The Great Outdoors

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The Great Outdoors

Most tourist offices have information brochures in English and several of the tourist offices have websites with details on activities in each area.

• See The AngloFILE for Tourist Offices & Information
• Before heading out, check the weather: Click here

Seasonal Activities

The climate in the Midi-Pyrénées region provides a variety of adventure sports with conditions depending on the season.

In December the snow arrives to the highest peaks and the ski season begins, with down-hill, snowboarding, cross-country and many other snow based activities available.

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Skiing in the Pyrénées

As the temperatures rise in the springtime the snow melts and the rivers swell providing perfect conditions for canoeing, rafting and kayaking.

As the summer approaches the walking season begins for hikers and ramblers. The Midi-Pyrénées region offers varied walks from high altitude mountain hikes to river and town walks. The season runs through until the late autumn when the snow arrives.

The region is home to a vast area of woodland open to hunters. The season begins in or around June and runs through to September but varies regionally and depends on the animal being hunted.

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Hunting in France
• For comprehensive information on hiking, climbing, biking and riding, skiing and watersports see ePyrenees.com 

Canoeing and Kayaking

The Dordogne and Célé rivers in the north of the region provide meandering courses for canoeing and kayaking. The faster moving rafting waterways in the more mountainous south provide for adventure kayaking.

Navigable rivers are classified into six grades, Classes I to VI. Class I being for easily navigable rivers, Class V for extremely difficult, and Class VI for rivers that are only navigable depending on the water level and presenting many risks. 

• For information on the classification of navigable rivers (in French): Click here 

There are many organisations providing training, transport and equipment for trips, one day or several. The sport is monitored by the Fédération Française de Canoë-Kayak. It has information on appropriate rivers and expert guides, where necessary.

Contact information

• The regional tourist office provides information and routes: Click here 
• The Fédération Française de Canoë-Kayak: Click here 

The contact details for each departmental committee:

• Ariège (09)
  At: Stade d'Eau vive du Rebech Complexe sportif, 09000 Foix
  Tel: 05 61 65 20 65
  Website
• Aveyron (12)
  At: Sincholle Rene 14, Cite Caradaillac, 12000 Rodez
• Haute-Garonne (31)
  At: 28 Rue Ste. Catherine, 31600 Estantens
  Tel: 05 62 23 38 45
• Gers (32)
  At: Impasse de la Tour, 32300 Mirande
  Tel: 05 62 66 69 73
• Lot (46)
  At: 314 Route de Laroque, 46000 Cahors
  Website
• Hautes-Pyrénées (65)
  At: 88, rue du Vigenmale, 65000 Tarbes
  Tel: 05 62 36 42 39
• Tarn (81)
  At: 21 Chemin le Leuze, 81000 Albi
  Tel: 05 63 54 38 40
  Website
• Tarn-et-Garonne (82)
  At: BP 45, 82800, Negrepelisse

Hiking and Walking

The Midi-Pyrénées has numerous marked routes through the historical towns and cities as well as through the mountains. The famous GR10 route crosses from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean on the French side of the border (the GR 11 is the path on the Spanish side).

Be aware of seasonal restrictions to the paths and routes, for example, during the winter snow and ice can make some routes impassable.

The Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pedestre (FFRP)  is the overseeing body for all marked and maintained walking routes in France. It provides information and guide-books (most in French) for walkers.

The Comité Régional de la Randonnée Pédestre en Midi-Pyrénées manages the walking and hiking routes and groups in the region. The committee is responsible for managing the 26,000 Km of official routes, and maintains the paths and make sure that the marks, guides and maps are up to date. There are 230 walking and hiking clubs affiliated to the committee.

Top 25 hiking maps issued by the Institut Géographique National (IGN) are available from newsagents (presse) and bookshops.

All nationally recognised trails are categorised as follows:

• GR (Grand Randonnée): Registered hiking trails that often run across the entire country (although a hiker can walk any small section they choose).
• GRP (Sentiers de Grande Randonnée de Pays): Registered regional trails that will take you around a particular region for several days.
• PR (Sentiers de Promenade): Walking and hiking trails for short circuits, lasting several hours.

The French route marking system shows paths by means of signs and blazes.

• For clear explanations of the waymarks, or blazes (balises): Click here 

Contact 

• Comité Régional de la Randonnée Pédestre des Midi-Pyrénées
  At: Maison des Sports, Rue Buissonnière, BP 81908, 31319 Labège cedex
  Tel: 05 62 24 18 77
  Fax: 05 62 24 18 79
  e-mail
  Website 
• For information on departmental groups select menu option "Structures" on this page
• The Midi-Pyrénées tourist office has many walking and hiking contacts: Click here

Climbing and Mountaineering

The Pyrénées offer a range of climbing opportunities for those with basic skill right up to expert, challenging faces. There are also the Tarn and Aveyron gorges. The ski resorts offer climbing and mountaineering in the summer months for those wishing to reach the highest peaks.

Professional guides are available and recommended in most areas. They should hold a diploma from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and a qualification from the Mountaineering and Rock-climbing Federation, the Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade (FFME).

Contact 

Information (in French) is available on the grade, training options and availability of guides from the FFME

• Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade
  At: 8-10 Quai de la Marne, 75019 Paris
  Tel: 01 40 18 75 50
  Fax: 01 40 18 75 59
  Website
• To find climbing and mountaineering clubs in the Midi-Pyrénées region: Click here (then select the department from the map)
• Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade (FFME) Midi-Pyrénées (Climbing Federation)
  At: Maison des Sports, Rue Buissonière, BP 81908, 31319 Labege
  Tel: 05 62 24 18 40
  e-mail
  Website
• The regional tourism authority of the Midi-Pyréenées tourist office has a list of local climbing and outdoor activity centres here: Click here (in French)

Cycling and Mountain Biking

The Pyrénées is recognised for its cycling, and is often a decisive stage of the famous cycling races Spanish Vuelta and the Tour de France. Easier cycling circuits are available in the river valleys of the Ariège. Mountain biking known as VTT (Vélo Tout Terrain) is very popular in the region and there are trails for all levels.

Further information available from:

• Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme
  Tel: 04 90 29 62 10
  e-mail
  Website

The Millau Viaduct

This famous construction is the tallest traffic bridge in the world, and since its opening in 2004 it has become a major tourist attraction in the Tarn valley. The viaduct, situated in the Parc Naturel du Grands Causses, has also provided a superb venue for adventure sports. A glider or parapent trip provides a birds eye view while there are also climbing walls and via ferrata in the shadow of the bridge.

Contact

• Horizon Millau offer adventure sports in the region 
• The Millau Tourist Board
• The outdoor pursuits in Millau: Click here 

Further Information

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Hunting & Licences to Hunt in France
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Skiing in the Pyrénées
• See The AngloFILE Walking, Hiking & Climbing
• See The AngloFILE Winter Sports: Skiing & Snowboarding 
• See The AngloFILE Balloons, Paragliding & Flying Clubs
• See The AngloFILE Water Sports & Sailing