Bilhères walks

Located 40 minutes from Pau, the Benou plateau is a well-known destination for families looking to get some fresh air in a beautiful pastoral setting. You can easily reach the famous stone circles (cromlechs), burial sites of our Iron Age ancestors (3,000 years ago) overlooking the Ossau Valley. And if you're feeling brave, head to the Pic d'Escurets to admire the panorama stretching from Tarbes to Bayonne. Superb!

Pic d'Escurets is a small peak that can be easily reached in about 1½ hours. At the summit, a magnificent 360° view awaits you.

A relatively short walk accessible to all, allowing you to discover the Séris waterfall and the typical narrow streets of Laruns.

Ascent to Lac de Montagnon via the Cure det Cam hut. ⚠️ 02/07/2025: Parking in the car park is compulsory and subject to a fine:reservations are compulsory and free from 2 April to 30 November. See practical information. ⚠️ 22/05/2025: Departure car park changed following a municipal by-law.

Loop in the foothills of the Béarn Pyrenees. Beautiful view of the Bruges Nay plains and, further away, towards Pau. Although Ossau is not visible, Durban, Montdragon and Moulle de Jaut beckon, inviting us to climb them soon.

From the village of Eaux-Chaudes, with its old-fashioned charm and romantic 19th-century thermal baths, to the remarkable entrances to the two caves of the same name (although the water is cold), this hike is accessible to all and offers many surprising and visually stunning discoveries. At the end of the trail, venture underground along the riverbank by lamplight to admire some of the wonders of the underground world, adding an extra thrill and unforgettable excitement to the experience.

This is a short hike with little elevation gain and no difficulty in clear weather. The view from the ridges of all the surrounding peaks and villages is magnificent all along the way. From the Gros huts, the return trip along the trail is very easy.

Discover the enormous plateau overlooking Bedous and its region on this circular walk. It is not only a mountain but also an important grazing area for livestock and an exceptional viewpoint over the entire mountain range. The diversity of the natural environments found here is remarkable.

A circular trail to discover the villages and hamlets of the Bedous valley, a unique place due to its geological origins and culture. Few climbs, lots of trails. The suggested route is marked in yellow as "Tour du vallon" and described in several guidebooks. We suggest it here to encourage you to hike in this charming area. The train (TER) serves Bedous.

A lovely loop from Gourette that takes you past numerous lakes. Best undertaken in good weather. Part of the route is unmarked. The GPX track may prove very useful.Follow the directions in this description. You must ascend via the water channel.Classified as difficult due to a tricky (but safe) section on the old penstockReported on 08/09/2024: very recently, a handrail (chain) has been installed along the entire length of the penstock

The Lac d'Anglas hike is one of the must-do routes starting from Gourette. It offers a varied mountain landscape where waterfalls, cliffs and lakes enhance the magnificent scenery of the high-altitude summer pastures you will be crossing.

A short, well-shaded loop to explore the village of Lees and its surroundings. No difficulty except for carefully following the route at the numerous junctions and crossroads. Don't forget to look up, as the view over the Bedous valley is vast and picturesque! The starting point is easily accessible: the bus stop (on the N134) is very close by.

A circular loop offering an original viewpoint over the centre of the Aspe Valley and the Bedous Valley, with a variant circular on a marked path. The Pic de Narbissat is a key geological observation point, located where the Iberian tectonic plate slides under the Eurasian plate. It is also a good vantage point for viewing the surrounding mountains.

There is a fairly steep climb from Cette to the summer pastures above the village. The effort is well worth it, as the location and the view of the flocks of sheep on the grassy slopes are magnificent.To avoid the effect of going back the same way, we suggest two alternative routes to make the return journey more enjoyable.

First, discover the site itself, the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Piétat, built in 1661 by the inhabitants of the farming community of Pardies. The region is rich in history! Next, enjoy the splendid view of the Nay valley to the south-east of Pau, and another beautiful panorama of the Pyrenees from the sanctuary's orientation table. Finally, you can have fun discovering the fountains and other springs hidden in the woods and hills of the site....

The work carried out by the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and the Haut-Béarn community of municipalities to facilitate access to the Fort du Portalet, as well as the route through the upper Aspe valley for hikers and pilgrims (GR®65), has been completed and now allows visitors to discover this exceptional site in the best conditions of visibility and safety. Let's make the most of it!