It is probably the question we are asked most often, just after the one about the beaches: “Can we go cycling?” The answer is yes, and extensively. The Mimizan area has around sixty kilometres of dedicated cycle paths, almost all flat, almost all in the shade of the pines. You can spend a whole week without getting back in the car.
Here are the four rides we recommend most often to our guests, from the easiest to the longest.
1. The Lake Aureilhan loop — about 13 km, easy
The perfect ride for the first day, or for late afternoon. The path that circles Lake Aureilhan is about 13.5 kilometres, with no difficulty, with several rest areas and views over the water that change completely with the hour.
From the estate you reach the shore in a few minutes. Allow an hour and a half at a strolling pace, more if you stop to watch the sails of the Cercle Nautique or the paddleboards gliding just above the water. With young children you can perfectly well do half of it and turn back.
The right moment
Early morning, when the mist still holds over the lake, or just before dinner. In the middle of a July afternoon, shade is rarer than you would think on certain stretches of the shore.
2. The estate → Mimizan-Plage — about 10 km, easy
This is the route that transforms the stay. Going to the beach by bike, towels in the panniers, is ten to fifteen minutes quicker than the car once you have counted August parking — and it is infinitely more pleasant.
The path crosses the forest, then follows the Mimizan courant before reaching the resort. You can stop at the covered hall of Mimizan-Plage for lunch, or carry on up to the northern beach, wilder and less busy than Plage Sud.
The way back climbs slightly at the end. Nothing serious, but with tired children and an ice cream inside them, plan to leave the beach before the energy dips.
3. The Vélodyssée southwards: Mimizan-Plage → Contis — about 20 km each way
The Vélodyssée is the Atlantic cycle route that runs from Brittany down to the Basque Country, and it passes right by us. The section heading south from Mimizan-Plage is one of the finest in the Landes: pine forest for kilometres, a few openings onto the dune, and at the end, the Contis courant and its lighthouse.
Allow a full day, taking time for lunch on the spot and a swim. Twenty kilometres out, as many back: it is the week’s “sporting” ride, within reach of teenagers and adults in decent shape, a little long for children under ten unless you have an electric bike.
4. The Vélodyssée northwards: Mimizan → Sainte-Eulalie-en-Born and the lakes
In the other direction, the path climbs towards Sainte-Eulalie-en-Born and the string of lakes that leads to Biscarrosse. This is the freshwater side of the region: fewer people than by the ocean, fishermen’s jetties, and villages living at their own pace. You can push on to the Biscarrosse and Parentis lakes for a full day, or stop at Sainte-Eulalie and come back at your leisure.
Three things to know before setting off
Fire risk can close the forest tracks
In summer, when the fire risk is high, access to the forest is restricted in the afternoon. The Vélodyssée itself stays open. Check the notices at the tourist office or ask us: we follow the local orders closely — the forest is our neighbour too.
There are few shops between points
Between Mimizan and Contis, between Aureilhan and Sainte-Eulalie, you cross mostly forest. Take water — more than you think you need — and something to snack on. A spare inner tube does no harm either.
Where to hire bikes
Several hire companies operate in Mimizan and Mimizan-Plage, with standard bikes, electric bikes, trailers and child seats. In July and August, book before you arrive: stock goes quickly, especially electric bikes. Many places to stay and providers in the area carry the Accueil Vélo label, which guarantees a minimum of services for cyclists.
The estate lends itself well to this kind of stay: bikes can be stored under cover, the gîte terraces are made for coming back from a ride and not moving again, and the lake is ten minutes away on foot when you no longer feel like pedalling at all. L’Atelier and La Serre suit groups riding together particularly well.
