Senda de Camille - Lescun, Linza, Borda Bisaltico, Lizara, Somport, Arlet
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 69.19 mi
- Elevation gain
- 19,964 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 19,964 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,912 ft
- TrailRank
- 57
- Min elevation
- 2,792 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 5 days 5 hours 34 minutes
- Coordinates
- 11659
- Uploaded
- August 14, 2017
- Recorded
- August 2017
near Lescun, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France)
Viewed 4050 times, downloaded 189 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
It is little know in anglophone circles - we didn't meet a single anglophone who was walking it, though there were a few on the Haute Route and other shorter walks.
We particularly liked the variety of landscapes, from voluptuous pastures to stark angular rocks. And also the staffed hostels at the end of each day which meant we had very light rucksacks. We went swimming in the lake at Arlet.
it is worth noting that the very long day from Linza to Gabardito (10 hours, 1640m ascent, 1600m descent, 23 km) can be shortened by staying in the hostel at the Zuriza camp site or, as we did, in the hostel at the Borda Bisaltico.
The times quoted on the Senda de Camille website http://www.lasendadecamille.com/stages.html are reasonable, though we walked Arlet to Lescun in five hours (as opposed to 7-7.5 hours) because we wanted to get to shelter as quickly as possible. That was the only day it rained and boy did it rain!
The official route from Linza to Zuriza takes you along the road but there is a well-marked GRT path parallel to the road which we took in part.
Waypoints
Wilderness hut
6,469 ft
Caseta de Los Forestales
The Senda de Camille is dotted with free huts. This one, between Lizara and the Ibón de Estanés had sheltered a dozen walkers who had been camping in the vicinity when a thunderstorm arrive in the middle of the night.
Mountain hut
5,334 ft
Albergue Aysa
Albergue Aysa (+34) 974 373 023 Hostel at Somport on the French-Spanish border. More welcoming than it looks from the outside!
Mountain hut
6,880 ft
Arlet du Col D´Arlet
The hostel at Arlet has the best food and the best views on the Senda de Camille. It is worth climbing up to the Col de Arlet to look over at Aguas Tuertas, the twisted river on the other side. We swam in the lake... and it wasn't even cold!
Mountain hut
3,277 ft
Camping Borda Bisaltico
Stopping here cuts 300m of ascent off at the end of a long day. The next day, to Lizara, is short so catching up is no problem.
Mountain hut
2,787 ft
Camping Lauzart
Camping Lauzart hostel and campsite, (+33) 559 345 177
Lake
5,774 ft
Ibón de Estanés
This lake is easily accessible from a car park in the valley so there are lots of walkers. If you are heading for Somport be careful to avoid following them too far down the valley: the turning to the right is not well marked.
Waypoint
6,397 ft
just below the Puerto de Anso
There are a variety of paths to the pass. (You can buy cheese from the shepherd in the valley just below here.)
Panorama
3,937 ft
Lescun from the Belvedère
The best view of Lescun is from the North, so not on the Senda. Take the path from near the church. (The times given on the signposts are about twice what it really takes for experienced walkers.)
Waypoint
6,233 ft
Looking back from Tatxeras pass
It is quite a steep climb up to the pass but not technical
Waypoint
6,145 ft
on the Senda near Caillous
This green valley has many bordas occupied only in the summer for making cheese.
Waypoint
6,262 ft
Paso de Tatxeras from the north
From a distance it looks like a wall, but there are holes. The Senda sneeks through the gap on the left. On the other side the walk on the high-level plateau is a great relief after the climbing.
Waypoint
6,562 ft
Plana Mistresa
Just above the Forestales refuge this plain would make a great campsite. Note the green and yellow waymarks for the Senda de Camille and the red and white for the GR11.
Bridge
3,023 ft
Puente de Santa Ana
After a long hot walk we had just run out of water when we reached the bridge. Unfortunately the water is inaccessible! The Borda Bisaltico, with a bar, is 20 minutes' walk away.
Wilderness hut
5,397 ft
Refugio de Dios Te Salve
One of the many basic huts on the Senda, this one between Gabardito and Lizara
Mountain hut
4,500 ft
Refugio de Gabardito
Refugio de Gabardito (+34) 974 375 387
Mountain hut
4,408 ft
Refugio de Linza
Refugio de Linza (+34) 974 370 112
Mountain hut
4,019 ft
Refugio de Zuriza
Refugio de Zuriza (+34) 974 370 196
Mountain hut
6,568 ft
Vue du refuge d'Arlet
Typical clouds in the evening, seen from the Arlet hostel
Comments (5)
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Hi Steve Did you take the relatively new section from the Lizera Refugio to Candanchu, and if so what did you think of it? Thanks, Tom Wheeler
Whoops, I forgot to look at your GPS track. I see that you took the old route down into the Gave Aspe. I will be on parts of the Camille in less than a month and am planning on taking the new route from the Bozo Pass. Last I knew it is waymarked, but the cables or chains weren't installed yet.
Hello Tom
When I was in Lizara there were some Spanish people heading for Candanchu who were assuming the chains were already in place and wanting to know what they were like. I didn't see them later so I don't know what they thought of them...
Steve
Steve, I found this report from a few weeks ago: http://chematapia.blogspot.com.es/2016/10/gr-11-et3-lizara-candanchu-de-estreno.html Looking forward to my departure en route to Spain. am toying with the thought of after I finish this years GR 11 section, taking a bus to Saint Jean and walking the Camino de Santiago again through October and November. I typically don't buy round trip tickets giving me unlimited time to play.
Thanks for the info Tom. I see that their route doesn't correspond to the projected one http://www.lasenda.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/diversion.jpg but only at the end. It's good to be able to wander without a timetable...