Spanish Pyrenees Trip Info?

Hi:

Looking for beta on a trip in mid-September to the Spanish side of the Pyrenees or thereabouts. Our group is none too gnarly, so we're looking for an area with a good amount of F4's and 5's, as well as up to 6a+ or so. We'd pictured doing sport, but trad could be fine as well.

There are also some non-climbers with us, so we're looking for areas that have an interesting town reasonably nearby to stroll around in, look at churches and museums, go to markets, that kind of stuff.

As a parallel example for those who've been there, the town of Soller in Mallorca was a great place to be with a very similar group...groovy cobblestone streets, good restaurants, friendly people and tons of great climbing and hiking within a reasonable drive.

From what I've learned so far, Cavallers and Rodellar (or some of each) look like good candidates, but I'd be grateful for other opinions about these or other areas. Would also be open to other ideas...the French side of the Range (around Ariege) and Sardinia are other places we're looking at, but for today at least, Spain is out in front.

Thanks,
David

Hey, my wife, kids and I spent spring break insardinia. Near oriitzai on the east coast. Very rural, not too much cultural stuff but lots of grat climbing and hiking. Stayed at a place called the lemon house, the owners Peter and Ann are a wealth of info, google the lemon house Sardinia and you'll find them.

Have not climbed in the Pyrenees, but we crossed through from Pau to Jaca. Jaca seemed like a decent enough place to look into. They did bid for a winter Olympics a while back. Just south of Jaca is Riglos, time well spent. We did go into the Picos de Europa, just west of the Pyrenees, for climbing. This seems to be somewhat off the radar in the US but is really quite exceptional. There's a UK guide. Santander would be a good base for that area. Well worth a visit. You can stop at Bilbao and/or Pamplona on the way. Google Covadonga. Ditto Naranjo de Bulnes. This should give you ideas. They have really nices beaches there also (Costa Verde). That area does not suck.

Hy David,

I´m Verto, from Spain. Regarding your message, let me make a suggestion.

Combined trip, climbing and toursim: establish your Base Camp in Jaca. From that place, climbers can go to one of the two short schools in the vecinity of Jaca, just for sport, or go to RIGLOS, for a good and long climbing day. There you can find both types of climbing, traditional or sport climbing. The non climbers can go for a visit JACA, RIGLOS, and ZARAGOZA, where you can find a delicius food.

Another good place to combine climbing with tourism is PICOS DE EUROPA. Santander or any other city close to the seaside can be set up as the Base Camp. While the climbers are on the rock, the rest of the people will have the agenda plenty of activities. There you can find incredible places such as Naranjo de Bulnes.

For further detailed information, let me know and I´ll send you all the info that I have.

Have a nice trip