bike, the loop becomes doable for many more people.
⚠ Good to know (November 2026): after the summer 2026 megafire, the Vélodyssée cycle route is closed until further notice between Le Grand Crohot, Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret. The Grand Crohot beach has reopened, but some forest paths are still closed. Check with the town hall before you go and respect the barriers.
Yes. Our grand tour is a loop of about 59 km from Lège: ocean side on the way out, Bassin side on the way back. Plan a full day with breaks.
The oyster villages: 14 km return, completely flat, with oyster stops along the way. Perfect with children.
No, the peninsula is very flat. An e-bike is useful for the 59 km grand tour, or when the wind is strong.
About 22 km, so 1 hr 30 to 2 hrs at an easy pace, not counting breaks.
Photo credits. Banner: Didier-CTP, Wikimedia Commons, licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Other photos are credited under each image.
