Cirque de Cagataille is a fantastic loop walk from the parking at the end of the road beyond Moussures. We set off early to avoid the crowds and started walking before 8am. The trail follows the river up passed the cascade and steeply up to the granite slabs above before you reach Etang de la Hillette. We were lucky on the ascent to see an Izard with a very young baby. Just a bundle of fur scampering over the boulders.

We continued on to Etang Alet where we grabbed a picnic lunch and Breezy took a dip to cool off. Then down into the forest and back to the van. We only saw 5 other folk and they had camped up high.

Forecast was looking good even if a tad hot! So we decided to head off to the hills for a 2 day hike. Both were long days, made longer by the heat! The plan was to make our way back to the barn from Col de la Core.

We headed off with our great friend Lee, his wife Susie kindly dropped us at Col de la Core making pick up logistics a lot easier. Thanks masses Susie.

We went for an early start which meant at least we could get some of the ascent done before we started to melt. That was the plan but we melted pretty quickly.

We took the Chemin de Libertee via Col de Craberous which is a good steep climb up to the col where we had snacks. A good 4 hour yomp to get here. The steep path down the other side was not as skiddy as we had expected and it was only an hour down to Lake Milouga for lunch and a swim for Breezy, which was much needed.

We then had a relatively steep, short climb and then easier ground up to Col de Pecouch looking down to Refuge Estagnous where it was a short descent down to the refuge. A great refuge, fantastic views, delicious mountain food and cold beers and wine so all was good. We all guzzled loads of cold water on arrival in an attempt to rehydrate before attacking the beer!

The meteo suggested a storm may come in late afternoon on day 2 and that along with the heat we were keen for an early start and were off by 7.15am after brekky. Up in the shade to Petit Mt Valier and then across the ridge to the col before descending on to the Spanish side. We took in a new little peak Les Montagnoles and a wee scramble across to Col della Tindarella. Lots of Issard in this area which is always great to see. It was then a vague path across to Port D’Aula before we began the final ridge up and down across to Port de Salau which is the main col up beyond the barn. We were so lucky today as although it was hot there was a little wind which made hiking less sweaty!

We had a late lunch at the final peak de Pic de Montaud where Spain was in the sun and France in the cloud. Fab views of the route we had taken. Into the cloud which was welcome! and back to the barn to meet up with Susie wine and beer. We were all pretty tired.

One of our favourite hikes. Started from the bend in the road where the path from Etang D’Aube comes out. After years of starting at the Port de Lers we have taken to parking at the end of the track and walking back up to the Col to start rather than having to walk back up to the Col at the end of the hike.

Taking the path north to Pic de Fontanette and Pic de Barres you very quickly gain height and follow the ridge on to Trois Seigneurs. This time we continued the ridge on to Pic de Peyroutet which we have not done before. After a snack and a look over to Etang Bleu we descended towards Etang D’Aube to the north of Les Pujols to follow a spring down to the outflow of the lake. Most of this was off piste except for a vague track beside the brook descending the hill.

Lunch and a dip in the lake before the very hot descent to the van.

A windy day with blue skies. We started from the mine above Salau in the shade and only got to sunshine when we reached the Pis Noir after 2 hours in the cool. Ascended to Tuc du Pis Noir with great views of Mont Rouch to the west. Picked our way up to the French Spanish border and turned left (east) towards Cap de Rhuos. Windy on the ridge and lovely scrambling with minimal loose rock. Did not see a soul all day. Animal count included: stripy cows, sheep, an izard, an audience of vultures, and various other birds. We heard a marmot but didn’t see it. Grand day out and right on the doorstep.

1800m of up and 12km in 7hrs.

Carolyn and Dawn met at the chalet in Chamonix in the winter and have become firm friends. They flew out to Carcasonne and then drove over to the barn. Keen walkers we had a list of possible itineraries depending on the weather and fitness levels. An interest was expressed in hiking in to Spain for a night so a menu plan was also kind of flexible.

Paella on the first night of arrival has become a bit of a signature for a first stay at the barn. This one got cooked indoors as the wind was too strong and kept blowing out the gas.

Day one we went over to Pic des Trois Seigneurs with an early start to beat the heat. One of our favourite walks although it is just over an hours drive away. It has a bit of everything with a reasonably high start point at Port de Lers, steep up the ridge, then a fantastic ridge walk with amazing views all the way to the summit of Trois Seigneurs. The descent takes in the Etang d’Arbu for a swim then a hot walk down to a bend in the road below the parking at Port de Lers. We actually parked at the bend and walked up to the start to avoid walking the road in the heat of the day at the end. The van said the temperature was 39 degrees when we finished.

Forecast for the next couple of days was marginal but we committed to walking from the barn over Port de Salau and down to the Refuge Fornet in Spain. Stay the night there and then return via the Port d’Aula. We had done a car drop on the road to Col de la Pause the day before to make the return easier. A Dutch friend Miriam joined us which was great.

We started in cloud and much cooler temperatures, only reaching sunshine when we reached Cabane des Lannes. What fantastic views of the mountains peaking through a sea of cloud. We dried out in the last 240m to the Col.

The descent path down to Refuge Fornet was much better marked than last time we did it and Spain was completely clear of cloud.

A couple of beers on the terrace, a couple of games of dice and a lovely meal before bed and an early start the next day. Unfortunately it started to spit with rain just as we set off. Waterproofs came off once we reached the grass roofed cabane above Borda de Perosa. Not so well marked route took us up to Port d’Aula in very light drizzle. Wind at the frontier pushed us down the hill to Etang d’Areau, just above the cloud level, where we had a buffet lunch from the contents of everyone’s rucksacks. The descent through the cloud on the GR10 to the car was eased with a word game of professions starting with the letter H.

Beers at the Auberge in Salau before outdoor showers at the barn and chilli con carne with cauliflower rice.

The last day of their stay was very wet. The fire was lit and games were played. A nice finale and a chance to recover. Thank you.

A gorgeous day without a cloud in the sky. Parked at Col de la Core and set off on the GR10 to Etang Ayes. Broke off from the GR and headed over to Etang Milouga where we stopped for lunch. A 1hr climb up to Col de Pouech overlooking Refuge Estagnous, our destination for the night. 15Km, 7.15hrs walking and 1800m ascent.

Highlights were the variety of cabins seen on route in the mountains. We also saw a huge flock of big birds over Bouirex on the other side of Col de la Core when we were near Ayes. There must have been about 100 of them. They then flew across and over us. We think they were black kites. Lastly, we picked up some delightful company for half the day. We saw her setting off with someone from the Col where we parked, then we picked her up where we left the GR10. A lovely brown dog (we called Flo), with no name tag. She lead the way to the refuge then found some new friends with a tent she could stay in.

Day two was a long day. Alarm at 0630hrs and away by 0715hrs. Up Valier where we had the summit to ourselves for half an hour before heading down. Retraced our steps back to Milouga and then up to Cabane d’Espugues and steeply up to Col de Craberous. Mackerel tacos for lunch then we descended the Chemin de Libertee back to Col de la Core. 21Km, 9.25hrs and 1600m ascent.

If you do the Chemin de Libertee backwards, is it the Chemin de Captivite?