Col de Peyresourde

A short and sweet walk from the Val Louron's other quintessential mountain pass. 

DISTANCE: 4km
APPROX TIME: 1 hour
START: Col de Peyresourde
FINISH: Col de Peyresourde

In the last blog post, we explored the Col d'Azet on the western side of the Val Louron. This time, we shall explore the Col de Peyresourde, on the eastern side of the valley. Both mountain passes are significant for featuring in this year's Tour de France. This pass, however, is notably different to Azet, as it is much steeper on either side of the road which rides over the mountain pass, and there is a nifty little cafe in the centre. Looking over the other side of the Col arguably opens up even more views than the Col d'Azet, as we shall see.



Begin at the Col, and then walk back down the road towards the Val Louron. After less than a hundred metres, a wide track veers off to your right up the hillside. Follow this round - it starts relatively steep before easing slightly, then steepens again. You will then dogleg back on yourself up the hill, and then again, before coming to a fork in the road. Take the right-hand fork.

Following this fork, you will hit a fenced-off forest, with barriers erected to prevent avalanche. Walk parallel with the fence for a short section, and as you reach the brow of the hill (with the views to the east beginning to emerge) you should see a small footpath going up the hill to the left.

The view southwards.

The path is indistinct, but persevere up the hillside - it is relatively steep but not dangerous. At the top of the first ascent, you will come across a very curious object: perhaps a gas canister of a milk churn; the cylinder appears to have been there for almost a century - some of the graffiti on it includes the dates "1930, "1922" and even "1919".  Stop for awhile here, and then follow the path round the contour slightly to the highest point, and take in the view.

The long forgotten canister sits in front of the mountain scenery.

The immediate views to the north are quite Lake District-esque: rolling green hills with pointed ridges. To the west, you can see back to the col d'Azet, and beyond it the white behemoths of Pic de Neouvielle and its neighbours. To the north, you can now see the familiar sights at the head of the Val Louron disguise even bigger beasts; craggy monsters draped in snow. To the east, tremendous monoliths of the Spanish Pyrenees can be seen in the gaps between the relatively small peaks in the foreground.

The view towards the Col d'Azet and beyond.

Once you have taken in the views, you can continue to explore these Lakeland-like mountains around the Col de Peyresourde. Otherwise, retrace our steps.

Beginning the descent.

The other quintessential mountain pass of the Val Louron, the Col de Peyresourde offers great views both near and far. Recommended.

Tuc de Labatiadere

A great viewpoint accompanied by an easy walk from an iconic Pyrenean pass.

DISTANCE: 5km
APPROX TIME: 1hr 3
START: Col d'Azet
FINISH: Col de

One of the best things about the Louron valley is the ease with which you can gain height relatively quickly - if you have a car, getting high enough to see expansive views is easy. Thus when you arrive at the Col d'Azet - a short drive up the west side of the valley from Loudenvielle - you are greeted with some fantastic mountain views from the outset. This walk provides a slightly enhanced version of the landscape that surrounds you at that mountain pass, after what is a gentle and safe ascent.




Park at the Col, and then cross the road, heading north eastwards onto the opposite track (marked by the "no entry for vehicles sign" - incidentally this sign will be repeatedly ignored as multiple cars and vans carrying parapenters, who take off from the Tuc de Labatiadere into the valley below, pass you as you walk up the track). This track stays fairly level as you gradually ascend in between the spurs and hillocks to your right and left. Mountain cattle graze on these grassy areas, but should not bother you if you stick to the track. 

Looking back towards the Col (left of photo), with great near views southwards.

You may see paths veering off to the right or left, some of which may even be signposted. However, these are mainly used by the parapenters as they jump off the eastern slopes, so sticking to the track is the best route to take. As you walk, you should be able to see the Lac de Genos-Loudenvielle down to your right, surrounded by a great display of all the peaks the Val Louron has to offer. To your left, snowy and jagged peaks to the west should begin to emerge. Look up, and you may even be able to see an eagle or a hawk.

At the end of the track, you come to a ramshackle concrete building - look up the hill behind the building and you will see a path heading up towards a little weather station on the top of the hill. Follow the path up to the station, and you reach one of this walk's major viewpoints.  All around you, mountains: the Louron valley's peaks sit to the east, with even bigger mountains sitting in the distance, over the Col de Peyresourde. Over in the west, ice-capped peaks glisten in the sunshine, including the formidable Pic de Neouvielle. Perhaps the best views, however, are in the near distance: if you look back to the Col d'Azet, behind it and around to the right from it you can see a series of rocky monoliths, each with fantastic intricacies, the 2800 metre Pic de Lustou among them. For a near-distance view (many of the mountains block off what lies behind) it is one which takes a while to really sink in.

Up at the top of Tuc de Labatiadere, accompanied by some horses!

Look behind you, away from the views, and you will see you are on a high moorland plateau, with beautiful wildflowers and gorse bushes sprouting among the grass. Take the path down to the right, towards the rocky outcrop to see a better view of the Louron valley. Alternatively, take the left fork towards the other hillock, the highest point on this plateau, for the most comprehensive view the Col d'Azet has to offer. Once you have explored the
plateau, reverse your steps back to the Col.

Views from the top

A fantastic viewpoint with very little effort required. With bonuses of being able to see eagles and hawks, as well as parapenters launching off the ridge, this is highly recommended.