The Mousqué plateau

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This beautiful, accessible walk is steeped in history; it follows the old Pontacq road used by charcoal burners in days gone by. Once you arrive at the Mousqué plateau, you can enjoy a shaded picnic area at the foot of century-old oak trees. From there, admire the superb view of the Saint-Péen massif and its countryside, then the Nay plain stretching all the way to Pau.

Details

n°502242
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.50 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 173 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 172 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 527 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 349 m
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Photos

Arrival at the Mousqué plateau
The Mousqué plateau

Description of the walk

Park at Place des Arcades.

(S/E) Take Rue Monseigneur Laurence heading north.

(1) At the first fork, continue left on Chemin des Palombières.

(2) After about 350 metres, in a left-hand bend, take the path that climbs up to the right into the forest and follow it to the ridge road.

(3) Turn left onto the tarmac road and follow the signs to the Mousqué plateau heading west. Ignore all roads on the right and left.

(4) Take the path downhill on the left. Pass the first path on the left and, at the next fork, follow the left-hand path heading south-east from Mousqué. You will reach a tarmac road at the corner of a house.

(5) Continue straight ahead for about 200 metres and you will come to the foot of the Labatut neighbourhood. Go down the stairway alleys to Rue Procope Lassale and follow it to the right. Then turn left along the church and turn left towards Place des Arcades (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 354 m - Place des Arcades - Place des Arcades Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre
  2. 1 : km 0.06 - alt. 351 m - Chemin des pidgeon hunting huts
  3. 2 : km 0.39 - alt. 362 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.32 - alt. 474 m - Route des Crêtes
  5. 4 : km 2.54 - alt. 515 m - Forest track
  6. 5 : km 4.03 - alt. 358 m - Labatut district
  7. S/E : km 4.5 - alt. 355 m - Place des Arcades

Notes

The trail is marked in yellow with the number 6.
A route map is available free of charge from the Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre Tourist Office located on Place des Arcades (or can be downloaded from www.saintpedebigorre-tourisme.com).

Alternative route (2 km / 30 mins)
It is possible to climb up to the Mousqué plateau or descend via the tarmac road.

Picnic area on the Mousqué plateau, at the foot of the hundred-year-old oak trees.

Fountain with drinking water on the plateau.

In July and August, the Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre Tourist Office and the Hautes-Pyrénées Mountain Guides organise a night hike to the Mousqué plateau every Thursday, with a barbecue, sunset viewing and return by headlamp. Information and registration at the Tourist Office (05 62 41 88 10).

Worth a visit

- Pidgeon hunting hut.
- View of the local farms and Saint-Vincent.
- View of the wooded mountains of Trescrouts and the grassy slopes of Larbastan.
- Plantation of hundred-year-old oak trees at Mousqué and its panoramic view.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 19268598

Superb walk... Descent a little less fun

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User 13039869
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant hike to the Mousquet plateau, but we had to cut it short due to a heavy storm! Good directions, especially the suggestion to take the road to shorten the route, which we did to reduce the time spent in the pouring rain and avoid slipping on the trail on the way down. We therefore don't know what the rest of the hike is like from the plateau onwards.

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User 13039869

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant hike to the Mousquet plateau, but we had to cut it short due to a heavy storm! Good directions, especially the suggestion to take the road to shorten the route, which we did to reduce the time spent in the pouring rain and avoid slipping on the trail on the way down. We therefore don't know the rest of the hike from the plateau onwards.

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hop65
hop65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, a very charming little hike, a bit muddy on the way back but no danger if you have good footwear, and we always have good footwear.
This plateau is very well laid out and it's a pleasure to have a picnic there.

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Galadrielle
Galadrielle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with lovely views.

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Loucleben31
Loucleben31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant family hike.

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rando64800
rando64800

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

hike to be done in dry weather.

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