This superb Pyrenees nature and wildlife guide is now available to order from the Hike Pyrenees website – click here for details.
A superb new book on Pyrenees wildlife in English has been published and is a must for any nature lover visiting the Pyrenees. This is very welcome as Pyrenees specific books on flora or fauna in English were nearly impossible to come by before.
What’s even better is that this a fantastic guide with 910 species illustrated. What I really like is that the guide covers a bit of everything with sections on flora, birds, snakes, lizards, insects, mammals, fish, trees, mushrooms and butterflies. There are even a couple of pages on the main livestock species found here so you can now identify the cows, sheep and horses that you see while out hiking too! It really is a great all round guide.
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We kicked off our 2016 hiking season 6 weeks ago with a superb meal in Ricon el Montañes in Biescas. Since then we have welcomed, explored and shared the Pyrenees with many new as-well as familiar faces returning for their second, third or even fifth holiday with us!
Lakes and Valleys, 29th May – 5 June.
A superb first week with the early spring flowers still making an appearance. We also encountered some patches of snow which added an extra enjoyable element to our hikes!
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Superb views during the Lacs d’Ayous hike
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Alpine daffodil in the Ayous valley.
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Tackling the odd snow patch!
Valle de Tena Explorer, 5 – 12 June
This week we welcomed Terry, Cathy and Clare back on their second holiday with us. They along with others explored the Valle de Tena, we even sneaked over the border for a day hiking in France.
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Clare on her second holiday with us. Standing proud on top of Punta del Pacino. Thanks for the photo Clare
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Spring Gentians
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Bernie, Terry and Clare getting to grips with snow.
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La Ripera lies just outside of Panticosa and this week I’ve been investigating a new route in this lovely valley. Found a superb circular walk with great views across the Valle de Tena and to the impressive cliffs at the end of the Valle La Ripera. It’s a perfect walk straight from the hotel door if you’re on a self guided holiday in Panticosa or our Village to Village holiday.
Roman bridge and the Panticosa chairlift!
The walk starts at the ski station in Panticosa where you cross this beautiful old bridge that looks a little strange with the chailift crossing above it.
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The magnificent Corona de Rey (King’s crown)
The warm weather during April and May means that the Pyrenees are already bursting with life and lots of species of wildflowers that I wouldn’t normally expect to see at this time of year are already flowering – these are all photos taken on my hikes over the last couple of weeks.
Saxifraga Longifolia are one of the specialities of the Pyrenees. Known locally as Corona del Rey (Kings Crown) they grow slowly on cliff faces for about 4 or 5 years before exploding into flower for just one season before dying. The flower stem can be up to 60 cm tall and is covered in small white flowers.
Spanish Moon Moth – a huge moth with a wingspan of almost 15cm
This Spanish Moon Moth was a fantastic find. First time I ever saw it was on an outdoor bench in my backyard, but couldn’t quite get a shot. It was the biggest moth I’ve ever seen with a wingspan approaching 15cm and had fantastic colours. They live in pine forests and are quite rare so it was a real privilege to see it.
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Emperor moth seen in the Spanish Pyrenees
Saw this beautiful, huge moth on the pavement right outside our front door the other morning. Found out it was an Emperor moth. Really large – about 5cm across and fantastic colour around the eye spots and the bright red flashes near the wingtips. He kindly stayed still for some nice photos!
Hiking, cycling, nature and life in the Pyrenees
