West coast france recommendations

[Lincolnite]

Can anyone suggest a great spot to base ourselves along the west coast of France please? We are looking to explore lovely scenery and areas and make use of picturesque clean beaches. We are a family of 4 with two children aged 10 & 12. Ideally not too far south due to the lengthy drive and very hot weather but warmer than the UK!!!

IÎe de Ré - BEAUTIFUL!

First post nails it! Il de re all the way.

Saint Georges de Didonne

We have booked to stay just outside La Rochelle to give us access to the coast and those islands, hopefully it's a good spot! Thanks for your recommendation!

We always stayed near st Jean de monts

We had a couple of nights in a small hotel right on the front at St Martin de Re and absolutly loved it. The toll to cross over was 16 Euro last year in peak season. Loads of bike hire places and cycle tracks all over the island. La Rochelle is lovely too. Historic town centre and port, lovely bars and restaurants round the harbour too. We didn't realise about the grim history of St Martin till we got there. It was one of the main ports where criminals were shipped out to the penal colonies, to the mainland side of the town there is a small stone harbour with names and dates carved on by people leaving France, probably for good. If you have seen the film Papillon you will see what happened.