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Lac de GaubeWalking in the Pyrénées  In the peak summer months the Pyrénées make for the most idyllic walking imaginable.  Rocky crags and mountain tops combine with sleepy villages and river valleys to make a terrain that is pure delight.  The weather is excellent in the peak summer months and this, combined with a multitude of other attractions in the area, provides the perfect destination for a family walking holiday.  Depending on the age, capability and experience of your children you will find there is a broad scope of walks with different degrees of difficulty and distance.

Helicopter in the PyreneesCirque de Troumouse

Location: 50km south of Lourdes via the D921, branching onto the D922 for the last 15km.  Part of the road is a toll road.

Description: The Cirque de Troumouse is an imposing curved wall of rock,10 km long and 1000m high! . In the summer you will have not only the pleasure of beautiful mountain scenery, but also that of rare species of flora that thrive in the Pyrénées.

Our recommendations: The Cirque de Gavarnie is the more popular, the Cirque de Troumouse is full of peace and beauty.

For the children:  Take a visit to the power station of Pragnères, about 10km south of Luz-Saint-Sauveur on the D921.  Admission is free.

Our favourite walking spots in the Pyrénées:


          - Cirque d'Estaube
          - Cirque de Gavarnie
          - Cirque de Lys
          - Cirque de Troumouse
          - Col d'Aspin
          - Lac du Bouillouses
          - Lac de Gaube

Needless to say there is so much walking in the Pyrénées we have only scratched the surface here.  For more information check out the websites listed in the panel below.

External websites offering information on walking in the Pyrénées (and elsewhere in France):

-
France on Foot - this is a useful website in English which explains the French trail system.
- Balades en Famille - an excellent website (French only) with walking trails and suggestions throughout France, especially aimed at the Family.
- Pyrenees Mountains - useful English site with information on walking in the Pyrénées and offering organised walking holidays.

- Balades Pyrénées - website about walking in the Pyrénées, focusing on the famous GR10 route.

Websites on cycling in the Pyrénées (only for real roughnecks!):
http://www.cycling-pyrenees.com

http://www.cycle-rides.co.uk

External websites offering information on the Pyrénées:

-
Pyrénées National Park official site.  Good site, including English, with advice for walking with the family and some suggested routes.
- Pyrénées Info Site.  Useful website on the Pyrénées (French only).
- Ariège - nice site on this beautiful area of the central Pyrénées.
- Argelès-Gazost - another useful website on the central Pyrénées area.
Chosen by our children:

     - Top Ten Holiday destinations in France