Where are we?

Lat 43° 15' 32" N
Lon 0° 23' 47" W

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In the south-west of France ...

How to get to us from the Atlantic coast: San Sebastian, Biarritz...

Coming on the A64 motorway from the coast, we normally take an exit before Pau as being easier. Take exit 9.1 from the A64 (signed in green for Sarragosse) This takes you onto the Rocade or ring road - take the first exit at the roundabout just after you have come through the toll, and from then on follow the rocade and signs to Saragosse (Zaragoza) for another 10 kms or so.( Ignore signs to Jurancon or the coteaux of Jurancon.)

You will come to a big roundabout where the rocade goes to the left and Saragosse takes you right - down a long straight tree-lined road (N134/E7) with houses on both sides. You are 5 minutes away.

After 1km or so you will pass through some traffic lights - go straight on. The next on the right is Chemin de Loustalot; first there is a big building materials depot on the left, then - on the right - blue and white signs for a bus-stop and zebra crossing and a red sign for Ets Bidart.

Turn right and head for the hillside - as if going to Bidart's 'parking'. (Do NOT turn right into the road of houses.) You will see there is a narrow lane behind Bidart leading to the left. Follow it along between fields and then sharply right uphill. We are the first house on the left, white with green shutters and the gate is between white walls. You're there.

How to get to us from Bordeaux...

Either take the main road south from Bordeaux to Bayonne and follow the directions above as from Biarritz, or - for a slightly longer and more scenic route - come through the forest as follows...

From the A62/E72, take the Langon exit 3 and follow signs to Pau (via Aire-sur-l'Adour).

Shortly before Pau, you will see signs for Saragosse and you can choose to go through Pau or a slightly longer but non-town route (marked for lorries) round the Rocade.

After 1km or so you will pass through some traffic lights - go straight on. The next on the right is Chemin de Loustalot; first there is a big Wickes-like place on the left, then - on the right - blue and white signs for a bus-stop and zebra crossing and a red sign for Ets Bidart.

Turn right, pause, and head for the hillside - as if going to Bidart's 'parking'. You will see there is a narrow lane behind Bidart leading to the left. Follow it along between fields and then sharply right uphill. We are the first house on the left, white with green shutters and the gate is between white walls. You're there.

Toulouse Airport to Pau - a sign-by-sign guide

From the hire area, head for Toulouse and you should find yourself at a roundabout with firs/pines? Follow Green sign to Toulouse
Green sign still Toulouse A61 A62
90 speed limit - road joining from right
(Ignore white signs)
Green sign Toulouse Autres Directions
Green sign at side of road Tarbes Lourdes Montpelier straight on (not right to Centre Ville)
Down through finely tiled underpass
Green sign stay in Tarbes Lourdes Montpelier lane in the centre of road
(Ignore signs confirming right for Toulouse Centre Ville)
Green sign straight on for Auch Tarbes Lourdes
Slip road joining from right
Green sign - Ignore Auch and follow Autres Directions
Still in centre lane, heavy dotted line just to right
Green sign follow Toulouse Centre & Autres Directions ignoring turn off to right
50 speed limit - 30 speed limit, going over bridge and curving round 270° in what might seem to be completely wrong direction!
Joining main road under road just come along
Green sign: Toulouse Centre & Autres Directions still in centre lane, still heavy dotted line just to right
Green sign: follow Toulouse Centre & Autres Directions
(Sign missed - oops)
Green sign: follow A61 Montpelier Foix Tarbes Le Mireille to the right, and join five-laner
Sign for Station Service (Total) 600 metres on the right. (There is one back a bit on the opposite side - handy for final top-up before returning car)
Speed limit 90
…
Speed limit 110
…
Green sign: ignore Montpelier, follow Foix Tarbes Lourdes San Sebastien
Blocks of flats on both sides. Three lanes. We are now to the right of the heavy dotted line.
Blue sign: follow right-hand one Foix Tarbes Lourdes San Sebastien
Follow right fork - road round to right
Friendly sign: "Vous entrez sur les autoroutes du Sud de la France. Bonne route."
That's it - sit back and enjoy the drive!

You won't see Pau on a sign for 10 minutes or so, but Tarbes -Lourdes are the same motorway. There is a toll point where the easiest thing is to pitch cash (€1.70?) into the basket but you can choose the blue signed lane for "cartes" and use a credit card (no PIN is asked for). The next toll is half an hour or so away where you take a ticket, and you pay when you come off the motorway in around two hours. Come off at junction 11 - before Pau - and after the toll barriers turn right - first exit off the roundabout - onto a long straight road towards Pau. Still 5km before Pau, at the second roundabout you come to, turn left (third exit) following signs to Saragosse. From now on follow signs to Saragosse only.

Keep following signs to Saragosse until you come off a roundabout into a long tree-lined main road with houses on both sides. After 1km or so you will pass through some traffic lights - go straight on. The next on the right is Chemin de Loustalot; (first there is a big building materials depot on the left, then - on the right - blue and white signs for a bus-stop and zebra crossing and a red sign for Ets Bidart.)

Turn right and head for the hillside - as if going to Bidart's 'parking'. (Do NOT turn right into the road of houses.) You will see there is a narrow lane behind Bidart leading to the left. Follow it along between fields and then sharply right and steeply uphill. We are the first house on the left, white with green shutters and the gate is between white walls. You're there.

On the way back, the airport - Blagnac - is well signposted, but aim for the Peripherique Interieure till you see the signs.