Blogging from the Pyrenees
Phil & Anna have been living in the Pyrenees for over 17 years and love the culture, wildlife and mountains here. We run Hike Pyrenees, which organises guided and self guided hiking holidays in the Pyrenees and other areas of Spain. Our blog tells about our adventures hiking, snowshoeing and skiing in the Pyrenees and we hope to explain some of the fascinating flora, fauna and history of the area. We hope you enjoy reading!
How to travel from London to Lourdes and Gavarnie by train
Travelling from London to the French Pyrenees by train to hike in the dramatic cirque of Gavarnie, is a relaxed way to reach the Pyrenees, avoiding flying and taking in the French scenery on the way. You can travel from London to Lourdes in a day, and from there the excellent hiking bases of Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Cauterets, where our French Pyrenees guided holiday is based, are nearby.
The Castle of Loarre: stone, stories and the making of a kingdom
Rising above the plains of Huesca, the Castle of Loarre is one of Europe’s best-preserved Romanesque fortresses. Built at the frontier of the early Kingdom of Aragon and later used as a filming location for Kingdom of Heaven, Loarre stands at the gateway to the Sierra de Guara — a landscape best explored on foot, where history, geology and walking trails come together naturally.
Five inspiring hiking destinations for 2026
A new year has a way of sharpening the senses. The days begin to lengthen, maps come out of drawers, and thoughts drift towards quieter valleys, high paths and places where walking still feels like a privilege rather than a pastime.
Walking in the French Pyrenees: discovering the glacial circques of Gavarnie
Discover the glacial cirques of Gavarnie, Troumouse and Estaube on a guided walking holiday in the Pyrenees National Park. A two-centre journey through the heart of the French Pyrenees. Come and discover the beauty of the French Pyrenees with us!
Feliz Navidad from the Pyrenees
We’d like to wish all of our friends and guests a very merry Christmas from all of us here at Hike Pyrenees. The ever growing Hike Pyrenees team had our Christmas meal in Jaca last Friday – much chuleton steak and vino tinto was consumed by all!
Safety in the mountains: Why we use Garmin inReach on all our walking holidays
When hiking in the Pyrenees, a sense of freedom and remoteness is part of the experience. Wide valleys, high passes and quiet trails are what draw people here. At the same time, these are serious mountains, where weather can change quickly and mobile phone coverage is not always reliable. A Garmin InReach allows you to call for help if something goes wrong and for people to see your location and keep an eye out for you.
Discovering Canfranc train station: a hidden gem in the Pyrenees
Our guided snowshoeing holiday is a special way to discover the mountains in winter — perfect for anyone who loves dramatic landscapes, snow-covered valleys and guided outdoor adventure. This 7‑night fully guided snowshoeing trip takes you into the heart of the Pyrenees, exploring both the Valle de Tena and the Valle de Aragón, with routes that cross both the Spanish and French sides of the range.
New for 2026: Canyons of Ainsa
Our new Canyons of Ainsa holiday explores the eastern side of the Ordesa National Park. It explores the kilometre deep canyons of Añisclo and Pineta and tackles some of the high summits in the area. A dual-level guided itinerary with two hiking options offered each day. 2026 dates: 10-17 May.
Sunshine or Snow? We’ve both covered
The mountains of the Pyrenees are stunning whatever the season. This week we've seen the beautiful autumn colours covered with the first snowfall of the winter and everyone is now itching to get their skis and snowshoes on! Whether you prefer the mountains glistening...
Join Our Newsletter
Get updates when we publish new blog articles and information about the Pyrenees
The Ordesa NP
Guide to hiking the spectacular canyons of the Ordesa National Park
Pyrenees butterflies
Gallery of the spectacular butterflies and moths we have in the Pyrenees
Village to Village
Hotel to hotel hiking in the high Pyrenees
Geology of the Pyrenees
Discover how the Pyrenean range was formed
Hike the GR11
A practical guide to hiking the GR11
Wildflowers
Discover the spectacular flora of the Pyrenees
Bearded vulture
This huge bone eating vulture is one of the Pyrenees emblamatic species