Around the Campan valley:
The area in and around the Campan valley is one of great beauty and is a paradise for walkers,you can walk for a long time here without getting into your car at all.It is possible also to walk into the valley`s either side and experience fantastic views along the way with plants and flowers,wildlife,( maybe a deer if you are lucky) we have had several wandering over our ground.
Rushing trout steams and rivers are all over the area,no problem if you run out of drinking water,they also happen to sound nice and look very pretty.
Walking is popular in all seasons here as each season brings a different scene,with winter being different again snow shoe walking is becoming very popular both in the valley and up around Tourmalet.Snow shoes can be hired locally at a reasonable price if this is something you would like to try.
Further afield:
A car is useful in the mountains as there are places you would not walk to but are worthwhile visiting whilst you are here, Pic de Midi being one which is only a 10 minute ride from here, the cable car goes from La Mongie which is an experience if you have never travelled this way.Or for the more energetic you can walk from the
col de Tourmalet up tp Pic de Midi and the observatory (not as hard as you think) about 2 1/2 hours from your car and back including a picnic, worth it for the views alone as is just driving over the col.
The col de Tourmalet is the highest in the Pyrenees & is one way to Lourdes and the Holy Shrine (the prettiest in our opinion).
Another col not too far away is col d`aspin where you will see as usual lots of goats, cows, horses roaming free to say nothing of yet more beautiful views of the high mountains. Continue on over the col and the road will bring you to Arreau, a pretty little town worth a stop and on to St Lary (another large ski area) then to Spain
Ski:
We are just 10 minutes away from the biggest ski area in the Pyrenees.The linked area of La Mongie and Bareges known as The Domaine Tourmalet offers 100 kms of piste skiing including 43 ski lifts, 69 pistes, 6 black, 21 red, 19 blue,23 green. Many snowboarders and skiers also enjoy extensive off piste and a large snowpark.There is a varied choice of high open piste to lower tree line skiing should the weather close in as it can in all resorts.
Should you require ski school for either adults or children, all grades are available with English speaking instructors if required
The views here whilst you are skiing are amazing if you are not going too fast to notice, the famous Pic de Midi observatory with it`s visitor centre and restaurant/bar can be seen from various places & indeed is worth a visit if your limbs earn a break from skiing one day
There is a service bus up & down from resort if you do not want to drive although it is free parking up there with a very efficient shuttle bus
Golf:
Our nearest golf course is on the outskirts of Bagneres de Bigorre our nearest town which is about a 15 minute drive from here, we are not golfers but we understand that it is a very popular course with amazing views of the mountains between shots.
Should you wish to play different courses there are plenty more around without having to travel too far which is why we do get lots of golfers visiting the area.
Learn more about this holiday rental at the owner's website:
