Spanish Pyranees - where to base?

[sauluk]

Heading to the Pyranees in September and looking for a good town (or two) to base ourselves.

Did Picos last year and based ourselves in Potes which was absolutely perfect (lovely B&B, few bars and restaurants, enough people about without being manic, picturesque and in the middle of Picos). Looking for something similar in the Spanish Pyranees.

Heard good things about Ainsa?

 

[Flipfly]

Why Spain? I'd base in Pau personally.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Vielha or Sort are both good

 

[cookie]

Vielha or Sort are both good

^^^ this

 

[Glyno]

Bielsa

 

[sven]

I stopped in Bagneres du Luchon just over the border from Vielha in 2007 and the area is good for exploring both the French and Spanish sides.

Vielha didn't look very appealling as a base - I just remember the wide main road through the centre. Is there a nice old town area? The N260, especially to the east, is a brilliant road though

Bagneres du Luchon is a little spa town and was quite nice in the centre, with a good choice of restuarants.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Done a few trips across the Pyrenees.

We passed through Sort. It looked good, full of activity.

We stayed at Ainsa, in the upper traditional part. Very nice but not huge.

We also went T'Pau which is very nice but on a lot bigger scale.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Not stayed there but I have heard that Jaca is a picturesque and interesting place.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I stopped in Bagneres du Luchon just over the border from Vielha in 2007 and the area is good for exploring both the French and Spanish sides.

Vielha didn't look very appealling as a base - I just remember the wide main road through the centre. Is there a nice old town area? The N260, especially to the east, is a brilliant road though

Bagneres du Luchon is a little spa town and was quite nice in the centre, with a good choice of restuarants.

Bagnieres is nice but so is Vielha & has some good bits & old stuff too

 

[cookie]

Bagnieres is nice but so is Vielha & has some good bits & old stuff too

and a very weird hotel whose name escapes me at the moment

 

[2 wheel humvee]

and a very weird hotel whose name escapes me at the moment

Hotel Aran in Viehla, quirky but nice-in a quirky sort of way

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Great underground car park too

 

[tony23]

We stayed here last summer, http://lechapeaubleu.com/en/
Great hosts, food great, great value for money and within reach of most of the good cols.

 

[markie_wales]

+1 for Sort for a couple of nights. Not a full week mind, a bit small for that.

Cheers

Markie

 

[BD]

camped up the road from ainsa in escalona several times, some stunning scenery and you are right on the edge of the Odessa national park. not a bad size town with all you need and not too busy

 

[Giles]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...r-holiday-Pyrenees&highlight=him+her+pyrenees

Might give you some ideas ....

 

[Hman]

Vielha or Sort are both good

+1 for the above ........... but i also like Puigcerdà

 

[sauluk]

Great responses, thanks all. Will have a look at some of these towns.

Chose Spain as we're getting the ferry into Santander so Pau is a bit out of the way and we're only there 5 days.

 

[Our Gee]

For anyone wanting to stay on the French side I can recommend the Hotel Les Rochers in St Savin. Stayed there a couple of times. English owners, great food, safe parking, fantastic roads.

 

[sven]

Why Spain? I'd base in Pau personally.

It's quite a trek from there to the best riding road in the Pyrenees though - the N260 east of Sort to Adrall