Pyrenees

[Johnny C]

Hi any one ever done a tour over the Pyrenees, Im thinking about it for a summer holiday.
Any routes you may have done or info would be a great help. Have looked into tag along tours but what a lot of money.

Any one around Surrey Hills next weekend? If so can I tag along, Im fairly new to offroading but have a hand winch some rope, spade and enthusiasm.

[gswalton]

Hi John
The Pyrenees is a spectacular place, the lanes are more trails and depnding on what time of year your thinking of going will depend alot on how hard they are.
I'm my opinion generally they are quite easy but take you to areas that other don't see, the wildlife can be amazing and you will see Black Kites, griffin Vultures and other wildlife and if your lucky even a Brown bear and European Wolf, (I have never seen the wolf yet)
to give an idea
if you want some idea of what the trails would be like or to compare i'm not sure where you have been but nothing as hard as say Wales but as in the mountains can be deep water crossings, heigher in June than say August. Also some very steep sections.
There is some things you have to be careful about
1. if you go into Andorra and leave via a trail you WILL be stopped. they have hidden lookouts and I have been stopped ever time by Spainish customs.
2. The spainish side is better to drive than the french side.
3. Spainish law means only 4 vehicles in convoy, (900Euro fine per vehicle extra)
4. In spain they don't speak spainish in the mountains they speak Cantonesse, this is confusing at first.
5. You can Wild Camp in certain areas but only if 5km from a road, this will depend on where you are.

I wouldnt advise going on your own in 1 vehicle, you can travel all day without seeing anyone, or it can be very busy there is just no telling

one last thing is it can be very dusty and a replacment airfilter is not a bad thing to take.

to give you an idea this is a video from my trip last year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg3Q45WMwDI
the highest we go is 8000ft which is the picture at the foot of this post

regards Gary

PS I was with another club and offered to run a trip there but never got any interest so dropped it, I would offer to run one if there was any interest.

[Timbowarren]

Hi,

I did a Pyrenees trip this summer. I echo the previous comments. Excellent trip. We were a solitary 110. We saw no other vehicles during the trip. However it was probably the wrong time of year. More popular in May when there is a little more humidity. Campsites were excellent. Wineries to visit were also great. We used a French roadbook from VIBRACTION, starting in Ainsa and travelling West to finish in St. Jean Pied de Port in France. The route was approximately 6% off-road. Mostly fairly easy but a couple of more exciting points along the way. Views and wildlife were sometimes spectacular.

Plotting a longer trip next year - Pyrenees again / Alps or maybe Morocco.

I need to replace my Shogun before then. I think something a little larger would be better. The RAM is too big for the Pyrenees and Alps. I am thinking of a Grand Cherokee.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Tim

[gswalton]

thats wied Tim

I took so long writing my post you had done this one in the mean time, let me know if your interested.

Gary

[kev]

I've been to the Pyrenees four times, but only for skiing.

I dId Soldeu x 2, Cas de la Pasa x 2. Spectacular scenery but deadly in winter.