The Pyrenees Articles

Discovering Canfranc train station: a hidden gem in the Pyrenees

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.

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Punta Cochata (1901m)

Punta Cochata (1901m)

Snows melting in the Pyrenees and I was out hiking today in the Valle de Tena with a friend Gustavo. We chose the peak of Cochata which sits in the middle of the valley with great views in all directions. Although not high it’s quite a rocky peak and looks as if...

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Week on the Camino de Santiago

Week on the Camino de Santiago

Recently I walked a week on the Camino de Santiago northern route from Hondarribia to Guernika. It was a fantastic 6 day hike with great views along the dramatic coastline. Lots of variety too as you pass through fishing villages, vineyards, along sandy beaches before...

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Calcotada in Sardas

Calcotada in Sardas

At the weekend we had a ‘calcotada’ in Sardas. A calcotada is a traditional event where calcots are grilled or barbequed. A calcot is a type of green onion (to me more of a cross between an onion and a leek). The white edible part is elongated by...

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Guide to skiing at Formigal

Guide to skiing at Formigal

Formigal in the Valle de Tena is a great ski resort that doesn’t get enough British skiers. I ski there most weeks and there’s some superb on and off-piste skiing to be found there. There’s not much information in English on the resort so I’ve...

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Great conditions at Formigal

Great conditions at Formigal

Up at Formigal on Wednesday – great conditions with plenty of fresh snow. The Sextas area was as good as I’ve seen it this season and the fabulous Bosque run is open. Plenty of powder on some pistes particularly at Tres Hombres. A lot of wind slab...

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Cross country skiing at Balneario de Panticosa

Cross country skiing at Balneario de Panticosa

Taking a cross country skiing course up at the Balneario de Panticosa at the moment. Saturday was the first class and it was snowing quite heavily which made it really pretty. There are three pistes there ranging from a beginners green run of 1.5km to the red run of...

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Great skiing at Panticosa

Great skiing at Panticosa

Skied at Panticosa today – snow was superb. Best I’ve seen this season with loads of light powder off piste. Usually I ski at Formigal which is bigger but today Panticosa was bathed in sun and looked really inviting so turned off and headed there....

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Tapas Competition in the Valle de Tena

This weekend and last weekend there’s been a tapas competition running along the length of the Valle de Tena. These are increasingly popular in the area and great fun as they involve plenty of eating and drinking! Nearly every bar has two speciality tapas...

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