This is a guide to running in the French Basque Coast region of southwestern France, near the Spanish Border. It’s part of the the larger French Basque Country, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques area. We’ve focused on the coastal towns in the the 40 km stretch between Bayonne and Hendaye, where there’s some wonderful running along seafront promenades on paths along rivers spilling into the Bay of Biscay. See also our running guide to San Sebastián, Spain, just to the south.
Our guide includes wonderful seafront promenades in Bayonne, Anglet, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure, and Hendaye, plus some river sections in several of those towns. In Anglet, there’s also a lovely Cliff Walk, and many km of trails in the Forêt du Pignada. In tony Biarritz, don’t miss the paths jaunts out to the lighthouse and the iconic Rocher de la Vierge. The beaches in the area are all runnable, with our favorite being in Hendaye.
The weather in this area is mild year-round, though summers can get hot. For getting around, there are buses, and train stations in Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz,/Ciboure, and Hendaye. A car is needed for the countryside.
