School holidays almost over....

As we enter our last week of the UK school holidays, the Pyrenees are already quieter as the French are heading home, preparing for the new school term.

The action hasn't slowed down for us or our guests though as we are still running adrenaline-fuelled multi-activity holidays as well as an Explorer walking holiday.

Last week we had three holidays running at once, including a two-country canyoning holiday. Our guests enjoyed a range of activities and the weather held for them throughout. Interestingly, last year we had a lot of younger families join us for activity holidays (children between 8 to 12 years) but this year has been older children and adults. We're intrigued to see how next summer pans out!

After the threat of a thunder-storm yesterday, it turned in to the perfect weather for being out and about - sunny but with a cooling breeze. Our guests made it back from their day hike when we got a phone-call: "Paragliding tomorrow afternoon is off. Can your guests come NOW?" They'd barely had time to get their hiking boots off and drink a cup of tea before we were knocking on the door and bundling them up to the take-off spot.

The skies were busy in our valley as paragliders made the most of the excellent conditions. The last 15 days have seen appalling weather for paragliding (the wind was coming from the south, Spain. Great for everything else as it is a nice, warm wind but terrible for flying) so there was a real air of relief and excitement amongst everyone.

This morning our activity families enjoyed the fantastic Heas canyon, before having time for a leisurely lunch at Gedre, while our walkers enjoyed the village to village route from Bareges to Luz.

As the mad rush of high season is over, the locals are all starting to come out to play and enjoy spending time with their families and friends. The Hotel du Tourmalet's restaurant has been a popular place for them to visit, with the chef's reputation gaining momentum.

Next week is our last multi-activity week of the season. There are still places available for those who want a last minute summer holiday before autumn starts to settle in. We're then switching to walking holidays, in both France and Spain, before we go on our holidays.

Already our thoughts are turning to next summer and we've added some new holidays to our Summer 2013 calendar. We're hoping our supported cycling long-weekends will prove popular as well as our guided canyoning long weekends. Our new Cathar Walking holiday has already had enquiries, despite dates not yet being published, and the Taster-Valleys and Views has already had its first booking.

Multi-Activity holidays- keeping you busy!

We're in the middle of our high season multi-activity holidays, keeping people on their toes, under-ground, up high, wet and speedy for a fun week.

Last week we had two different holidays running concurrently, with activities from MountainBiking (MBX) to canyoning to via ferrata to rock-climbing to rafting on the schedule. The ever popular Chlorofil, as usual surprised and challenged people with its high ropes, swings and climbs. MountainBug Director Martin went with the group last week and came back looking tired but happy.

Meanwhile, watch out Team GB...one group went rock-climbing last week, at the beautiful location of Lac de Glere (2100m). One of the girls impressed Henri, our veteran rock-climbing instructor, so much he declared "She is agile, like a cat". She was indeed. The next Olympics are going to have rock-climbing in them...rest of the world, watch out! You heard it here first.

Other interesting occurrences last week were the multiple snake sightings. Unfortunately, team MountainBug saw none of them, but over half a dozen snakes, some up to 1 metre in size were seen by our guests in various locations over the week. Two guests (on two separate occasions) had a snake land at their feet. Literally. Both times the creatures fell out of trees. We're pretty sure a species of snake that loses its balance is an evolutionary dead-end but interesting all the same. Luckily one of the guests it happened to is a reptile enthusiast - his only regret was not being able to get to his camera fast enough!

This week we have three trips running. Two multi-activity holidays, based from Bareges, and a two country canyoning trip, beginning in Bareges then moving to Spain tomorrow, with our capable canyoning guide, Thomas.

The warm weather continues with cool dips in lakes, rivers and the local outdoor pool a must, although it is threatening to break with a storm. There was a bit of lightening last night, but, in true Pyrenean style, it changed its mind before it became anything else, so the warm weather is continuing.

The Inter-Commune Games

Not to be out-done by the London 2012 Olympics, Bareges hosted this year's inter-commune games. With teams from the local fire-fighters and neighbouring villages of Betpouey and Sers, les anglaises de Bareges felt compelled to enter.

Unfortunately, Team GB only got to compete in one event, the tricky carry water while strapped to two snow-boards and your partner, because time ran out and we all had to run off to cook and welcome new guests. If we'd stayed, naturally, we'd have won :-)

Chalet host Geoff & MountainBug Director Martin successfully navigate the tricky "round the fence" section

On the home run now...

The rest of Team GB are ready to refill the water

Les Anglaises de Bareges. Some stereotypes are true.

Late Summer Explorer Walking holiday - 25 August

Our very popular Explorer - Valleys, Villages and Cirques walking holiday has two rooms only left in the chalet.

Running from the 25 August to the 1 September, we'll spend a week walking in the mountains, up to 4 or 5 hours a day, enjoying the stunning Pyrenean scenery and local culture at an enjoyable pace.

Interestingly, the last week of August is always quiet out here in the Pyrenees...families prefer to stay at home, getting ready for the "Back to School" push and people without children believe that because it is still the school holidays, the area will be busy with families. We like this week, as normally there's still the glorious summer weather, long days (it stays light until 21.00ish), and the mountains to ourselves and our guests.

Slow and fast

Last week we had the frenetic pace of a full on multi-activity week and the more laid back pace of the Taster - Valleys and Views holiday.

While the multi-activity crew jumped off rocks into icy canyons, delved in to underground caves, rafted and hot-dogged down rivers, and flew like birds among other things, the Taster group enjoyed some gentle mountain walking and sight-seeing. Everyone enjoyed the sun and the aim of this week was to enjoy ourselves while not sweltering in over 30 degrees of heat. Luckily icy rivers, lakes and shady woods are in abundance here in the Pyrenees, so we all survived!

Relaxing by Lac D'Estaing on the Taster holiday

Icy mountain lakes: ideal for chilling locally brewed beer

This week sees more break-neck paces, with two multi-activity holidays running together. The temperatures are cooling down slightly but the great thing about Bareges is it is hot during the day then cools off at night, so you can get a good night's sleep, ready for the next day!

Last Multi-Activity of Summer!

September 1st to the 8th is our last multi-activity holiday of the season - and we've offering it at a discount.

For this out of school holidays special, we've dropped the price by 90€ per person to 895€ so you can enjoy a multi-activity holiday with us before autumn starts to creep in.

The itinerary that week is:

Saturday     Arrival and Welcome Talk
Sunday       Guided day hike
Monday     Canyoning
                  Paragliding
Tuesday     Rock-Climbing
Weds         Free day
Thursday   Adventure Caving
Friday       Rafting
                 Via Ferrata

Please get in touch if you'd like to join us for this great week.