Things to do:
Beach / Swimming - A variety of Mediteranean beaches are 30 mins away - there is family lake swimming and other water activities in Vinca (15 mins)
Walk/Climb/Ski-ing/Cycling - The area has a huge variety of walks / climbs/Cycles routes and Skiing suitable for all ages and abilities - set in either the valley or foothills of the Pyrenees. The ultimate is, of course, to climb the Canigou (Sacred mountain of the Pyrenees) for which you should allow a whole day OR you can take a 4x4 lift for most of the way !
Fishing - The River Tet and the lake at Millas provide good fishing. Visitors have to obtain a permit which is supplied locally.
Historical - As the area is on the border, and has been owned by both Spain and France, a variety of sites of historical interest from pre-historic caves through Cathar castles to the Second World War with a Catalonian flavour. In particula, Villefrance, Mont Louis, Bellasta, Perpignan (King of Majorca) .
Yellow Train - From Villefranche
The Village (Millas:
The house is in a village (around 3,800 people) with, a bar, two restaurant that open days only and at nights on weekends in the summer months), and another restaurant on the edge of the village (about 10-15 mins walk) is open day and nights. We also have lots of other food/amenities: bank, butchers, bakers, general store, pizza place, cafe, tourist info, fruit and veg shop etc.,.... so you won't starve and there are places to get goods. It is a typical Catalan village (they see themselves as Catalans before French) and not many speak English, but you can normally get by with a few words and a bit of signing if your French is not up to much!
Internet cafes are doted around the area and coast. Nearest free internet access is in the computer shop in nearby Ill-Sur-Tet.
Public Travel:
There are 6 buses a day going along the valley (perpignan up to Prade and beyond)... and once in Perpignan, you can go almost anywhere (remember last bus back from Perpignan is around 7.10pm and gets into the village at around 7.30pm.
From Millas, there is one bus a day to the coast and one back...I think its around 8.20am and leaves the coast at about 4.10pm (that is direct, but you can also go and get back at other times if you go via Perpignan) - people at our tourist info (not good spoken English) can give you more details and the timetables are at each bus stop (which are about 2mins from the house).... the good news is that the Regional Gov are trying to encourage travel by Bus and you can go ANYWHERE is the region for ONE EURO each way. There is also a Gare (Railway station) on the outskirts of the village which goes along the Tet Valley (Perpignan to Villefranche). There is a small Taxi company that operates from the village.
Ski:
Ski-ing is available in the Pyrenees; Font-Romeu and Les Angles areas. These resorts are a 1hr 10 minute drive away from the property, although public transport is possible during the Ski season.
Golf:
There are a number of Golf courses available for daily use. These are mainly situated near the coast area, around a 25 minute drive from the house.
