Walking

The Pyrenees contain some of Europe’s finest and most challenging walking country, with enough variety and scope to fill a lifetime of holidays. Away from the tourist hot-spots, the Pyrenees offers walkers secluded glens, remote and rarely trodden corners of true wilderness, allowing you to experience a real sense of remoteness.

Long-distance walks, such as the sentiers de grande randonnee (“GR”), of which the GR10 and GR11 are the longest examples within the Pyrenees, crossing from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, are way-marked by distinctive red and white paint flashes. In addition to the linear GR trails, there are numerous circuits varying in length from one to seven days known as Tours de Pays. There are four Tours de Pays within easy reach of Chez Lingarole:

• Tour des Baronnies – three stage tour;
• Tour de la Vallee d’Aure – a four day circuit;
• Tour des Vallees d’Oueil and du Larboust – a moderate three day tour; and
• Tour du Cagire-Burat – six day walk.

Other shorter trails are way-marked in yellow and red or just yellow and are designed to be completed in a day.

For the more adventurous, the Pyrenees offer trekkers countless possibilities to explore the rugged landscapes, high mountains and to experience true wilderness. Devise your own treks linking existing trails, or for those with excellent map reading and mountain walking skills, tackle pathless terrain and cross remote passes. A chain of huts (refuge) has been established throughout the High Pyrenees. Some are manned during the summer whilst unmanned huts vary in size, quality and facilities, ranging from a simple stone shelter to being equipped with a sleeping platform, fireplace and stove.

Low-level walks may be enjoyed all year round, depending on snowfall. Many high mountain passes can be impassable until mid-June or even later, especially on north-facing slopes. From July to September is optimum time for mountain-based activities, whilst September is probably the best month to tackle long treks.

We can suggest suitable walks so that you are able to experience a diverse range of landscapes during your stay and can also provide laminated maps. Below is a small selection of some of our favourite walking areas which can be accessed by car:

Hospice de France, a one-time staging post for mule trains trading across the frontier. The Hospice de France lies at a junction of routes in rough pastureland, with woodland above and below and a view towards the frontier mountains.
There are many choices of routes, all of which are well-marked. For example, a popular 7 hour circuit will take you across the border via the old mule-track with breathtaking views of the Spanish mountains, glaciers and mountain lakes. Alternatively, walk on a path created by Napoleon to the magical Cirque de la Glere.

Reserve Naturelle de Neouvielle, part of the Pyrenees National Park. Here you will find granite peaks, the highest pine forests in Europe and beautiful mountain lakes and tarns. There are some excellent paths which climb through splendid valleys adorned with stunted pines (average age of 800 years), stunning wild flowers and numerous tarns.

Val d'Esquierry, noted for its abundant alpine flora and known locally as 'Le Jardin des Pyrenees'. If you walk here in early summer you will see why. A great alternative to the tourist hot spot of Lac d'Oo.

Vallee du Lys, is an attractive valley of meadows, a scattering of houses and barns, tree-lined streams and cascades that stripe the steep walls. Heading southwards, the valley opens as a green, pastoral basin and the road ends after 6km at the base of the Cirque du Lys. The road head marks the start of several walking routes. Again, there are many options, including hiking to a number of beautiful mountain lakes or to the Hospice de France via the Cirque de la Glere.

Vall d'Aran, a very wooded and green valley which is geographically part of France, but politically Spanish. Here you will find the source of the great French river, the Garonne. In the tributary valleys, there are many beautiful walks, amidst changing scenery from the green valley floor, through pine covered hanging valleys and deep gorges to glistening, secluded mountain tarns scattered high amongst granite peaks. There is also a reminder of the iron-ore mining activities that once took place here between the 18th and 20th centuries.