France Normally, climbing Canigou (2784m) is an essential part of the HRP but I have climbed it many times from all sides and know the Mariailles and Cortalets hostels well. But I hadn’t stayed in the new Saint Guilhem hostel, nor at Batère with its hot tub! Amélie-les-Bains is the only significant town on the … Continue reading Pyrenean Haute Route 2016. Days 50-57 Pla Guilhem to Banyuls →

France The earliest train back arrived at 13:20 so, although the Bésines hostel  was only three hours away, it was later in the day than I would have liked. Inevitably this was one of only two days on the Haute Route that I got caught in a thunderstorm.

France Louis went home from Gavarnie. I would be on my own for the rest of the hike. The HRP heads over a pass to the Cirque d’Estaubé and then to the lower reaches of the Cirque de Troumouse, two lesser-known cirques.

After a week’s rest at home, I returned to where I had left off, Somport. Spain

Spain Like all the other walkers in the Orreaga/Roncevaux Pilgrim’s hostel  we were woken by the sound of monks singing. But unlike them the four of us were the only ones heading north, still on the Camino, but in the wrong direction. Once we had climbed up to the ridge we were in France – … Continue reading Pyrenean Haute Route 2016. Days 7-13 Orreaga to Somport →