ON A warm summer’s day, the pretty Art Deco terminal of Shoreham airport offers a step back in time — far removed from the hype and hordes that come with budget travel. I half expected to see mustachioed chaps in battered flying jackets lolling in wicker chairs in the Fly-In bar and restaurant.

Check-in was 8.30 for the 9am flight to Le Touquet. Customs and passport control took only five minutes. There was no tax-free shopping mayhem and no queues for the loos on this day trip to France. Just like having a private jet, I decided.

Our transport was an eight-seater Piper Chieftain, which looked, well, small. The chief pilot, Mark Vickers, helped us up the steps. After we were buckled in, he ran us through the safety briefing and then we were off. My fellow daytrippers and I chatted away, pointing out landmarks as we cruised along the coast past Brighton and Eastbourne before turning east towards France.

Le Touquet airport may not have the Art Deco lines of Brighton, but it, too, felt like something out of yesteryear. This must be the only airport in the world where you can hire a bicycle. Saddled up, I squeaked gently into town, pine trees casting cool shadows across the empty roads. In its heyday in the interwar years, Le Touquet was Paris-on-Sea. Royalty and film stars had villas here and it was popular with rich Brits who came for the casino.

Le Touquet town may have lost some of the golden-year glamour, but it remains charmingly quirky, without a donkey or kiss-me-quick hat in sight. I freewheeled past the ornately ridiculous Hotel de Ville to the market. Having chained vélo to railing, I wandered around, admiring huge lobsters and fat smelly cheeses.

The Brits have helped to put Le Touquet on the map, so it was nice to see that there is a little corner here that is forever England. A stroll down the High Street brought me to a Union Jack-adorned bar called Le Globe Trotter with satellite TV showing the football at all hours. No time for me to indulge, however, since I had a lunch date.

The restaurant, Le Village Suisse, looked like a huge cuckoo clock. This being France, the food was excellent — foie gras maison, huge lobsters and superbly cooked fish. For dessert another friendly Anglicism: crumble. How do you pronounce this word à la français? Croombal, perhaps? I passed on café and wobbled off to retrieve my bike, heading for the beach, where everyone seemed to be enjoying the sunshine. I wished that I had brought my trunks for a dip.

I had just enough time to fly round the museum, usefully situated moments from the airport, and reached check-in, sweat dripping on my pedals. One of my companions noticed a slight pungency as we settled into our seats. It could have been the results of my labours pedalling for the plane. But no — this day trip might be more refined than a booze cruise or budget airline break, but you can’t go to France and not buy some whiffy Camembert, can you?

NEED TO KNOW

Getting there: European Executive Airlines (01273 446447) www.euroexec.com), prices from £39 one way

Where to eat: Le Village Suisse (00 33 3 21 05 69 93) has a set lunch from £17.

Further information: Le Touquet Tourist Office (21 06 72 00), www.letouquet.com).

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