A guidebook to seven circular treks exploring the Pyrenees of France and
Spain. The treks are designed with accommodation in mountain refuges or
mountain villages at the end of each stage, though there are plenty of
options to camp for those who prefer to backpack. Detailed descriptions
for each stage of the route are accompanied by sketch maps and elevation
profiles.
Route 1: Tour of the Basque Country - This route takes you over the
steep rolling hills (in both France and Spain) at the western end of the
Pyrenees. Accommodation is mainly in Basque villages with steep climbs
leading to long walks along easy grassy ridges.
Route 2: Pic du Midi d'Ossau - This route takes in the magnificent
limestone scenery at the western end of the High Pyrenees by combining
the popular Tour du Pic du Midi d'Ossau, in France, with the best
sections of the quieter La Senda de Camille on the Spanish side of the
border.
Route 3: Tour de Vignemale and La Alta Ruta de Los Perdidos - This is
the most demanding trek in the guide with easy scrambling over steep
passes. The magnificent trek through the alpine terrain around Vignemale
and Monte Perdido includes six of the honeypots of the Pyrenees;
Cauterets, Vignemale, Gavarnie, Pineta, Ordesa and the Picos del
Infierno.
Route 4: Reserve Naturelle de Neouvielle - The shortest trek in this
guide takes you through the popular Reserve Naturelle de Neouvielle and
the surrounding mountains in the French Parc National des Pyrenees. It
visits many lakes and tarns in magnificent granite scenery and there is
the opportunity to climb several peaks, including Pic du Midi de Bigorre
and Pic de Bastan. The trek is based around the GR10 and one of its
variations, the GR10C.
Route 5: Carros de Foc - The Carros de Foc is an understandably popular
trek in the magnificent Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant
Maurici, in the Spanish part of Catalonia. This is another granite
massif dotted with hundreds of lakes and tarns. The huts are close
together so there is a great deal of flexibility in planning, with most
walkers taking 5-7 days for the trek.
Route 6: Tour des Montagnes d'Ax and the Tour des Perics - The Ariege is
a relatively unknown area at the eastern end of the High Pyrenees. This
tour combines the magnificent alpine mountains of the Tour des Montagnes
d'Ax on either flank of the Vallee de l'Ariege with the Tour des Perics
in the gentler scenic mountains of the Cerdagne in the French part of
Catalonia.
Route 7: The icons of Catalonia: Puigmal and Canigou - Our final tour
goes through both the Spanish and French parts of Catalonia at the
eastern end of the Pyrenees, taking in ascents of the two most climbed
peaks in the Pyrenees; Puigmal and Canigou. Despite rising to almost
3000m the mountain ridges are gentler than in the High Pyrenees, more
reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, although the valleys still have
an alpine feel. Much of the time is spent on spectacular high-level
traverses of steep mountain slopes.
