A walk along the heights of Leucate

Far from the hustle and bustle of Port Leucate, there is a magnificent place where peace reigns. The cliffs of Leucate. They link Leucate Village to La Franqui and this short walkk will let you discover their different features: cliffs, vineyards and pastures for sheep.

Technical sheet

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A Leucate walk posted on 02/02/15 by djhoward. Last update : 30/01/18
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.43 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 61 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 61 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 53 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
  • ⚐
    District: Leucate (11370)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.911156° / E 3.026185°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2547OT

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Description

Leave from the Office de Tourisme in Leucate Village (and not that of Port Leucate). Parking is easy and several walks start from this location(S).

Go down the Avenue Francis Vals which then becomes the Avenue Jean Jaurès. This is Leucate's main street, going the direction of Leucate beach. There are lots of shops on this street (provisions available). Follow this avenue until the end. There you will see house typical of the region, and the small bistros lend themselves more to relaxation that to walking!

At the second roundabout(1), take the cycle path opposite and slightly to the right. Continue for about 700m along the Avenue Charles de Gaulle. On your right you'll see the Leucate pond and in the distance, the Canigou, the mountain of the Catalans.

(2) Leave the cycle track and turn left on the lighthouse path in the direction of the semaphore. When you get to the fork(3), turn left and walk past the Phare de Cap Leucate lighthouse and the telecommunications tower. On your right you can see for miles over the Mediterranean and the beaches of Leucate.

Walk along the edge of the cliff on the trail. Below you'll see two small beaches. You'll arrive at the Cap Leucate and the French Navy installations.

Continue on the trail along the top of the cliffs. Ignore a path to the left and at the Cap des Frères, take a trail on the left(4). Be careful, there are numerous trails leading off. The one you need to take is bordered by a wall approximately 80cm high (with yellow marks and symbols in white plaster). You'll then have your back to the sea and the trail is straddled by small pastures bordered by dry stone walls.

After 850m, turn right along a small road. 150m further on, turn left(5). Olive tree plantations line the path.
After a slight descent, you'll see the first vines of the Cap Leucate vineyard. The path meanders a little, bending to the right to join a road(6). On both sides are nothing but vineyards. In front of you is the Leucate pond and in the distance, the Canigou and Pyrenees.

You arrive at point where your path crosses with a larger path(7). Turn left and immediately after take a trail on your right. Walk past an old mill which has lost its blades. A steep descent of about twenty meters via the Rue du Cercle will lead you into Leucate. Continue straight on to join the Rue Francis Vals(8), that you take on the right to join the car park at the start point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 34 m
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 30 m
  3. 2 : km 1.13 - alt. 5 m - 2nd roundabout. Take the cycle path.
  4. 3 : km 1.68 - alt. 1 m - Leave the cycle path. Turn left.
  5. 4 : km 2.53 - alt. 45 m - Fork. Turn left.
  6. 5 : km 3.21 - alt. 46 m
  7. 6 : km 5.19 - alt. 32 m
  8. 7 : km 6.01 - alt. 40 m
  9. 8 : km 7.45 - alt. 41 m
  10. 9 : km 7.84 - alt. 36 m - Junction. Turn left.
  11. S/E : km 8.43 - alt. 34 m

Useful Information

To get to the start point for this walk, take the D927 and exit at "Leucate" . It's the first exit coming from Narbonne and the second in the other direction.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

A few kilometres from Leucate Village, you can visit La Franqui and its beach.
At the start point, you can visit the Cap Leucate cooperative winery.

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine.

The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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