Last Sunday, we went off as usual with our walking group, Rando de l’Aubo. We went a mere 20 km eastwards into the neighbouring Aude. What a difference a few miles makes. The rugged forests, with hillside pasture for cattle and sheep, fields of maize and feed crops in our own department are exchanged for an almost Tuscan landscape, with little hillside towns overlooking ranks and ranks of vineyards delineating the contours. Both departments are lovely, but we hicks from the Ariège tend to prefer our less manicured and somewhat wilder countryside
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Still, Sunday’s walk was quite a sentimental journey for Malcolm and for me, because we walked through the village, Ferran, that was our first introduction to this part of the world.
A few years ago, an old friend of Malcolm’s sent him an email. In his letter, he said that it was February, and he’d been sitting outside in his shirtsleeves, gazing out at his perennial view of the distant Pyrenees, at that time covered with bluish-white snow. Did we fancy a visit to him in Ferran? We did. We were of course seduced by those hillside towns, those vineyards, and especially by those views of the Pyrenees. Not too long after, we came over again, to house hunt, and of course didn’t find that elusive, perfect spot. Only after we’d returned home did our friend’s wife, who’s an estate agent, spot the possibility that we just might like the butcher’s house in Laroque where we now live.
It was crazy really. We bought it without really knowing the first thing about the area. But we’ve never regretted it. We’ll never finish exploring the hillside pathways, always deeply mulched with fallen oak and beech leaves, or the craggier routes up mountainsides, or the gently undulating lower paths through meadowlands, bright with orchids and other flowers, as well as butterflies, throughout the spring and summer.
But that’s the Ariège. Ferran and the other villages we skirted last Sunday are typical of the Aude. Colour washed houses and farms in shades of barley, corn and almond perch high on the hillside, looking down over their vineyards, and beyond – one way to the Montagne Noire, the other to the Pyrenees. The hills roll away into the distance, not so blanketed by forest as our hills are, but at this time of year, green and lush. Though we only walked about 13 km, by the end we were exhausted, because throughout the day we’d been buffeted by the winds for which the Aude is known. But how lucky we are to have two such very different kinds of countryside within such easy reach of our homes.
As I’m still camera-less, thanks to Jean-Noël, Michel and Anny for letting me use their photos from this walk, and a recent one near Donazac, also in the Aude
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
Ah, you conjur up fond memories of my first visit to the Pyrenees. I arrived in Pau by train many years ago, climbed up the steep walkway to the Promenade, and stopped and stared at the panorama for what seemed like an eternity. What a gorgeous corner of the world. I can understand why you fell in love with it and why you decided to live there. Each segment between Biarritz and Perpignan has its charms and unique atmosphere and landscape. I still have a beautiful book “Les Pyrénées” by Pierre Minvielle on my shelves and find myself looking at it from time to time, often after reading your posts. Greetings from Frankfurt, Germany.
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Well, thank you for that, and thank you too for introducing me to your own blog. I’m going to enjoy browsing through it this evening. We’re getting to know the stretch from St. Girons to Perpignan quite well, but further west is still largely a closed book. I’ve a feeling you’d encourage me to put that right
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By all means keep going! There is a benefit to knowing one place really well, but, assuming there has been no radical change these past 20 years, the valleys to the East also have a lot to offer. I also recall a breathtaking train ride from Perpignan to Toulouse through some of the most rugged mountain scenery I’ve ever seen.
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Yup, well, it’s Pic du Midi next stop….assuming we can get a steady run of clear weather. Meanwhile, I’ve enjoyed dipping into your blog too, and am impressed beyond measure at your getting links into your text. That’s my next challenge. Your responsible for my adding that to my ‘must do’ list, by getting Praetorius belting out of my computer just when I thought I was reading about carols….!
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Blog très intéressant bon travail
Si tu veux je peux Mettre ton blog en lien sur le mien
Ariège Bonne journée et à un de ces jours sur les sentiers de l’Aude ou de l’Ariège
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Oui! Je voudrais bien, et merci. Pour ma part, je vais mettre un lien a ton joli blog, avec ses photos magnifique.
Malheureusement, on ne peut pas venir demain, mais…à la prochaine, et bonne dimanche!
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Pic du Midi in the Ossau valley is quite nice. I hiked there several times. The next valley down used to be nice, too, Vallée d’Aspe, famous for its fromage de brebis. I guess all the valleys are famous for their brebis, right?
Blogger has an easy tool for adding links.
Happy trails.
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Next time you drop by, you’ll see I’ve cracked it. But thank you. Gentler walking today, near Pamiers. Quite English were it not for those peaks in the background!
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