Trekking the Gr11 Trail: The Traverse of the Spanish Pyrenees - La Senda Pirenaica

The GR11 trail (La Senda Pirenaica) is a glorious 820km traverse of the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean on the Spanish side of the border with France. The guidebook presents the route in 47 stages of 8-31km and provides everything hikers will need to take up the challenge - detailed route description, excellent photographs, lots of background information and unique custom-produced maps. Also included are bad weather options - although the weather is often good along this route - detours to find accommodation at some points, and advice on where to stay, supplies, language and logistics, as well as a glossary including Aragon, Basque and Catalan words, to help you find your way. Although it’s a serious challenge for experienced walkers the route is less demanding than the higher-level Pyrenean Haute Route, sunnier and wilder than the GR10 which runs along the French side, and well waymarked throughout with regular opportunities to find accommodation and stock up your supplies.

Tom Martens grew up in Belgium and first visited the Pyrenees in 2008 with a friend who had made him enthusiastic about the mountain chain. This first exploration was so enchanting that he has been back every year since. He has hiked extensively in the national parks and traversed the whole length of the Pyrenees several times. He has guided groups of youngsters on long, intensive hikes and climbed many of the high peaks. So far, he has spent 500 nights in the Pyrenees, mostly bivouacking. He has a special interest in mountain wildlife.