Christmas and New Year.:
We are happy to welcome Christmas and New Year parties. Its usually a great time for skiing as well!
Spring Flowers and Birds, Wildlife.:
Walking here has been described as the best in Europe. Wild flowers are exceptional (many to be found on our own property) and the area features in several specialist botany books of Europe. Migrating flocks, particularly geese and cranes, pass overhead, while kites and vultures are resident with a wide variety of forest, mountain and heathland birds. Foxes, badgers and herds of wild boars roam our woodlands and doormice, pine martens and red squirrels feast on our walnuts and chestnuts.
Artist friends find our views inspirational. Guides can be hired for half days or longer expeditions, either on foot or on horseback.River sports are popular, such as white water rafting and canoeing.
We would be delighted to help with advice and bookngs.
Fishing and Biking, local events.:
The rivers in the area abound with trout and salmon, and licences to fish cost only a few pounds.
The Tour de France passes through the area every year, as several of the most well known mountain passes are close by. Keen cyclists bring their bikes by plane to explore the routes, while others enjoy exploring the miles of traffic-free lanes, woodland and mountain tracks.
Pau has a well known racecourse, twinned with Cheltenham, and a major three day event in the Autumn. There are two prestigious antiques fairs each year, in the spring and autumn..
Pau will also host a stage of the World Touring Car Championship for the first time in June 2007, one of three street races in their calender.
Ski:
Gourette, our local resort, is 35 minutes away and is very good value and rarely crowded. Following a major refurbishment it feature excellet facilities for children and beginners with two ski schools. There is wonderful off-piste skiing, and guides can be hired for the day for expeditons to wonderful mountain locations, both cross country and 'randonnee'.
There are several other resorts in the area, both French and Spanish, and our skiing parties have found enough to challenge the most sophisticated!
Other Activities:
Hiking, hunting, bird watching, botanising, painting.
