The Hossegor Surf Club looking worse for wear, with its 40 odd surfboards strewn all over the beach.

The latest in a run of exceptionally powerful North Atlantic storms has produced yet more coastal damage and destruction in the SW France. It was this morning’s 6 o’clock high tide mark that resulted in what many are calling the most destructive storm surge of the winter in the Les Landes and Basque coast. Hossegor’s Surf Club and Lifeguard hut were both obliterated, losing their whole contents and up to 40 odd surfboards strewn across the beach of La Sud.

A new concrete bunker at Culs Nus following further beach erosion after last night’s storm surf.

Waves once again estimated in the 20-foot-plus region, coupled with high to gale force winds and big spring tides were also responsible for uncovering remnants of second world war defences – a series of German concrete bunkers which have laid buried for up to 30 years at the Hossegor surf spots of La Graviere and Culs Nus. Previously unique to the Capbreton stretch of beach further south, the reappearance of these bunkers serve as a good reminder of the constant battle that goes on between land and sea.

Further north, a new cliff at Estagnots!

And newly installed diving board…

This morning’s high tide storm surge left little beach for early-riser walkers.

And finally, what the beach looked like back in the day of the second great war. The shoreline looks a way away, no?