Espiau Mountain from Benque-dessus

Thank you for your feedback.
Indeed, at the start of the descent, you should enjoy the off-piste skiing and have fun going downhill. There is no risk of getting lost or injured, as the ground is very soft!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, easy to reach the Courreau hut.
The return trip is more difficult as it is hard to find the tracks.
A beautiful view of the eastern Pyrenees on a clear day.
There is still a little snow, but it is not difficult.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike is, or rather could be, wonderful. However, after point 6, up to point 8, the trail disappears and the ferns are tall, making it difficult to walk. Fortunately, we had downloaded the GPX file and were able to follow the route perfectly on VISO RANDO, but without it, it would not be safe to venture there.

Otherwise, the scenery is exceptional and the view of the Pyrenees is absolutely magical.

Machine-translated

With pleasure, good idea, the variation. And have a great stay in the Pyrenees!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Made with the app's GPS. No particular difficulties. Hike chosen to start our week of hiking in the Pyrenees, reasonable elevation gain and distance. Beautiful views. At point 7, we continued along the trail towards Labach before turning left to rejoin the suggested trail towards point 4 and then continuing on to point 8. This choice allowed us to avoid a section of the return trip. Beautiful little village at the start (and finish). Thank you for sharing this route.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There were four of us (two 30-year-olds and two 64-year-olds), not regularly trained in mountain walking, and it took us 4 hours and 15 minutes (plus an hour's picnic break) on a rather hot day. So the time given is a little overestimated (the young people, on their own, would have taken half an hour less).

We really enjoyed this walk. The view is superb, and the sheep and horses up there add to the pleasure of the hike. Even though there are few trees at this altitude, there is plenty of fresh air.

Two minor drawbacks:
The steady climb is fine, but the long winding path seemed a bit monotonous to two of us.
And the descent, which is steep at the beginning, puts quite a strain on the knees.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with no technical difficulties. Most of the hike is on a gravel/stony path, then grassy towards the end. Total duration: 4 hours 10 minutes with a few stops. There is a pretty church to visit in the village.
The view is beautiful without being spectacular (perhaps also due to the overcast weather).

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beware of hot days. Few trees.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

We set off just below the clouds, with the weather forecast predicting that the sky would clear during the day. Well, that didn't happen, and the whole walk was done in thick fog. That said, I can assure you that the GPS track was reliable! At the end of the route, the clouds lifted and even broke up a little, revealing the Luchon valley and a few snow-capped peaks: in short, a "teaser" to make us regret all the beautiful panoramas we had missed...
We saw quite a few animals along the way: horses (they are indeed where the description says they are), cows (Gascon), sheep, eagles, kites, deer (and fawns).
We missed the cromlechs, passing within 5 metres of them (coming from Brittany, I was expecting something more impressive ;-) ). So we found ourselves in a sheep meadow from which a conscientious sheepdog chased us away. The dog is just doing its job, and the instructions (in comic book form) provided on a sign at the start of the walk should be followed. The dog watches you from a distance, then comes towards you barking, then approaches you closely, still barking (no contact). Just keep walking calmly, don't look at him, don't gesticulate (be careful with your walking sticks ), talk to him softly and move away from the herd as you walk. Satisfied, he leaves you alone and returns to his herd.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jan 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

On the descent, you can add additional points of interest by continuing straight ahead on the trail to WP No. 2. You will come across some spectacular cromlechs marked on the IGN map, and about 50 metres south-east, a sculpted rock called the "cailhaou dets pourrics". Then climb back up to the ridge and follow it to the Claude trail, which leads to Benqué Dessus.

Machine-translated