Guided walking holidays in the Pyrenees
High Level Route
The French Pyrenees are a mountain walker’s delight with the chance to get deep into the heart of the mountains. In places there are cool forests and sparkling tarns set in welcoming greensward. In other areas you come close to awe-inspiring rock peaks and gleaming snowfields, and there are summits which can be reached with a little effort.
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 | A journey through the High Pyrenees inevitably involves nights in huts and has a wilder feel to it than walking in the Alps. This Pathways guided walking trip has been designed to show you the highlights of the High Level Route while combining this with comfortable hotel accommodation (where possible!). It gives a satisfying and exhilarating introduction to these mountains.
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After a night in the historic town of Pau, this journey starts by passing the stunning Pic du Midi and takes an excursion into a wild corner of Spain to arrive in the pleasant town of Cauterets. From here we follow the High Level Route past the Vignemale to the Cirque de Gavarnie and the Cirque de Troumouse, finishing our trek in the mountain splendour of Barroude.
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You will need to carry personal equipment, clothes and lunches for the first five days while staying in the Refuges but you will not need to carry any camping, cooking or sleeping gear except a sheet liner. In Cauterets and Gavarnie your bags will be waiting for you at the hotel accommodation.
Meals are provided on a half-board basis. You can purchase food for lunches from village shops as we go along, or buy a packed lunch from the hotels. There are no other costs apart from drinks and personal snacks.
Arrival is on Saturday at Pau. Transfer can be arranged from Airport.
Ryanair flights are from Stansted to Pau (06.20 arriving 9.15) Jet2 from Leeds/Bradford to Toulouse
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrive in the historic and attractive town of Pau . Hotel accommodation
Day 2 (Sunday): Minibus transfer to Lac de Bious-Artigues. Interesting afternoon walk over the Col de Peyreget (2208m) to Refuge de Pombie. Refuge accommodation
Day 3 (Monday): An exhilarating day’s walk across some spectacular country including the exposed but easy crossing of the Passage d’Orteig to the Refuge d’Arremoulit by its lake. Refuge accommodation
Day 4 (Tuesday): Over the Port de Palas into Spain and a good walk through some wild mountain country . Refuge accommodation
Day 5 (Wednesday): Climb to the Col de la Fache and then an easy scramble to the summit of the Grande Fache. Our first 3,000m summit! Refuge accommodation
Day 6 (Thursday): A day to explore the beautiful upper Marcadau valley and perhaps bag another peak. Refuge accommodation
Day 7 (Friday) A superb walk past several lakes to reach the Refuge d’Ilheou, nestled beneath the peak of the Grand Barbat . Refuge accommodation.
Day 8 (Saturday): A gentle walk down from the mountains and back into civilisation in the old ski resort of Cauterets. A chance to relax and get set for the second half of the trip. Hotel accommodation.
Day 9 (Sunday): Cauterets – Baysellance. A walk past the beauty spot of Lac de Gaube, with views of the Vignemale drawing us on. A steep climb to the Hourquette d’Ossoue and the highest hut in the Pyrenees. Afternoon ascent of the Petit Vignemale (3,032m) Refuge Baysellance (2,700m)
Day 10 (Monday): Baysellance – Gavarnie (the Petit Vignemale can be ascended if not done the day before) We descend the long Vallée d'Ossoue past the snout of the Vignemale glacier and Russell's caves to overnight in Gavarnie. Hotel accommodation
Day 11 (Tuesday): Ascent of Taillon (3144m). A taxi ride to the Port de Boucharo and then the climb to the Brèche de Roland, an impressive notch in the frontier ridge. This involves crossing snow patches and some awkward scree. From here we should have time to climb the Taillon (3144m.) before returning past the Refuge de la Brèche and down to the Port de Boucharo, to meet transport back to the hotel. Hotel accommodation (Scramble/summit)
Day 12 (Wednesday): A steady climb leads over the Hourquette d'Alans (2420m.) and into the Cirque d'Estaubé. We continue past the Lac des Gloriettes to Héas. Basic hotel accommodation.
Day13 (Thursday): A long but rewarding day, walking up into the wild, massive Cirque de Troumouse, then crossing the Hourquette de Héas (2606m.) before dropping down to the Refuge de Barroude, sheltered beneath its mountain wall. Refuge de Barroude
Day 14 (Friday): An optional ascent onto the frontier ridge, followed by a straightforward walk out down the Vallon de la Géla to meet transport back to our hotel in Pau. Hotel accommodation
Day 15 (Saturday): Return flights from Pau (or Toulouse)
Weather: In the Pyrenees in August the weather is normally fairly hot and rain usually passes away quickly. The main problems are heat and dehydration, although, because we are at altitude, the atmosphere is usually quite pleasant. There are often storms in the evening, and temperature inversions are frequent. It can be cool around huts in the evening, when a lightweight fleece is recommended.
Grade and terrain (Grade C) This trip offers an ideal opportunity for regular hill-walkers to reach some high summits without needing to cross glaciers or undertake difficult climbs, although some scrambling ability and a head for heights is required. Paths are often good, although steep and bouldery in places, and snow patches may have to be crossed. Ice-axes are not required, but walking poles can be very useful. Where there are long ascents or descents, they are generally well-graded.
Accommodation and meals: Overnight accommodation is generally in simple but comfortable hotels. Four nights are spent in remote mountain refuges, when you will need to carry overnight gear (a toothbrush?) and some food for lunches.Three course evening meals are provided on each night, with a continental breakfast in the morning.
On arrival at our hotels, you will find your bags waiting for you (but not at remote mountain huts!).
Daily Routine: We normally breakfast between 7.30 and 8.00 a.m. When staying at hotels we ask you to bring your bags down for the driver to collect. We suggest that you bring just one bag each, preferably of the soft "sports" style, as these are easier than suitcases to load into the vehicle.
We set off around 8.00 a.m. and walk for about an hour, when we stop for a short break. Then we continue until lunch, which is usually at a viewpoint, by a stream or some other pleasant spot. Other breaks are taken as required, and we generally arrive at our accommodation between 3 and 5p.m.
Dinner is usually between 7.30 – 8.00p.pm. We ask that you pay for any personal drinks the same night.
Equipment List:
Walking boots, lightweight, supportive and comfortable.
Rucksack (40-50 litres).
Waterproofs, preferably fairly light.
Sunhat.
Fleece gloves or similar.
Lightweight fleece.
Long trousers or tracksuit bottoms (lightweight polycotton or microfibre etc.)
Shorts
Shirts (incl. one long-sleeved)
Underwear.
Walking socks.
Sandals or light footwear (for evenings.)
Swimming costume.
Water-bottle (at least 2 litres – you will need to drink at least this amount during the day).
Trail food e.g. cereal bars, nuts & raisins, dried fruit.
Sun cream.
First-aid kit (including blister treatment!)
Water purifying tablets (in case you need to collect water from streams etc. – unlikely!)
Washbag (sample size toothpaste etc.)
Small Towel (for hut nights).
Toilet paper. Torch and batteries.
Sleeping bag liner (for huts).
Poly bags (useful for food, dirty clothes, maps etc.)
You may want to bring:
Camera
Binoculars.
Flower book
Alarm clock.
Walking poles (highly recommended for snow patches, stream crossings and general support.)
Ear plugs for dormitories!
Maps: IGN 1:50000: Carte de Randonnées Nos. 3 and 4 (Pyrenees).
IGN 1:25000: Ossau 1547 OT; Vignemale 1647 OT; Gavarnie 1748 OT; St. Lary 1748 ET
Dates: 4th - 18th August 2012
Cost: £1,295 (Land only)
(Ryanair fly London Stansted – Pau. Jet2 fly Leeds/Bradford to Toulouse)