The Tire-Poil trail

The vibe

Nicknamed "Tire-Poil" ("hair-puller") because of the near-constant wind that tousles walkers' hair, this coastal trail follows the south-eastern tip of Cap d'Antibes. The route alternates rocky stretches right at the water's edge, steps cut into the rock and views of the lavish properties lining the cape, with Antibes and Juan-les-Pins as a backdrop.

What to know before you go

The strictly coastal section is about 2.7 km according to most sources (Wikipedia, for its part, gives 3.2 km between the Plage de la Garoupe and the Anse de l'Argent Faux — the discrepancy likely comes from the exact start/end point used); including a loop via the Villa Eilenroc, the full circuit reaches between 4.8 and 5.4 km depending on the route chosen, for a duration of 1h45 to 2h. The site is a protected natural area managed by the Conservatoire du Littoral, run by the city of Antibes — which explains the strict leash requirement. The trail is rated easy overall, but some stretches are exposed above the sea and call for sturdy, closed, non-slip shoes. Dogs are tolerated on the trail provided they're kept on a leash; remember to pick up after them too, to help preserve this heavily used site. Good news for year-round beach lovers: unlike the classic seasonal ban on the French Riviera (usually 15 June-15 September) that applies to Antibes' supervised beaches (Salis, Garoupe, Gravette, Ponteil, Juan-les-Pins), the rocky coves along the coastal trail and the western end of the Plage de la Salis tolerate dogs on a leash year-round.

Nearby

The Plage de la Garoupe, right by the starting point, and the Garoupe lighthouse offer another view over the bay and the Esterel massif on a clear day.