Park in the car park of the former Leucate wine cooperative at 1 Avenue Francis Vals. The tourist information point on the square provides maps and brochures on walks in the area.
(S/E) With your back to the information point, cross the car park and take the stairs on the left. Cross the Allée de l'Anse du Paradis. Go down the other stairs and turn right onto Chemin de l'Hôpital. Follow this road until you reach Place du Château.
Turn right and then immediately left. Continue straight ahead until you reach Place de la République. On your left, you can admire this beautiful pedestrianised square, which has been renovated and features a magnificent bronze statue of Francèse de Cezelly.
Continue straight ahead, then turn right and immediately left to pass in front of the church square. Turn left, walking alongside the town hall, then follow Rue du Docteur Sidras until you reach Avenue Jean-Jaurès.
(1) Turn right and go down the avenue to the roundabout. Cross the roundabout and continue straight ahead to the second roundabout. Cross the roundabout and take the cycle path along Avenue du Général de Gaulle for about 600 metres.
(2) At the sign for "Maurice Desmonte, Maire de Leucate", turn left, take the pedestrian crossing to cross Avenue du Général de Gaulle and go up Chemin du Phare towards Grand Cap. Please be careful as this section is dangerous due to heavy traffic. Take the pavement on the right and remain vigilant.
After 300 metres, leave Rue du Cers on your right and continue uphill. On your right, 250 metres further on, you will see a renovated building formerly known as La Ruine. It has been renovated by the Association pour la conservation du Plateau (Association for the Conservation of the Plateau) and serves as a storage facility for the future museum on the treasures of the flora and fauna of the Leucate Plateau.
Continue along the road until you reach the Altia Club Aladin holiday centre. The road turns left and then right towards Grand Cap. You will see your first view of the Mediterranean. Turn left towards Grand Cap until you see the sign for "Leucate Le Plateau Site Natura 2000". On your left is the Cap Leucate lighthouse and, on your right, a unique view of the sea.
(3) 50 metres after the lighthouse, take the small path on your right. From this point, the Sentier du Guetteur is marked in yellow. Continue straight ahead along the edge of the cliff until you reach a small natural staircase in the rock with the communications tower and its Michelin-starred restaurant "Le Cap Leucate" on your right. Opposite is the Leucate semaphore and a beautiful view of Port La Nouvelle. Continue to the La Plagette junction on your right.
(4) La Plagette - Difficult option, reserved for experienced hikers. Suitable footwear, walking sticks and good physical condition required!
La Plagette is a small sandy beach nestled in the heart of the Leucate cliff. It is accessed via a goat path that ends in a real scree slope. The drop of over 50 metres is impressive and can even be dangerous. Sheltered from the wind and crowds, this spot is peaceful and serene. You can even swim or picnic here, but the climb back up is always difficult.
Return to the junction with La Plagette, turn right and continue along the edge of the cliff towards the Leucate semaphore, which you will go around. After about 500 metres, leave the Sentier du Berger on your left to arrive at Cap des Trois Frères.
(5) You will be treated to a beautiful view of Port La Nouvelle. Continue along the cliff for 800 metres to reach the fully restored Fort de la Haute Franqui.
(6) 400 metres after the fort, you will arrive at a small square and the steps leading down to La Franqui.
(7) Take the opportunity to rest on the benches in the square and admire the view of Coussoules Beach, the salt marshes of La Palme and, in the distance, Port La Nouvelle.
Turn left at the small square, then immediately right onto the paved road, which is lined with pretty dry stone walls. Continue straight ahead for about 1.8 km to discover the Leucate Plateau with its vineyards, almond trees, pine forests and heathland, not to mention beautiful views of the Leucate Pond and its oyster beds, with the Canigou mountain in the background. Sometimes, seagulls will accompany you in the sky...
(8) At the fork (elevation 36), easily recognisable by a white plaster slab set into a stone wall and engraved with a cartwheel, marking the Sentier des Vignerons, turn left and continue downhill, following the old Leucate saying: "If you don't see the three crosses, you're going in the wrong direction..." This saying refers to the Calvary of Leucate, which can be seen above the village, built on the ruins of the castle.
After 200 metres, enter the village and follow Rue du Chemin Neuf straight ahead until you reach Avenue Francis Vals. Ignore the streets and paths on the right and left, as well as the signs for other hiking trails in the commune. Turn right onto Avenue Francis Vals.
(1) Continue straight ahead to the starting point (S/E).