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The route starts at the Place des Arcades in Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre.
Please note: almost the entire route follows small tarmac roads, but as soon as you leave the village, you’ll find yourself in the heart of the countryside at the foot of the mountain overlooking Saint-Pé, the Araü, and its summit, the Soum des Toupiettes!
(S/E) Take Rue du Corps Franc Pommiès (Route de Lourdes). After the first junction, turn right onto the narrow lane that runs between the houses, the Passage de la Baylotte. At the end, in the small square in front of the care home, turn left onto Rue Marca, which leads down to Avenue des Pyrénées.
Turn right until you reach a crossroads with several streets, and there, turn right onto a grassy path (not shown on the IGN map) which descends towards the Gave, passing the imposing and remarkable Sembres Baths fountain. Leave it on your right and carry on until you reach the bottom of the tarmac road. Continue straight ahead on the level Allée des Terrasses, which runs alongside the beautiful Saint-Pé houses with views of the mountain range.
(1) Cross the railway line on the left, then the bridge over the Gave (dating from 1878). This takes you to the Bout du Pont neighbourhood.
(2) Leave the Chemin des Grottes road on your right and take the road on the left through the residential area (you’ll take the other bypass on the way back). Admire the wash house on the right, which has been completely renovated by the local residents. At the next junction, in a charming little square (playfully known as ‘Place de l’Apéro’ by the locals), turn left onto the Chemin des Génies.
(3) At the first Fork in the road, take a short detour to the left to admire the Pont du Diable, then return to the junction and turn onto the tarmac road known as the Chemin du Picharrot. Follow this track as it gradually winds its way down into the valley of the Génie Longue stream; the houses become fewer and farther between. Pass the first house on your left, then a second (a former foundry).
(4) Turn left onto the dirt track leading to Cantilerie beach.
The return journey follows the same route in the opposite direction, except at the “Place de l’Apéro”, where you turn left, then head towards the crossroads.
(2) Return to the Place des Arcades in Saint-Pé (S/E) via the reverse route of the outward journey.
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Tourist office
Difficult 
