Guide to Pyrenean Haute Route HRP trek through France and Spain

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Reviews

The French maps produced by the Institut Géografique National (IGN) have a reputation for being accurate and reliable. The IGN 1:25,000 maps (Série Bleue or Cartes de Randonnée) show most detail, but on some 1:25,000 maps the Haute Route is not shown at all!

There is also a series of 25 walking maps to the Pyrenees at 1:50,000, published by Rando Editions. These should generally be sufficient for Haute Route walkers. These include Cartes de Randonnées, based on IGN data, and Mapa Excursionista/Cartes de Randonnées, coedited with the Institut Cartografic de Catalunya. Together these maps give comprehensive coverage of both the Spanish and French Pyrenees. This means that you can largely avoid using other Spanish maps, such as the Editorial Alpina and Spanish Military Survey maps, which are, in my opinion, of a relatively poor quality. For walking the Haute Route you should only use the best maps available! There is also a fine 1:400,000 map of the entire Pyrenees, also produced by Rando Editions, which might be handy. (For further information, contact Editions Sud Ouest at www.editions-sudouest.com/nos-editions/rando-editions; Institut Géografique National: www.ign.fr.)
In the UK, maps are available from Stanfords (www.stanfords.co.uk, tel: 020 7836 1321). The relevant map is always given at the beginning of each day’s route description.

Note: Guidebook and maps by themselves will not always be sufficient to keep the walker on course. A compass or GPS can be useful, as the Haute Route sometimes passes through isolated, untamed mountain areas where you won’t find a path (and only a few waymarks). A compass or GPS can also be useful in case of poor visibility (in France, especially in the Basque territory, mist will be your worst enemy). A GPS is certainly not strictly necessary, but you should always have a compass with you (and the skill to use it effectively).