The Mountains of Andorra - Walks, Scrambles, Via Ferratas, Treks

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Walk 45 Estanys de Pessons

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Start/finish: Grau Roig (321421)
Grade: 1–2
Distance: 13km (8.1 miles) or less
Height gain/loss: 400m (1312ft)/500m (1641ft) or less
Time: 4hr 30min or less

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Despite the ugliness of the area round Grau Roig the splendid scenery round the Pessons lakes makes this an unmissable easy walk.

The walk is described up to the upper lakes, but it can be shortened easily by returning to Estany Primer from any suitable point lower down. Use private transport to Grau Roig or take the public bus to the main road junction and walk the last 2km.

From the car park at Grau Roig follow the car and bus track up to Estany Primer and the restaurant. Alternatively – for a pleasanter, though slightly, longer route – leave the horrid track a short distance up and follow a ski piste up left past a snow-making machine. Climb the piste for two steepenings and below a third steepening take a small grassy path up right to join the GR7 path at a col with fine views of Estany Primer. Descend to the lake to join the other route.

In midsummer this whole section can be avoided by taking the bus up to the restaurant at Estany Primer. At the time of writing this starts at 10am and returns every 30min until late afternoon. Using the bus it is possible to make a really short scenic walk up to the second lake, but the terrain is rough.

From Estany Primer follow the path west around the southern end of the lake and cross over the rock dam to pick up the GR heading south past a succession of lakes. Climb as far as desired up the path round the lakes. This is delightful walking, but quite rough and bouldery as the path winds round and between the various tarns and hillocks. It should take about 3hr from Grau Roig to reach the sixth lake, Estany de Les Fonts (2500m), and return to the restaurant. This lake is a good viewpoint, and a logical point of return. The actual route on the ground differs from the line marked on the map, but is well marked and easy to follow provided care is taken in looking for the waymarks. After the Estany de Les Fonts the path starts to climb up to the col (see Walk 46) and does not actually pass the final lake, Estany del Cap dels Pessons, so the map is once again inaccurate!

Return to the restaurant at Estany Primer for refreshments. Unless you have left a car in the car park at Grau Roig, it makes a longer – but better – walk to follow the new GRP path down to Bordes d’Envalira. This route is inaccurately mapped but easy to follow on the ground, and could be used as a pleasant finish to any of the Pessons walks.

From the restaurant walk northwest up the obvious track for 5min. Where it levels out you will see a parallel track running round the slope below. Descend a vague path in a pleasant grassy gully down to this lower track. (Do not follow the upper track shown on the map, as this is wrong.) Follow this lower track with occasional GRP waymarks (red/orange) till it bends sharply left. Continue straight ahead by pleasant walking on the well-marked path leading across the ridge.

Eventually you will reach a fence and a ski road. Turn right down the road for some distance and then pick up waymarks leading to the right down grassy slopes to regain the road and the stream above the new ski lifts near Refugi Pla de les Pedres. Here the old path shown on the map to the southeast of the stream has been bulldozed. Follow red/orange waymarks left through the ski installations (sometimes difficult to spot but always there – usually further left than you expect). These lead down to a new path zigzagging down through the trees on the true left bank of the stream and emerging at a small bridge. Walk across and up to Bordes d’Envalira and catch the bus at the petrol station. At the time of writing this leaves every hour on the hour throughout the day. Allow a good 1hr 30min from the restaurant for this finish.