Full Description
The go-to Pyrenees travel guide travel guide for discovering the best walks and car tours.
Strap on your boots and discover Pyrenees on foot with the Sunflower Pyrenees travel guide. And on the days when your feet may have had enough, enjoy some spectacular scenery on one of our legendary car tours.
The Sunflower Pyrenees guide is indispensable for hiking in Pyrenees or seeing Pyrenees by car. You don't have to be an expert to enjoy trekking in the Pyrenees with this guide book. None of the hikes requires special skills (under summer conditions) and, if you are not very fit, simply turn back when you feel like it or choose one of our specific short walk suggestions with most of the itineraries.
Inside the Sunflower Pyrenees guide book you'll find:
65 long and short walks for all ages and abilities - each walk is graded so you can easily match your ability to the level of walk
Topographical walking maps - give you a clear sense of the surrounding terrain
Free downloadable gps tracks - for the techies
Satnav guidance to walk starts for motorists
12 car tours and fold-out touring map - for easy reference on your tour
Strolls to idyllic picnic spots - enjoy our recommendations for where to picnic along the way
Timetables for public transport - ideal if you want to link two walks or avoid hiring a car on your holiday
Online update service for the latest information
The authors, who have lived in the Pyrenees for 30 years, believe that experienced and fit walkers will find much to enjoy, for we have included some of the wildest scenery in the Pyrenees, walked pilgrim routes and World War 2 escape routes, climbed to summits, enjoyed the habitat of marmots, vultures and lizards (the Pyrenean chamois), and not neglected the great and the famous.
Whether you tour the Pyrenees by car or explore on foot, we look forward to showing you around.
Contents
Preface 5
Pyrenees — the people 6
Acknowledgements; Books 6
Getting about 7
Picnicking 8
Touring 10
Car tour 1: THE ALBERES 12
Car tour 2: INTO THE MOUNTAINS 14
Car tour 3: TO THE CADI 16
Car tour 4: THE PLATEAU OF THE CATHARS 18
Car tour 5: DEEP VALLEYS, HIGH PEAKS, PAINTED CAVES 21
Car tour 6: PARC NACIONAL D'AIGUES TORTES 23
Car tour 7: 'GROTTES' AND GARGOYLES 25
Car tour 8: MARVELS AND MIRACLES 27
Car tour 9: GRAND CANYONS TOUR 29
Car tour 10: THE VALLEY OF THE BEAR 31
Car tour 11: LIMESTONE AND LEGENDS 33
Car tour 12: INTO THE BASQUE COUNTRY 35
Country code for walkers and motorists 37
Walking 38
Weather 38
Transport 39
Clothing and equipment 39
Food and water 40
Waymarking, maps and grading of the walks 40
Safety and guides 41
Organisation of the walks 42
Overnight accommodation 43
Language hints 43
WALKS IN THE EASTERN PYRENEES
1 From Vilajuïga to Llançà 45
2 From Cadaqués to Roses 48
3 From Collioure to Banyuls-sur-Mer 51
4 Circuit in the Garrotxa, ad Santa Pau 55
5 Sant Aniol d'Aguja 58
6 Alta Garrotxa and Santa Bàrbara de Pruneres 61
7 A Canigou canter 63
8 Carança cliffhager 65
9 From Núria to Queralbs 68
10 Pedraforca 71
WALKS IN THE CENTRAL PYRENEES
11 Egolasters and the Madriu Valley 74
12 Mourgouillou Valley and the lakes 77
13 Gorgeous Gorges de la Frau 80
14 Among the lakes 82
15 Circuit aroud Lake Artax (Artats) 84
16 Crête des Isards 86
17 Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes 88
18 A taste of the Baronnies 90
19 The roof of the Pyrenees 93
20 Cirque de Gavarnie 95
21 Russell's Caves 98
22 Brèche de Roland 100
23 Circuit from the Pont d'Espagna via the Vallée du Marcadau and Lac du Pourtet 103
24 Valle de Piñeta and Punta del Valle 106
25 The Añisclo Canyon 109
26 Ordesa — the grand canyon walk 111
27 Pic d'Anie 115
WALKS IN THE WESTERN PYRENEES
28 The song of Roland (Mt Astobizkar) 118
29 Roncesvalles 120
30 Iparla Ridge 122
31 Circuit based on Biriatou 125
32 Xoldokogaina (Choldokogagna) 129
33 Col d'Ibardin 131
34 Peñas de Aia (Aiako Harria) 132
Index of place names 135
Fold-out Pyrenees map inside back cover
