Pyrenees

Thursday 4th January 2024

We’ve followed the N-260 road for most of our trip heading west on the southern side of the Spanish Pyrenees. 

And what a trip it’s been. We’ve negotiated hairpin bends and single track roads, driven through forests and rolling hills, marvelled at towering passes and massive open vistas, and driven through steep gorges with clear blue rivers running through them.

So far we’ve driven 230 miles on this route and we’ve another 74 to go before we arrive at Pamplona in time for the Three Kings’ Day Bank Holiday on Saturday 6th January (the equivalent of Christmas Day).

There’s lots to discover about the Pyrenees from its name (thought to derive from Greek Mythology) to the geology of the area. The mountain range is said to be older than the Alps (created between 100 - 150 million years ago). The eastern part of the Pyrenees is mainly granite and gneissose (banded) rocks and the western part has granite peaks and layers of limestone.

The highest pass we drove over was 1730 meters (which is significantly higher than Ben Nevis at 1343 meters). The lack of snow has meant easy driving for us but the ski resorts and businesses are suffering as a result. The weather forecast predicts rain/snow so we may lose our lovely blue skies for a few days. They’ll be back though … 😊