Only 15 minutes from Perpignan centre (direction Porte d’Espagne/Barcelona) the lake at Villeneuve-de-la-Raho is used all year round for walkers and joggers, and also provides the water necessary for the ’canadairs’ in case of forest fires.

This walk starts and ends at Paulilles, south of Port Vendres – the town has recently claimed the beach for its own, but that does not change the unspoiled beauty of its pebble-dashed sands and crystal clear blue water, nestling beneath immaculately terraced vines.