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Hiking in the Pyrenees

A five-day hobbit trip

By Kira Laktionov

Foreword

A story of eight guys travelling around Mont-Louis, a tiny fortress-town in southern France.

We stayed in Hôtel Restaurant Le Clos Cerdan, which is highly underestimated both by star and Google ratings. The level of owner's hospitality and generosity is beyond all expectations.

Our guide-superhero was Kevin Wise who grew up in the area of Carcassonne, and knows these mountains very well (not mentioning this is one of his favourite places to hike in the world).

Our highest recommendations to this trip, the host, and mountaineering experience 🌞

Day One.
Thuès-Entre-Valls

Against our expectations, the first day appeared quite hot and exhausting. We clambered steep rocky hills in between two chines and just on the cliff edges.

Day Two.
Les Camporells & Petit Péric.

A relatively easy and flat hike with warm sun, icy springs, and gorgeous views from Petit Péric.

Ascending Petit Péric

Day Three.
Villefranche & Fort Liberia

On a day-short break from hiking, we took Le Petit Train Jaune and went to Villefranche-de-Conflent, a fortress-town dating from 1098, which kept strategic position in lands that changed hands between French and Spanish occupation.

Fort Liberia

Day Four.
Massif du Cambre d'Aze

Through the mountain forests, bilberry meadows, heavy rainy clouds, and thin rocky cliffs, to the green valley of Cambre d'Aze. And down by a green ski piste. I wish it was covered with some snow, and I had my snowboard along.

Day Five.
Pic Carlit.

Enjoying the views with sweet horses and ascending by scary, razor-sharp cliffs of Pic Carlit (2921 m). Epic finale of the week, and the longest hike of the trip.

With this baggage of impressions and inspiration, we left to Carcassonne, where boarded on our plane to London. One more tip: if you're there, make sure you visit Musée de l'Ecole, which features French schools from 1880 to 1960.