Focus
Trekking the GR10
Through the French Pyrenees: Le Sentier des Pyrenees
Guidebook to walking the GR10, the Sentier des Pyrenees, a 955km trek across the French Pyrenees from Hendaye on the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast at Banyuls-sur-Mer. The book describes 55 stages, with information on planning, transport, accommodation and facilities. Walk the entire GR10 in around 45 days or in shorter trips.
Seasons
Best July to October (June in a low snow year)Centres
Hendaye-Plage on the Atlantic coast to Banyuls-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean through the French Pyrenees.Difficulty
The GR10 is extremely well waymarked following good mountain paths with short sections of boulderfield and occasional very easy scrambling. It is tough because there is more steep climb and descent than on many long-distance paths. Good network of inexpensive accommodation for those who prefer not to camp. Frequent resupply possibleMust See
The GR10 starts with the rolling hills of the Basque country leading to the High Pyrenees including Pic du Midi d'Ossau, Vignemale and Gavarnie. The remote Ariège with Mont Vallier follows and Canigou dominates the approach to the Mediterranean. Wildflower meadows are magnificent throughout.-
Overview
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A guidebook to walking the GR10 Sentier des Pyrenees trail between Hendaye on the Atlantic coast and Banyuls-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean. Covering 954km (593 miles), this long-distance trail through the French Pyrenees takes around 7 weeks to walk and is suitable for hikers with some long-distance trekking experience.
The route is described from west to east in 55 stages, each between 7 and 27km (4–17 miles) in length. Bad weather alternatives have also been included.
- 1:100,000 maps included for each stage
- Detailed information on facilities and accommodation along the route
- Advice on planning and preparation
- Highlights include Pic du Midi d’Ossau
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Table of Contents
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Updates
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Reviews
By Brian Johnson
After taking early retirement from his career as a physics and sports teacher, Brian Johnson found time for three thru'-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2700-mile round-Britain walk and a single summer completion of the Munros (Scotland's 3000ft mountains), as well as climbing all of the Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-2999ft mountains) and Grahams (Scotland's 2000-2500ft mountains). He also completed a 2200-mile cycle tour of Spain and France and multi-week canoe tours in Sweden, France, Spain and Portugal. A keen climber and hiker, he led school groups in Britain, the Alps, the Pyrenees and California and completed ten traverses from Atlantic to Mediterranean on the Pyrenean Haute Route, GR11 and GR10. As a fanatical sportsman and games player, he competed to a high standard at cricket, hockey, bridge and chess. His crowning achievement was winning the 1995/96 World Amateur Chess Championships. Sadly, Brian passed away in 2021.
View author profileBy Stuart Butler
Stuart Butler, who has lived for most of his life at the western end of the French Pyrenees, is a journalist, guidebook author and award-winning photographer. His areas of speciality are the Pyrenees, Himalya and East Africa. He has written over a hundred guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Rough Guide and Bradt, as well as a number of specialist hiking and wildlife watching guides on the Himalaya, France and Spain. He writes frequently about conservation, the environment and hiking for the BBC, Geographical magazine, New York Times, Sierra magazine and the i newspaper.
View author profile