BEACHES

We love the beaches in town and they have the advantage of being walkable but if you want to go further afield take the train or drive to Cap D'Ail where after a steep walk down,you can access Plage Mala; this bay is beautiful and has the added bonus of excellent restaurants.


TENNIS

The tennis club, located just by the railway station, still has an Edwardian feel to it, having just celebrated its centenary. It has a dozen clay courts, you must book at least 24hours in advance, and it costs 20 euros an hour. The restaurant, which opens at weekends in the evening and all thro August, is a great place for a simple al fresco supper.

GOLF

Monte Carlo Golf Club, 40 minutes away at la Turbie, is as theatrical as they get. The views are either breathtaking towards the alps or breathtaking to the sea. It is decent standard, but very expensive - 100 euros. They say you need your certificates but there has never been a problem. You must book a tee time.

San Remo Golf Club, 50 minutes away, is very friendly and some of the golf is very good but some is constrained by the lack of land. Take the A8 dir Genes, and exit at Arma di Taggia - this feels quite wrong as you pass the golf club, and then seem to drive on too far. Follow the signs back to San Remo on their new dual carriageway, following the hospital signs. You then pick up signs to the golf. The cost is 40 euros, they are very friendly and we like the club house. You must book a tee time.

Vievola Golf Club, 60 minutes away is not worth it for the golf but is a beautiful spot in the mountains.

BOATING

Catamarans can be hired in high summer and there are schools of dinghy sailors to be seen in the bay.

Waterskiing is also available.

Marc Hancy looks after our boat and can offer a day's or morning's outing in the bay.

The marina is big and businesslike.

The best longer trip is 40 minutes to Plage Mala, near Eze Bord de Mer, for lunch, where Marc will rent you a buoy for 10euros, and drive you in to the beach. Then fly across the bay to Beaulieu and St Jean Cap Ferrat. Allow 60 minutes to get home from here.

Shorter trips are around the Capo di Mortola to Latte, to moor up and look at the fish., or around Cap Martin to Cabbe, where the water can turn icy cold because there are undersea streams from the mountains. The Western corner of the bay of Menton is another favourite when the wind is in the West.

GYM

If you drop down from the house over the railway bridge, and then bear slightly left, but keeping the museum on your left, the first building yoiu come to is a gym. It is not expensive and you can buy a temporary membership for 15euros. Literally 2 minutes walk away.

CANYONING

The Roya is the river which flows in to the sea at Ventimiglia, and in this river and its neighbours, there are a group of specialists who take small groups either rafting, canoeing or jumping down waterfalls. You have to rendezvous somewhere in the Roya, which may be 40 minutes away, and the event takes about half a day. Very popular with the young and adventurous, but all ages are welcome.

WALKING
The mountains are marvellous to walk in, the French footpaths are well signposted and maintained, and you can cover a lot of distance if you put your mind to it. The Italian system is not as well developed but walks above San Remo are very interesting as the flora swop from Mediterranean to Northern European as you move from the dry side to the rainy side.

For a major expedition call in to the Parc National de la Mercantour and get a guide to take you on a day's walk up to the top of the mountains. You start at 900m, and then climb to 2500m, where there are many celebrated graffiti dating from the stone age. You can also stay in the Parc as there are refuges maintained for overnight visitors.

TABLE TENNIS

And finally there is atable tennis table in the garden. Bats and balls are either in the table or in the house. Please buy replacements at Intermarche the big supermaket by the motorway.