For hiking: As a central starting point I will use Seu d'Urgell. Driving west, would mention two of our favorite areas Val d'Aran and Benasque. (Please tell me if this is too far from Andorra as I would expound upon the hikes, hotels or eateries...) The Parc National Ordesa and Perdido speaks for itself. I would love to suggest things, but I don't know whether or not this is too far from where you will be.

To the East we went into the Cadi mts ---to Bellver de Cerdeyna (spectacular dinner at Grau de l'Os) Terrific meal!!! No English spoken - but the chef spoke some french!

A Must!!! We found a fabulous bakery on N260 23 km from Seu on the way to Bellver. It's called Vilarrubla in Martinet (right on the N-way on the left if you're travelling east)- tel: 515028. We bought biscotti and butter cookies filled w/ jam and dipped in the best chocolate ever!!! These are worth a detour

We hiked in the Parc National Cadi Moixero -- to an animal shelter refugi called St La Logan --trailhead directions were given to us at the local everything store in the middle of Bellver where you can also buy wonderful local maps. This hike takes you in and out of woods, dirt roads and finally forest to a grassy knoll with the shelter on it. Great picnic area! The next day we had a georgeous hike to the Pas des Gosolans (too much snow to reach to top of the pass, but we could see it) -- the Refugi Prat d'Aguido o C.A Torres - below the pass -- has spectacular views also. ( you can drive your car just about to the Refugi and hike to the pass, but the road is really awful, so be careful!!! We had lunch there and marveled at the views!!!) The Muntanya de Meranges (also in the Cadi area) has wonderful hikes to beautiful remote lakes. You could spend a week here - but we spent 2 days. There is a posted panel with many hikes, but I would suggest a good map for the whole region. The panel will give you an idea of lakes you could hike to but not topography.

We usually go to the Pyrenees in mid Oct for 2 - 3 wks. It can get very cold so be prepared. We hike in long johns w/ hiking shorts but bring all cold-weather gear, including handwarmers!!! (A few times, we've had some warm days, but not many, and the tops of the mts are quite cold and windy.)

Let me know if you want info on our favorite areas for hiking in the Spanish Pyrenees- Val d'Aran and Benasque!! (The distance doesn't look far on the map, but the driving is slow.) Susie Newton MA