A trip with my dog to the Dune of Pilat in France

This May, I took a trip with my dog to the Dune of Pilat, a large sand dune located roughly 60 minutes outside of Bordeaux in France. I was a bit sceptical whether it would be worth it, but it was amazing. My dog loved it!

In this article, I’ll tell you everything that you need to know about taking your pup to the Dune of Pilat too!

WHAT IS THE DUNE OF PILAT?

The Dune of Pilat (or Grande Dune du Pilat in French) is the highest sand dune anywhere in Europe. In total, it is around 3km long and 500 metres wide. It’s hard to truly imagine the size until you see it. I was blown away!

The dune goes along the shore. On one side there is a forest, on the other side is the sea.

Fun fact: The location of the Dune of Pilat actually moves over time. The wind carries it inwards towards the forest by around 1 to 5 metres each year.

When my dog heard about this, she immediately started trying to move the dune back!

HOW TO VISIT THE DUNE OF PILAT WITH YOUR DOG

In order to get to the Dune of Pilat with your dog, I would recommend a car. There is an official car park very nearby. If I recall correctly, there is a flat fee of 6 EUR for up to 4 hours, which should be enough time in most cases. There are also have restroom facilities, a visitor center as well as food and drinks for sale right by the car park. From there, it is only a short walk to the Dune of Pilat.

When you reach the Dune of Pilat, you are coming from the side of the forest. On this side, the dune is very steep, so there are stairs that help you get to the top much easier.

Once you reach the top, you will be able to tell how big it truly is for the first time.

Seeing other people walk along the dune in the distance made me feel really small.

The dune is so long that you cannot even see to the end of it. You just see tiny dots of people in the distance who are walking along the top of it. It really is impressive.

We did not walk too far along the top of the dune, because it is quite hilly.

Already after a short walk it got sparse enough that we had more than enough room for ourselves.

I was not sure about going down to the water, because I was a bit concerned about walking back up. However, the side of the dune that faces the sea is less steep than the forest side, so while it looked hard it also looked somewhat manageable. Plus, my pup kept staring at the water wanting to go. So down we went.

The water next to the dune is very calm, there were barely any waves. My dog is usually a bit hesitant to go into the sea because of the waves, but here she went right in. In fact, she practically pulled me in too.

My pup definitely enjoyed cooling down in the water, and so did I. It is quite shallow, so if you don’t fancy a full-on swim or the weather is a bit too cold, you can also just go in with your feet.

After relaxing by the water, of course it is time to go back up the dune! I’m not going to lie, the way back up was quite exhausting. It is manageable, but I did need to take a couple of breaks to catch my breath.

My dog? She had no problem going back up at all. Whenever we took a break, she either started digging around the dune again or just chilled. Honestly, I think she had the time of her life on this trip!

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT DUNE OF PILAT

We went in May, and I have to say that I felt lucky that it was a bit overcast.

Keep in mind that there is absolutely no shade on the dune. If it is sunny, it will hit you right from above. I would not recommend going during the height of summer.

May seemed like a good time to me, it was already warm enough to go into the water but not yet so hot as to make it unbearable. I would think that going around March or April would already be nice too if bathing is not the most important for you. October could also still be a good time to visit.

If you do go in summer, please do not forget to take sunscreen and water (also for your dog!). I would also recommend a hat and perhaps an umbrella, so that your pup also has a chance to get out of the sun if needed.

HOW LONG IT TAKES AND WHO IT’S FOR

Overall, we probably spent around 2 hours at the Dune of Pilat. This was enough time to explore the top for a bit, go down to the water for a quick dip and then slowly make our way back up. If you pack a picnic or want to enjoy more significant time at the beach, I would budget more time.

If you are ok with walking up some stairs, getting to the top of the Dune of Pilat is not too difficult.

Walking back up through the sand from the seaside however does take a lot more stamina. For most people it should be doable, but we did have to take a few breaks on the way up.

If stairs are a problem for you, I honestly would not recommend visiting the Dune of Pilat. You cannot really appreciate it from below and unfortunately there is no other way up.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This trip was definitely one of my dog’s favorites. She had so much fun digging around the Dune of Pilat and going for a dip in the sea. It made me really happy to see her like that, she was truly in her element.

Before taking this trip I was a bit sceptical, but it was absolutely worth it. Whether as a day trip from Bordeaux or as a stop on a road-trip – I highly recommend you to visit Dune of Pilat with your pup.