Pyrenees Coast to Coast

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Eugene Mitchell
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Pyrenees Coast to Coast 13 th October to 21 st October 2018 The Pyrenees Those of you who have already been to the Pyrenees will agree that it is one of the most fascinating mountain ranges in Europe.

1 Pyrenees Coast to Coast 13 th October to 21 st October 2018 The Pyrenees Those of you who have already been to the Pyrenees will agree that it is one of the most fascinating mountain ranges in Europe. Those who go for the first time will discover stunning scenery, rough landscapes, abandoned villages and vast emptiness. It is quite possible to drive all day, over all sorts of mountain roads and encounter no one. A glance at a map of Europe shows the barrier the Pyrenees mountains create between France and Spain; the range is 250 miles long, and the highest peak reaches 3500m (11,500ft). Within the region lie glaciers, lakes, rivers, woods and deep canyons. Besides its impressive nature, there are many stunning villages and interesting towns. As so often in the remote parts of Southern Europe, some of the villages have been abandoned, leaving skeletons of houses, often overgrown by trees and plants. Pots and pans remain as remnants of their former inhabitants. Our route includes a wide variety of terrain. As this is a recce tour there may be times when we have to vary to route unexpectedly this is as much an adventure for us as it is for you! Alongside the natural beauty there are many historic towns, bridges and churches, particularly when we follow the ancient pilgrim routes. We re always sure to stop and take time to admire all we see to get out of the car and enjoy the scenery.

2 Day 1 Saturday. Ferry from the UK to Spain We meet at Portsmouth for the 8:15am Ferry to Santander a chance to spend the day relaxing at the beginning of the tour and avoid the drive down through France. The Ferry and cabins are included in the price there are options to upgrade to Luxury suites which you can book through us in advance. Day 2 Sunday. Arrival in Spain and travel to Les The ferry docks in Santander at around 2pm. After disembarking we travel along the coast past Bilbao and towards the French boarder where we turn away from the main roads and head up into the foothills of the Pyrenees. Our destination is St Jean Pied de Port, a medieval town at the start of the Santiago De Compostela pilgrim trail. You ll have time to enjoy the town, it s many ancient buildings and choose from the many restaurants for an evening meal Day 3 Monday. Forest and Desert The day starts in the forest tracks around St Jean Pied de Port the hills provide spectacular views as we head towards Pamploma and to the edge of the Bardenas Reales, which has to be seen to be believed and is a phenomenon in Europe! The Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert covering 100,000 acres in southeast Navarra bordering Aragon in southern Spain; made up of clay, chalk and sandstone which has been eroded over time by water and wind, the region is full of surprising shapes, canyons, plateaus and isolated hills. Our lodging for the night is unique hairpin after hairpin lead you up gravel tracks to the hotel which, along with a church, occupy a hill with breathtaking panoramic views over the desert. Spectacular sunset views which will take your breath away.

3 Day 4 Tuesday. Exploring the desert After a spectacular sunrise we start the day travelling along the edge of the Bardenas a chance to stock up on food, snacks and fuel as the lack of vegetation and water means there are very few inhabited areas in the region. We ll stop at the visitors centre and from there head into the desert to experience the truly unique environment. Leaving the desert we travel past Roman viaducts and through a more verdant landscape to Castle Loarre, which sits on a mountain guarding the Pyrenees from invaders from the plains, surrounded by the Riglos crags and Santo Domingo range of hills. We spend two nights camping at Laorre Days 5 Wednesday. The Sierras de Guara The area around Laorre is a total contrast to the Bardenas region; water, with river crossings and ancient bridges, trees and rising hills. You ll see the landscape slowly change and spectacular rock formations rising high above us. We will visit a famous example of this at the hermitage de Marcuello, which has incredible views of the Mallos de Riglos. Day 6 Thursday. To the ancient town of Ainsa We leave Loarra and travel on tracks and trails through ever rising mountains towards the medieval town of Ainsa. Eagles and Condors are common sites here as they circle their nests in the steep walls of the canyon. We will also visit the prehistoric cave-drawings at Abrigos del Tozal de Mallata. The ancient town of Ainsa sits on a hillside overlooking the river and valley; the stunning old quarter is well worth exploring and there are fine restaurants for your evening meal.

4 Day 7 Friday. Into the mountains From Ainsa we head Northwards and into the high peaks towards Sort. This represents a change of scenery for the coming days and a change in terrain as we head through the Spanish Ski resorts for our next campsite. Day 8 Saturday. The Smuggler s Route The Smuggler s Route is one of the most famous trails in Europe and takes us from Spain into Andorra. We leave the campsite and head up through ever narrowing valleys before reaching the village of Tor. The village is unoccupied during the winter months, but when we pass through there is always the opportunity to stop for a snack and a cup of coffee before heading onto the Smuggler s Route. The trail takes us through picturesque valleys before ascending through the trees and onto the mountainside. As the views expand you can see down into neighbouring valleys and spectacular scenery. The trail ends at a viewing point with a panoramic vista over Andorra. We will spend the evening in Andorra La Vella so you can explore buy your duty free and fill up with cheap diesel. Day 9 Sunday. On from Andorra Once refuelled and replenished we leave Andorra and head back into Spain to pick up the trail to start to head towards the Mediterranean. The trails take us through a variety of landscape as we track the Pyrenees towards the coast. This is predominantly the high Pyrenees and the mountains offer some fantastic photo opportunities as we continue the journey.

5 Day 10 Monday. The Sierra Del Cadi mountains We enter an area of spectacular jagged peaks to the north of Catalonia. This range is a significant natural barrier between France and Spain and there are a number of passes crossing between the peaks and a wide range of trails to cover. The area is also a haven for wildlife and recent years have seen sightings of wolves; long thought to be extinct in the area they re something to keep your eyes open for but rarely will they approach! Day 11 Tuesday. Alta Garrotxa and The Sierra de Bestraca Our journey through the peaks towards the Mediterranean continues and we enter the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone National Park. There are over 40 extinct volcanoes in the region and while the last eruption was over 11,000 years ago the area is still seismically active. The climate can differ quite significantly from the surrounding areas and it is often quite humid. Day 12 Wednesday. The descent into Collioure Continuing westwards, we start our descent into the foothills and yet again the terrain changes. We travel around the shores of the Panta de Boadella and across the northern boarders of the Paratge Natural L Abera before turning north cross the French border to arrive in the medieval town of Collioure in the late afternoon

6 Day 13 Thursday. Exploring Collioure Collioure is a fabulous medieval fortified fishing village with cobbled streets and restaurants, this marks the end of our journey across the Pyrenees. There is much to see here, including the former lighthouse on the harbour which was converted into the church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, and also man opportunities to relax and unwind after your journey and before we begin our return home Day 14 Friday. Starting our journey home A leisurely start to the day, we leave Collioure and head westwards along the north of the Pyrenees. Stopping for lunch en-route we arrive in Pau which has exceptional views of the mountain range. Day 15 Saturday. Ferry from Spain to the UK A gentle run from Pau via San Sebastian and down the coast past Bilbao to catch the evening cruise ferry to the UK from Santander. As with the journey out, the Ferry and cabins are included in the price there are options to upgrade to Luxury suites which you can book through us in advance. Day 16 Sunday. Arrival in the UK After a day spent relaxing on the ferry, sharing memories, stories, photographs and addresses with the friends you ve made on the trip we arrive in Portsmouth around 8:30 in the evening where we bid farewell and travel home.

The Weather The weather conditions can vary, so we advise you to pack appropriate clothing for all types of weather conditions. It will be warmer in the valleys, yet colder in the mountains.

7 The Weather The weather conditions can vary, so we advise you to pack appropriate clothing for all types of weather conditions. It will be warmer in the valleys, yet colder in the mountains. What you need: The accommodation is bed and breakfast we usually use local restaurants for evening meals and either stop at a restaurant for lunch, or call in at local shops to buy provisions for a picnic. We ll tell you the plans each day. We advise you to bring a European travel kit which includes a hi-vis jacket, breathalyser, first aid kit, warning triangle and head lamp converters. You ll need Euros for the motorway on the road from Santander. The tour guides will carry a First Aid kit, recovery gear and tools. While not essential, we do advise having your vehicle serviced before the tour. Due to the nature of these treks, this is a guide to your adventure, as the details may be subject to alteration.

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