There are several beaches within an hour or so of the house. Narbonne Plage is the closest, then Port Nouvelle and then Leucate Plage. Narbonne Plage can be very windy, but it is possible to park right on the beach. port Nouvelle is a proper industrial port and is a bit downmarket. Leucate is further south, but is an easy drive.There are good windsurfing facilities on the etangs and the beach is easily accessible and is beautiful. All but the first mile and the last few are by motorway and the trip takes an hour and a quarter. You park right on the edge of the beach and there are bars and hotels and restaurants along the front. For us a day means leaving the house at about 10.00am, arriving before 11.30, a few hours on the beach and in the sea, and then over to the restaurant for a leisurely moules et frites.

The beach at Leucate

Leave the house and head out of town towards the A61 motorway. Follow the signs to the motorway and join it heading towards Carcassonne. Look out for the cite as you go past Carcassonne. Before you get to Narbonne the motorway splits. Turn right towards Barcelona and Perpignan. leave the motorway at junction 40 towards Leucate and Leucate Plage. Follow the signs for Leucate Plage. There is a big car park on the front, but it is worth a risk to follow the road to the left along the beach and checking for a roadside parking space. The beach is long and sandy and no dogs are allowed in the summer. Along the seafront on the beach there is a small beachbar with thatched pavilions. You can rent loungers here for the day or half day, but they are quite expensive. On the other side of the road are restaurants, hotels and a beach shop.

After you have had enough sea, sand & moules, have a look at Leucate village. This is a pretty village about 5 minutes drive back from the beach.

Buildings in Leucate village

Leucate village

On the way home you may have time to visit Narbonne. It is a very attractive city. The Canal du Robine runs right through the middle of the town and there is a wide, shady esplanade alongside the canal. the centre boasts a piece of real Roman road – the Via Domitia from France into Spain. You can even step down and walk along it. There are good shops, an excellent market in the morning and some very beautiful buildings.