Station de pompage de Sep (437m) walks

An exceptional and magnificent circular route on the heights of Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre, in the Tres-Croutz forest, then along the ridge of the Soums de Maletaule. This route circles the Génie Braque torrent, which supplies water to the village below. On the mountain pastures, the landscapes are magical in both summer and winter, on the northern side (St-Pé) and the southern side (the main Pyrenees range).

Discover a section of the Pyrenean foothills that has remained largely unspoilt: no forest tracks penetrate these vast wooded expanses. Explore unspoilt wilderness along an old path leading up to the mountain pastures and a former charcoal burners’ trail. Discover the vast beech forests of Tres Crouts and the Aoulhet mountain pastures, undoubtedly the most picturesque and wildest spots in the Pibeste-Aoulhet Regional Nature Reserve.

Visiting the gaping maw of the impressive Gouffre de Paybou, lost deep within the steep forest, is just one of the reasons to undertake this splendid hike in the heart of the Très-Croutz Forest, in the Saint-Pé Massif.Here, we follow in the footsteps of Abbé Bernard Abadie, who brought fame not only to this chasm – which he ‘invented’ – but also to the remarkable and eerie site of Calihourc, where he posed for posterity, pipe in hand, beret firmly perched on his head and a mischievous look in his eyes… Warning!This walk takes place in the heart of the wilderness in a rather challenging environment: steep slopes, rocky outcrops, cliffs, thorny undergrowth, and at times a complete lack of signposting, or even a lack of a proper path… This is why it is reserved for experienced, fit walkers with a good sense of direction. A GPS device may also prove very useful.