Walking Holidays
France

Cerdagne

On this self-guided walking holiday in the Pyrenees of southern France you'll be exploring the Cerdagne, a picturesque plateau, lying at 6000ft up in the French Pyrenees. It is a delectable landscape scoured and shaped by Ice Age glaciers leaving behind deep ravines, rocky knolls and an array of beautiful mountain lakes, surrounded by imposing mountains including the Pic Carlit at almost 3000m or 10,000ft. Pine forests and pasture are omnipresent at lower altitudes whilst higher up alpine meadows flourish with an array of wild flowers including gentians, anemones and orchids.

The Cerdagne plateau had been contested for centuries between France and Spain until the treaty of the Pyrenees in the 17th century fixed a border across the mountains. The citadel of Mont-Louis was built as a safeguard to protect the border and is an austere and imposing structure. The area is also known for its quaint villages and Romanesque churches with the most unusual being La Merquita, a tiny and beautiful church with three apses in clover-leaf shape.

This self-guided walking holiday in southern France is designed to be accessible and interesting to both occasional walkers and experienced trekkers alike. There is plenty of time to enjoy the changing countryside in a spot reputed for its sunny climate, as well as taking advantage of the natural springs giving warm open-air pools to relax and rejuvenate tired muscles. Those who are looking to increase the challenge, can make the pilgrimage to the summit of the highest mountain in the Eastern Pyrenees, the Pic Carlit.

Holiday Profile

6 nights/7 days: 6 days independent walking (4 linear trails & 2 circular tours)

Dates

Everday of week subject to availability from 1 June - 25 September

Walking Profile & Grade

This holiday is at the lower end of the moderate to challenging grade. Average days are about 5 hours long and include 500m of ascent. Day 2 can be shortened by taking the yellow train from the station at Ur. Day 6 can include the optional ascent of the main mountain summit in the region, Pic Carlit which is challenging in grade. Despite the Cerdagne being located in the high Pyrenees, the walking is relatively gentle and accessible to the average hill walker. In addition, there is the possibility of easing tired muscles by relaxing in open-air pools fed by natural warm spring water and using thermal spa facilities at your hotels.

This walking holiday is graded moderate to challenging. You should have experience of day walking in mountainous conditions and be in reasonable health. See more information about walking grades.

Accommodation & Meals

6 nights accommodation (half board) in 2 star hotels (one with a covered swimming pool) and two with thermal spas. Possibility to book an extra night at the end of the final walking day.

When to Travel

Our self-guided walking holiday in the Cerdagne is available from 1 June to 25 September. The amount of precipitation is much greater in the western Pyrenees than in the eastern parts, because of the moist air that blows in from the Atlantic Ocean over the Bay of Biscay. After dropping its moisture over the western Pyrenees, the air is usually dry over the eastern Pyrenees and so the Cerdagne is often bathed in sunshine.

In mid to late June you could expect temperatures to range from the low to mid-twenties Celcius in the valleys, to single figures at higher altitudes. Night-time temperatures are cooler than the surrounding plains with an average of 11°C in the valleys. Sunshine levels are reasonably high, although it is common for clouds to build up during the day over the mountains. Storms are reasonably common at this time of year. In June there may still be small patches of winter snow left at higher altitudes. This is the best time of year if you are interested in wildflowers.

Summers in the Pyrenees tend to see a reduction in the amount of wet weather coming in from the Atlantic, as well as any unsettled spring weather from the Mediterranean, with warm and dry periods, punctuated by short, sharp storms. In July and August you could expect temperatures to reach the mid-twenties Celcius on average in the valleys, but falling to single figures at higher altitudes. Sunshine levels remain high, although it is common for clouds to build up during the day over the mountains. Storms are reasonably common at this time of year.

As you progress into September conditions become slightly cooler and wetter, similar to those experienced in June.

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

This walking holiday follows a mixture of local trails and long-distance trails. On some days it follows the GR 10 & GR 36 (Grande Randonnee) long-distance trail which is well way-marked with red and white markings. On other days you are following locally way-marked trails. The walking follows clear paths for most of the time. Our walking notes are detailed (more information here) and also include information about the sites that can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday. As well as the detailed walking notes we supply extracts from the official walking maps produced by IGN at a scale of 1:25,000. Your trail is highlighted on the maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday, your main luggage is transferred between guest houses so you only have to carry a day rucksack with picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday local taxi companies are responsible for transporting your main luggage. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 15kg.

Travel Info

By Train

Eurostar, TGV and TER French trains allow access to Latour de Carol train station. Transfer from the train station to your first hotel is included with the walking holiday. Changes between the Eurostar and TGV are at Lille or Paris. TGV's run from Paris to Toulouse, Montpellier or Perpignan.

The simplest travel solution is to go via Toulouse. From here there is a direct TER train to Latour de Carol. The local trains from Perpignan have to change at Villefranche-Vernet.

Flight Options

There are flights from French and UK airports to Toulouse airport. Operators from UK airports include Flybe, BMI Baby, British Airways and Easy jet. A shuttle bus will take you to the city centre in about 20 minutes, where you can access the train station (see above)

• From €890 
• Prices are per person and based on 2 sharing a room