SET around a natural lagoon, this stunning stretch of Mediterranean coastline is renowned for its crystal clear waters and powdery white sands.

But frankly, nobody really cares, because visitors come here with only one thing on their minds – .

Couple walking on a naturist beach.The 2km-long beach is divided into three zones, the second being for naturists and the third section for swingers Credit: Rex Aerial view of Le Cap d'Agde seaside resort and marina.The resort is located in the south of France and boasts stunning beaches and crystal clear water Credit: Getty Woman in a sarong facing away from the camera, looking out at a marina.One Cap d’Agde regular, Brit Katie, reveals all about the swinging scene on the Mediterranean paradise Couple in formal wear.‘There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,’ says Katie who visits with her partner Steffan

Sex with their partners, sex with someone else’s partner, group sex, sex on the beach, sex in the sea, sex during foam parties.

In this hedonistic playground, anything goes.

Hundreds of thousands of swingers, including many Brits, descend on the resort each summer looking to fulfil their wildest fantasies.

But despite all the exhibitionism, it’s a closed, secretive world. As a rule, visitors to Cap d’Agde in the south of France follow the motto: what goes on tour, stays on tour.

Most visitors have been part of the scene for a while and have received an “invitation” to join the fun.

But one Cap d’Agde regular has agreed to speak to Fabulous, on the condition her identity is kept secret.

“There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,” says Katie, 34, who visits Cap d’Agde with her partner of six years, Steffan, 39.

The couple, from Milton Keynes, run a website for swingers – fittingly.

“Everyone finds it so exciting,” she says. “You get a real sense of the hedonist lifestyle. I’ve seen all sorts. Cap d’Agde has really opened my eyes. It’s crazy.”

The two kilometre beach at Cap d’Agde is divided into three zones. The first is for ordinary families, the second for and the third section is for swingers.

Bonkers’ beach, if you will. The swingers’ zone has a number of to choose from.

Some accommodation even has two interconnecting rooms for couple swaps, while one hotel has a roof terrace where residents can have sex on sun loungers.

Katie had her first swinger’s experience ten years ago, while with a former partner.

“We were going to Berlin to see a music gig and I was searching on TripAdvisor for what to do – just some innocent searching,” she explains.

“I came across what was described as a lifestyle club. It was number three on the list of attractions. ‘That looks interesting’, I thought. I was nervous, but inquisitive.

“I remember getting the train there with my ex and I felt like people knew where we were heading. It felt a bit naughty.”

When Katie arrived, she discovered her intuition was spot on.

“It was held in a nightclub and while everyone was clothed, there were private areas where people went to have sex or get involved,” she says.

“It was like this other world we didn’t know existed. We just observed the first time and didn’t participate. But it felt incredibly liberating.”

When she came back home, Katie and her partner began visiting swingers’ clubs in Newcastle and Leeds.

Woman in a black crochet maxi dress on a resort pathway.Katie met her current boyfriend through the swinging scene six years ago after splitting from her ex Photo of naturists grocery shopping.Cap d’Agde was a naturist village 30 years ago before swingers started going there Credit: Getty

“We were keen to meet similar people in the UK,” she says.

“We found so many normal people do it. It’s like a secret life. It opened our minds to a different world. Even so, I didn’t participate the first two or three times. I just watched others having sex.

“By the time I did get involved, I’d made some connections with people, so I was more relaxed. My first experience was a soft swap. My first full swap was the next time we went to a club.

“A soft swap might mean switching partners, but not having full sex. It might involve kissing, or foreplay.

“A full swap is having sex with them. It’s like experimenting, but with other people. It opens you up to a new world of different experiences.”

Katie says the word swinging is now considered old-fashioned and those involved in the lifestyle call it ethical non-monogamy – ENM.

After splitting with her partner, she met her current boyfriend, Steffan, through the scene six years ago.

About a year later, they took off to Cap d’Agde after learning about it from friends on the scene.

“The first time I went, it opened my eyes even wider,” says Katie.

“There’s all sorts of stuff going on. You’ve got adults playing freely, having sex on the beach and in the sea. Some couples like to stand on the sidelines, enjoying the voyeuristic side where you watch others enjoying themselves.”

is Katie’s particular thing.

“There might be a handful of people I’ll interact with, kissing or dancing,” she says.

“But I’m more of a voyeur – I’ll be in among the fun. I like being in the vibe.”

Katie and Steffan loved their first experience so much that they have returned every year since. You could call it a swingers’ pilgrimage.

Katie says that, contrary to what appearances might suggest, Cap d’Agde is not a free-for-all. Well, not most of the time.

“Everything is about consent and respect,” she explains

“When you go to Cap d’Agde, you’ll be on one of the lifestylers [swingers] apps, such as one called Wyylde. If you have a profile, you explain what you’re looking for, there is a conversation, then you meet.

“For single guys and adventurous couples, you could have over 10 interactions, from soft swaps to full sex, in a day.”

Interacting with complete strangers is not unusual.

“If you’re on the beach, for example, people might start to watch. You might say, ‘Do you want to join us?’ and there’s the joy of the spontaneous situation.

“But there’s always consent. There’s no pressure. You do get people you’re not interested in making approaches, but you can politely decline.”

One of the curious things about Cap d’Agde is that while all this sex and wild abandon is going on, parents with kids might be eating picnics and building sandcastles just metres along the coast.

“There are families on a different part of the beach,” says Katie.

“And Cap d’Agde was a naturist village 20 to 30 years ago, before swingers started going there. So you’ll see naturists walking about, who are not there for sex.”

Surprisingly, Katie claims she doesn’t get jealous when she sees Steffan having fun with other women.

“No, actually I find there’s less jealousy,” she says. “It’s about sex positivity, freedom and empowerment. It can strengthen your relationship.”

Katie believes swinging has “skyrocketed” in recent years.

“From our research on Google, it’s around five per cent and growing. It’s opening up in the mainstream,” she says.

“Most of my friends are now in the lifestyle. We told them and they were interested to see what it was all about. People questioning the standard structures.

“There are ENM clubs across the UK, and events at mansions. From our research, 30 to 60 years old is the main age group, but the 20 to 30 age group is growing.”

What is Swinging?

SWINGING, also known as partner swapping, is a sexual activity where partners in a committed relationship engage in sexual activities with other people.

All parties involved must give explicit and enthusiastic consent.

Open and honest communication between partners is crucial.

Many swingers engage with a community or attend events specifically for swinging.

Such activity can enhance intimacy and trust within the primary relationship.

It provides an opportunity to explore sexual fantasies and desires.

But it is not suitable for every relationship and requires a strong foundation of trust.

Jealousy and emotional challenges may arise and need to be managed.

While Katie wishes her identity to remain unknown to the wider world, her friends and family know her secret.

“My parents’ initial reaction was that they wanted to make sure I was OK and it wasn’t something I was being forced into,” she says.

“But they’re fine with it because they know I’m fine with it. Family members find it interesting – they’re all very inquisitive.”

Katie and Steffan have a baby son so they won’t be heading out to Cap d’Agde this summer.

“Being a new mum, my attention is on the little one now,” says Katie.

“But I’ll definitely be going back at some point. My family will be able to look after my son.”

Despite the demands of motherhood, Katie says she’s very much still part of the “lifestyle”.

She and Steffan have set up a website, Playful Pineapple, aimed at improving the experiences of swingers.

“Playful Pineapple is a destination for people in the lifestyle. The online experience was dated,” says Katie.

“You get a lot of fake profiles on websites. We want to make it safe, so people know they’re talking to a real person, a social networking space for the lifestyle.

“On our website, you’ve got profiles, what you’re looking for in lifestyling, what your travel plans are, where you might be heading. It’s a safe environment.”

The logo is an upside down pineapple – a swingers’ symbol.

“Upside down pineapple cake, that was the essence of offering, of hospitality, in countries like Hawaii,” says Katie. “Now you get necklaces, earrings and so on, to showcase the lifestyle.”

Pineapples are used as a secret sign to other prospective swingers.

At Cap d’Agde, however, there’s no need for pineapples or any other secret sign. When you hit the beach, there’s not a chance of mistaking what it’s all about.

Woman in orange dress at Glam'our club in Cap d'Agde.Cap d’Agde has really opened my eyes. It’s crazy, says Katie