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Gentle Pyrenees Walking Holidays

A gentle Pyrenees walking holiday is a week of guided walking aimed at those wanting to discover the landscape, history, culture, flora, fauna and people of the Haute Pyrenees, without too much exertion. A typical week’s walking holiday will take in some of the more accessible cirques and lakes, some gentle ridges and easy peaks. We will pass through pretty mountain villages and along ancient bergers’ paths to hidden barns, getting a real feel for the mountain way of life. The great thing about walking in the Pyrenees is that only a short wander from a high ski- or col-road, we can find ourselves in a completely unspoiled wilderness. On a gentle Pyrenees walking holiday there will also be plenty of chances to sample the village cafés and buy local produce at a farm shop or market.

A gentle walking holiday is a wonderful introduction to the Pyrenees without too much exertion!

An example week’s itinerary – Gentle Walking Holiday, Pyrenees

Saturday – free afternoon
Arrive late afternoon. We suggest a leisurely walk around the village and a drink on the terrace before dinner.

Sunday - Croix de St. Justin and the Transarrious Plateau
An interesting introductory walk from the house, giving us a chance to get to know the area and view the stunning setting of Barèges village.

Leaving from the house (1250m), we cross the Bastan river and take a gentle path skirting along the valley side through mixed woodland. The path stays almost level, while the valley drops away beneath us – soon giving us a great vantage point above the village. At the Croix de St. Justin (half an hour from the village) we can enjoy a traditional French snack and a drink in the sunshine at the St. Justin creperie. The restaurant is on an isolated promontory looking out onto the lovely Bastan valley, the village of Barèges and the towering mountains on every side - it can only be accessed on foot. From the promontory, we look down on the ancient village of Sers, and across to the barns and “estives” (summer pastures), getting an insight into the traditional way of life in this area.

From the cross, we head back towards Barèges, climbing gently to the Transarrious plateau. This glacial platform is a favourite grazing area for the local Barèges-Gavarnie sheep (brebis). We follow a farmers’ track through the meadows and past a series of ancient stone barns – built into the hillside to protect from avalanches, then descend gently to follow the burbling Bastan river back to the village.

Monday – Cirque de Gavarnie
A visit to one of the most beautiful cirques in Europe. A UNESCO world heritage site; the cirque is a natural amphitheatre of towering cliffs and spectacular waterfalls.

A lovely drive up the steep-sided valley of the Gave de Gavarnie takes us to the small village of Gavarnie (1365m). Once a traditional farming village, Gavarnie is now famous for its cirque – a UNESCO world heritage site, and ski station in the winter.

We start our day with a steep but steady climb through thin woodland towards the Plateau de Pailla. From here we follow a lovely path that traverses through the woods above the valley floor. At 1570m we meet the main path at the centre of the cirque, now completely surrounded by towering 1000m high cliffs. From here there is an optional climb (a furthur 200m ascent) to the foot of the Grande Cascade – a spectacular 400m waterfall.

We complete our circuit with an easy descent to Gavarnie village along the open valley floor, stopping off for a drink and an icecream en-route.

Tuesday – Visit to Argelès market, Hautacam and the Lac d’Isaby
A morning browsing the main market of the area at the grand spa town of Argelès-Gazost, then a pretty drive through traditional villages to Hautacam. Walk to Lac d’Isaby (1558m) and picnic beside the lake.

We drive South through the gorges de Pierrefitte and to the grand spa town of Argelès-Gazost. This town is the meeting point of four main valleys, and hosts the major local market.

After a morning’s browsing, we take the minibus along a winding ski road to the small station of Hautacam (1509m). During our ascent, we pass a series of pretty villages and stone barns, while the view of the valley below grows beneath us. At the ski station, we return to leg-power and a short climb from the car park to the Col de Moulata, where we can look out to a wall of high peaks, culminating at the Soum de Lascours (2485m). We skirt round an open bowl, descending gently to the Lac d’Isaby – an excellent spot for a picnic lunch sampling the market wares.

From the lake we follow the Rau d’Isaby – a rushing stream tinkling along the valley bottom. First descending through woodland, then through open pasture dotted with traditional Pyrenean barns, we make our way down the valley. Our final descent takes us on a lovely woodland path and past the ruin of the Abbaye de St. Orens (Ortiac Abbey). This abbey was home to a group of hermit monks and was built in the ancient “herring bone” method of construction, with the stones laid diagonally. We end our walk in the old mountain village of Ortiac.

Wednesday – DAY OFF
Your free day to use as you please. We suggest you try out the thermal spa in the village of Barèges, visit the Pic du Midi observatory or take the bus to the pretty towns of Luz-St Sauveur or Argelès-Gazost. Here you can stock up on the delicious local sheep’ cheeses and ‘saucissons sec’ (knobbly French salamis). The pilgrimage town of Lourdes is also accessible by public transport (about 1hr by bus). For those who can’t get enough exercise, there are plenty of trails to be explored on foot from Barèges, and we can arrange activities including paragliding, caving, white water rafting, pony trekking, mountain biking, canyoning etc.

Thursday – Granges de Coumely and the Cirque d’Estaubé
Walking from the Lac de Gloriettes to explore the scattered “Granges de Coumely” barns on the Coume de Coumely. After a picnic lunch above the lake, an optional walk into the wild Cirque d’Estaubé.

From Luz-St. Sauveur, we drive up to the village of Gèdre, then take a winding mountain road to the Lac de Gloriettes (1668m). From the lake we cross a huge dam, climbing up to a grassy plateau strewn with pretty stone barns. The Granges de Coumely are very photogenic – set in green pasture dotted with sheep, and surrounded by rugged peaks up to 3000m in altitude.

After a picnic amongst the barns, we descend to the Lac de Gloriettes once more, for an optional afternoon walk into the Cirque d’Estaubé. This is the little-sister of the Cirque de Gavarnie. Smaller, but still an almost-complete circle of high cliffs separating France from Spain in an imposing frontier wall, the Cirque d’Estaube is a quiet and untouched place.

Friday – Pont d’Espagne to Lac de Gaube and the Chemin de Cascades
A cable car ride to the famous Lac de Gaube and a stroll around the lake, then a pretty walk down to the Pont d’Espagne through shady woodland. In the afternoon we take the Chemin de Cascades – following the Gave du Marcadau as it crashes to the valley bottom in a series of waterfalls.

An impressive drive through deep, narrow gorges takes us to our neighbouring valley of Cauterets, from where we drive up to the cross-country ski station of the Pont d’Espagne (1496m). For an easy start to the day, we take a chairlift up around 250m to the Lac de Gaube (1725m). This is one of the most famous sights of the Pyrenees – an enormous blue glacial lake fed by meltwater from the glacier on the North Face of the Vignemale (the highest mountain in the French Pyrenees).

After a relaxing stroll beside the lake, we return to the Pont d’Espagne via a zig-zag path through pretty woodland. Now we make our way back towards the town of Cauterets, along the Chemin de Cascades. This 4km path follows the rushing Gave de Marcadau as it plummets over at least five waterfalls. The landscape is one of rounded granite boulders, clear waters and sandy beaches beneath gnarled pine trees.
We meet the bus at La Raillère and drive into the lively spa town of Cauterets, where we take an hour to explore the town and sample the cakes at (possibly) the best/only tea-shop in the South of France.


Saturday – Free morning

Free morning to pick up some souvenirs and get your postcards sent off. There’s plenty of time for a rejuvenating dip in the thermal spa or a short local walk and lunch in a village restaurant. We depart for the airport around 1pm.

Our Pyrenees walking holidays are based from our newly-renovated house in the mountain village of Barèges. The accommodation is of a very high standard, and guests have access to our heated equipment room, sauna, dining room and large lounge with a wood burning stove, bar, music centre and computer with DVD player. Prices start at £475, which includes seven nights accommodation in a twin en-suite room, continental breakfasts, picnic lunches, afternoon tea and three course evening meals with after dinner coffee. Also included are five days guided walking and all local minibus transfers. Nights out in manned refuges carry a supplement of 30 euros for each night.

Gentle walking holidays are available throughout the Summer season from June to October. Early and late in the walking season, the mountains are quiet. The Spring meadows are strewn with wild flowers, and in Autumn the woods are bright with coloured leaves while the mountain tops are dusted white with new snow. A typical day might be 3-5 hours in length, with an ascent of 300-500m.

Those looking for independent Pyrenees walking are also welcome at our accommodation in Barèges, and we are always happy to pass on our local knowledge and suggest walking routes.

Further information and booking forms