A guidebook to seven short treks of 4–12 days in the Pyrenees, covering both sides of the France–Spain border. Showcasing the region’s spectacular scenery, the treks follow mountain paths, with boulder fields and easy scrambling on higher routes. Accommodation is available in mountain refuges and villages, though wild camping is also possible.
The routes range from 70 to 224km and are presented in day stages of between 7 and 33km (2–8 hours). They cover the Basque Country, Pic du Midi d’Ossau and the western Pyrenees, Vignemale and La Alta Ruta de los Perdidos, Réserve Naturelle de Néouvielle, Carros de Foc, Montagnes d’Ax and Les Pérics, and Puigmal and Canigou in Catalonia.
- Clear route description and 1:100, 000 mapping
- Information on accommodation and facilities for each trek stage
- Access, maps and route variants and alternatives for each trek
- Advice on planning and preparation
- Optional detours to climb neighbouring peaks
Tabela de Conteúdo
Summary of the treks
Overview map
Map key
Preface
Introduction
Overview of the treks
Weather and when to go
Wildlife
Access
Accommodation
Equipment
Camping
Water
Swimming
Fuel
Culture and language
Using this guide
Route 1 Tour of the Basque Country
Stage 1 St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry
Stage 2 Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry to Bidarray
Stage 3 Bidarray to Ainhoa
Stage 4 Ainhoa to Sare
Stage 5 Sare to Bera (Vera de Bidasoa)
Stage 6 Bera to Elizondo
Stage 7 Elizondo to Aldudes
Stage 8 Aldudes to Burguete (Auritz)
Stage 9 Burguete to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Route 2 Pic du Midi d’Ossau and the limestone peaks of the
western Pyrenees
Stage 1 Etsaut to Camping du Lauzart (Lescun)
Stage 2 Camping du Lauzart (Lescun) to Refugio de Linza
Stage 3 Refugio de Linza to Refugio de Gabardito
Stage 4 Refugio de Gabardito to Refugio de Lizara
Stage 5 Refugio de Lizara to Col du Somport
Stage 6 Col du Somport to Refuge de Pombie
Stage 7 Refuge de Pombie to Refuge d’Ayous
Stage 8 Refuge d’Ayous to Etsaut
Route 3 Tour de Vignemale and
La Alta Ruta de Los Perdidos
Stage 1 Cauterets to Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube
Stage 2 Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube to Refuge des Granges de Holle (Gavarnie)
Stage 3 Refuge des Granges de Holle to Refuge des Éspuguettes
Stage 4 Refuge des Éspuguettes to Refugio de Pineta
Stage 5 Refugio de Pineta to Refugio de Góriz
Stage 6 Refugio de Góriz to Refuge de la Br&##xe8;che de Roland
Stage 7 Refuge de la Br&##xe8;che de Roland to Refugio de Bujaruelo
Stage 8 Refugio de Bujaruelo to Baños de Panticosa
Stage 9 Baños de Panticosa to Refugio de Respomuso
Stage 10 Refugio de Respomuso to Refuge Wallon
Stage 11 Refuge Wallon to Cauterets
Route 4 R&##xe9;serve Naturelle de N&##xe9;ouvielle
Stage 1 Bar&##xe8;ges to Artigues
Stage 2 Artigues to Refuge de Campana de Cloutou
Stage 3 Refuge de Campana de Cloutou to Lac d’Or&##xe9;don
Stage 4 Lac d’Or&##xe9;don to Bar&##xe8;ges
Route 5 Carros de Foc
Stage 1 Refugi dera Restanca to Refugi Joan Ventosa i Calvell
Stage 2 Refugi Joan Ventosa i Calvell to Refugi d’Estany Llong
Stage 3 Refugi d’Estany Llong to Refugi de la Colomina
Stage 4 Refugi de la Colomina to Refugi JM Blanc
Stage 5 Refugi JM Blanc to Refugi Sant Maurici Ernest Mallafr&##xe9;
Stage 6 Refugi Sant Maurici Ernest Mallafr&##xe9; to Refugi de Saboredo
(via Refugi d’Amitges)
Stage 7 Refugi de Saboredo to Refugi dera Restanca
(via Refugi de Colom&##xe8;rs)
Route 6 Tour des Montagnes d’Ax and the Tour des P&##xe9;rics
Stage 1 Ax-les-Thermes to Orlu
Stage 2 Orlu to Refuge d’en Beys
Stage 3 Refuge d’en Beys to Refuge de Camporells
Stage 4 Refuge de Camporells to Refuge des Bouillouses
Stage 5 Refuge des Bouillouses to Refuge des B&##xe9;sines
Stage 6 Refuge des B&##xe9;sines to Auberge du Nabre (M&##xe9;rens-les-Vals)
Stage 7 Auberge du Nabre (M&##xe9;rens-les-Vals) to Refuge de Rulhe
Stage 8 Refuge de Rulhe to Ax-les-Thermes
Route 7 The icons of Catalonia: Puigmal and Canigou
Stage 1 Eyne to Núria
Stage 2 Traverse of Puigmal
Stage 3 Núria to Refugi de Ull de Ter (via Refugi de Coma de Vaca)
Stage 4 Refugi de Ull de Ter to Chalet de las Conques
Stage 5 Chalet de las Conques to Refuge de Saint-Guillem
Stage 6 Refuge de Saint-Guillem to Refuge de Bat&##xe8;re
Stage 7 Refuge de Bat&##xe8;re to Refuge des Cortalets
Stage 8 Traverse of Canigou
Stage 9 Refuge des Cortalets to Refuge de Marailles
Stage 10 Refuge de Marailles to Mantet
Stage 11 Mantet to Refuge du Ras de la Carança
Stage 12 Refuge du Ras de la Carança to Eyne
Appendix A Route summary tables
Appendix B Sources of information
Appendix C Bibliography
Sobre o autor
After taking early retirement from his career as a physics and sports teacher, Brian Johnson found time for three thru’-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2700-mile round-Britain walk, six hikes across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, a hike along the Via de la Plata from Seville to Santiago, and a single summer compleation of the Munros (Scotland’s 3000ft mountains), as well as climbing all the Corbetts (Scotland’s 2500-3000ft mountains) and the Grahams (Scotland’s 2000-2500ft mountains). He completed a 2200-mile cycle tour of Spain and France and multi-week canoe tours in Sweden, France, Spain and Portugal. In his younger days, Brian’s main sport was orienteering. He competed at a high level and coached both Bishop Wordsworth’s School and South-West Junior Orienteering squads. He also surveyed and drew many orienteering maps. He walked and climbed extensively in Britain, the Alps, the Pyrenees and California, often leading school groups. As a fanatical sportsman and games player, Brian competed to a high standard at cricket, hockey, bridge and chess. His crowning achievement was winning the 1995/96 World Amateur Chess Championships. Brian hiked under the trail name of Ancient Brit. Sadly, Brian passed away in 2021.