Hossegor - france

Rent a car, stop at every Car park, check the banks on every tide as the difference between low and high can be massive.
i have had some good luck over the sand dunes behind the bakery heading to seignosse, didnt seem as crowded as some of the easier to get to spots. It is summer in Europe, so it will be heaving with crowds. It is often worth looking at a map and finding some of the little towns just north of Hossegor, they can have as good or better banks with smaller crowds.
Drink loads of good coffee, eat croissants and don't bother going out to party before 11 pm, as no one else will be there.

I concur with DrD.

I did a bunch of driving around and always scored fun, relatively uncrowded waves.

Scored some sweet waves at that little rock wall wedge in Cabreton, 6-8 footers at La Nord, rippers at Seignosse when everywhere else was closing out, and a whole bunch of other goodness in between.

Totally awesome part of the world!

Sorry to put a downer on ur trip but it does not really pump until late Sept in the Bay. You might get some small stuff but the Atlantic is not a friendly ocean in the summer months. Hope I am wrong though. If you get some swell though you will be in for a treat. As DrD said its social sucicide to head out before 11

Thanks for the responses all - had a good trip -4 decent surfs in 2 days - all but one was at a spot in le penon. Just over head high but with a serious amount of power on a little shingle bank near the town.

You do have to walk past a wrecked pumping station where someone has bothered to translate "locals only" in graffiti for you but I had no hassle there...

Good tip mentioning San Sebastián

Just north of Hossegor in the Pine Forrests. You used to be able to camp for free, then run through the pine forrest to empty beachies.

Have a bit of dinner and a few bevvies in the forrest then rip the 10km or so back into Rockfood and check out the local wild life.