On this page: where to stay for a cool walking or family holidays in the Ariège (the French Pyrenees most beautiful and wild part), some hikes with partner and kids, accommodation as a base for walks and discovering a rich cultural history, castles and caves as both children and parents like it.  New : 10 days family hikes for parents, older kids and youngsters.

Spring and Autumn might be more convenient for elderly couples still loving each other.

If your couple or family loves mountains, the outdoors, a Mediterranean climate, hiking or history, fierce Cathar castles ruins, medieval chevaliers plays, prehistoric caverns, caves, peaks and mountain lakes, roman  chapels, some days of camping outside in western Europe's last wilderness, then come to the Pyrenees for your summer holidays  as a couple or for family holidays you'll find all of this.   And if on top of that you'd like to get to know like-minded from other countries : hikers, mountain lovers, their families and other kids as holiday-friends for yours. You can come and stay in our period house at any time  of the year.  It is situated in a pretty and accessible mountain village. 

Couples may prefer the special charm of spring or autumn, walkers the hundreds of winter walks up in the mountains and the pleasure of celebrating new year with other hikers in a old house in a typical mountain village 

Contact                              Get the Reservation form                       more about us

You'll find the Pyrenees captivating, with everything for the nature and history lover : prehistoric caves, fortified caverns, roman chapels, fierce castle ruins, wild flowers, vultures, natural beauty, sceneries, mountain lakes, peaks, marmots and even bears,

Click here for suggestions for stays in the spring, summer, autumn or winter

The address of the house : Le Castel, F-09400 Miglos  France. 

You can get there by night train from Paris (Austerlitz station) to the nearby town of Tarascon sur Ariège, then by taxi.  Or by car by way of the A20 motorway from Paris, via Toulouse, Foix,Tarascon surAriège.  On leaving Tarascon follow signs for Vicdessos (right turn).  Take the D8 to Capoulet; turn to the left and up the hill for Miglos.

Spring

Don't hesitate one second if you get the chance to take holiday in May or June.  At this time the mountains  are at their most beautiful and the days long and warm.    There is still snow higher up, but no sooner has it melted that the meadows are full of gentian, narcissi, campanulas and anemones of all colours.  The chamois (or the isard as the smaller Pyrenean species is known) are not yet shy and the mountains are still empty, with only a few shepherds driving their herds to higher grazing grounds.  This is the season for an excursion to one or other mountain hut to marvel at what the mountains look like to a real mountaineer and how the locals live and work there.

What is exciting are "mixed" excursions;  you can get along everywhere with walking  boots, but attaching snowshoes underneath is something special.  Then there is the fragrance of the mountains as they warm up in the spring sun and the perfume of the flowers and pines carried over ridges by fresh breezes.

Need more information? contact us.                                        Join us : click here.

Summer

The house is available for you in the summer simply as a base for exploring the Pyrenees, for walks or day excursions (for the more energetic sportsmen amongst you we offer mountain hikes).  It is suitable for couples and families with young children.  The immediate area is of high natural and historical interest and there are many excursion, picnicking and sporting possibilities.  The village is protected and includes a Cathar castle and one of many of the Romanesque churches in the region.  At Vicdessos the local tourist office (“Syndicat d’Initiative”)  looks after the information needs of its summer visitors.  You'll find also there :

• a pleasant open air swimming pool with toboggan and paddling pool

• a crèche and play area.  Excursions for children are organized daily at a very reasonable price

• many marked paths along former mule routes to scenic points (such as Bassies, Soulcem, Pic d’Estats), several beautiful mountain lakes (for which the Pyrenees are well known) and restored shepherd's settlements.

There are no end of places for canyoning and climbing and many pre-historic caves and dolmens, caves from the early middle ages, castle ruins and Romanesque architecture (St Lizier is well worth a visit).  The marked paths provide an excellent opportunity to get into the mountains and discover the flora and fauna (different species of vultures, eagles, bears, lynx, civets and many kinds of gentian and orchids), for fishing or for photography.

There is also mountain biking, hang gliding and parapente for those whose are more sport inclined.

Autumn

In this area summer weather lasts well into November.  By then the tourists have left and you can experience the real atmosphere of the Pyrenees and get to know the local people in their everyday life at the markets, on café terraces and in small local restaurants.  You can visit and admire bastides from the middle ages with their covered galleries, Romanesque churches and villages that have not changed for centuries.

This is also a good time for writing, painting or drawing, for rest and reflection or for simply spending time with your partner.

If you want to meet and get to know local people then autumn, winter and spring are the best times.

Winter

The Pyrenees are a paradise for one day or longer hikes or walks (on snowshoes, cross-country or trekking skis).  Here there are no tourist ski runs to spoil the view.  The original atmosphere of the mountains and mountain villages has been preserved for the enjoyment of those who appreciate nature and real adventure far from it all. 

Passing in silence through the snow-covered landscape you come across ptarmigan, mountain hares and eagles, and with a  bit of luck the tracks of a lone wolf on higher ground.

Ski-mountaineering: take the road in front of the house up through Norrat to the snow-covered summer pastures of the "pla du four" or a short-cut by way of one of the old mule-tracks, and then over the pass to Andorra en Catalonia.  Three classes of routes and mountain huts are indicated in blue on the French 1:50.000 ordnance survey (IGN) map  "Haute-Ariège / Andorre".  Ski-mountaineering is safer here than in the Alps.

Cross-country skiing: more than 40 miles of routes at 4 different grades are  marked out on the beautiful Beille plateau nearby (see the photos below).  For children there is a ski school, play area and crèche (from 3 months to 6 years).  There are also annual biathlon (skiing and shooting) and dog-sleigh competitions, and snowshoe and cross-country ski races.

Snowshoe hikes: there is a network of marked routes in the valley or, for longer excursions, long distance tracks.  The views of the Trois Seigneurs massif and of Montcalm are breathtaking in the sun.

COMBINED FAMILY HOLIDAYS  AND TOURS STARTING FROM OUR HOUSE

Discovering the ASTON MASSIF, ARIEGE In our house you'll find some interesting hikes in the Aston massive. 1 or 2 days hikes to some beautiful lakes and peaks. A combined stay at hour typical period house and some beautiful hikes and interesting excursions Level : for learners who wish to become hikers and gain mountain experience, and for parents who want their children to get to know the mountains.

The aim is for you to get to know the Aston Massive South of Miglos.  The beginning of the summer in the Pyrenees is the peak time for flowers.   Participation in the hikes is of course voluntary.  Excursions foreseen are exploration of the Miglos valley, a ridge walk, the lakes and mountain huts on the Andorran border, the Coume de Jas nature reserve and the Fontargente lakes.  Excursions can also be made to the Cathar castles at Montsegur and Roquefixade, to St Lizier, to Foix and more... Click here to sign up for a an enjoyable holiday and hikes in outstanding scenery. Need more information? contact us

Level of difficulty : parents should be hikers at least and be able to carry what their children can't (see checklist below). Kids should be obedient (mountains are not a park) and used to carry a rucksack (scouting or hiking experience). Day 4 and day 8 can also be used for resting. 

day eight : camping at lake d'Estatsand for those who like climbing of the d'Estats high peak (3.115  m).

day nine : over the Port the Sotlo pass (2.894 m) to the Refuge de Pinet hut (hosted) at Lake Pinet.

day ten : from Lake Pinet back to the Artigue hamlet (1.200 m).

COSTS?

Basic cost :for 10 days to 2 weeks (13 overnights) & at least  3 participants you pay membership fee + 50€  (made to measure fee) each.

Per participant more your group pays 100€, no more.

Included : guiding, 3-4 person tents, cookers, sleeping mats

Not included : food and travelcosts.

When staying in huts the guide's costs (board and lodging) are yours, this is usual.

When needed : some single person tents, rucksacks and sleeping bags are available and can be hired (2€ per overnight each)

make sure to contact Richard in time (now!) to hear if he's still free for trekking or hiking in the Pyrenees the period you want. 

More suggestions for a family hike or trek see made to measure hikes

Need more information? contact Richard our Mountain Leader

Click here to sign up for such an exciting family holidays and trekking in the Pyrenees.

Clothing:

• one pair of waterproof mountain boots

• four pairs of woollen socks

• waterproof lightweight anorak and over trousers (Gore and other texes often are to heavy)

• a polar type fleece jacket with wind stopper

• a warm polar or woollen shirt

• change of underwear

• a warm cap (preferably covering the ears)

• a polar or other warm pyjamas

•  a pair of light sandals

Cooking and eating tools : 

• As refills are easy to find in Spain and France choose the Camping Gaz stove (e.g. type 270).    You may have difficulty finding other makes of refills.  You'll use probably 2 to 3 small size refills per fortnight.

• knife, fork and spoon

• a billy (cooking pot) suitable for eating as well as for cooking,

• don't forget the lighter

2.5. Last but not least: food

• muesli and noodles suffice : about 1kg muesli and 1kg noodles per person. Tea and sugar.  Most prepared dehydrated foods are poor value for money. Note 9th night we stay and eat in the Pinet refuge (total cost about 30€ per person)

• don't forget vitamins and minerals, especially B, anti-oxidants and zinc 

• a tin of powdered Isostar, Extran or similar energy-drink is very useful as they also contain salts that you will lose through sweat.

Some more information ? contact Richard our mountain leader, please note: after june,10 Richard can only be reached by phone NOT by e-mail, phone +32 60 456 497 and follow the instructions to join him.

Booking: click here

PAGE UP                                navigation                                    homepage