I had meant to produce a piece with details of the main bus routes and timetables but these are difficult to find opine at the moment. Perhaps, the summer timetables have not been released yet
However, I’ll go over the basics again.
You book your tickets at train stations or bus stations. Often if you are in train station you can buys ticket that combines rail and bus travel. For example, travel from Pau to Cauterets and your ticket will cover you from Cauterets to Lourdes (train) and then Lourdes to Cauterets (bus).
In the High Pyrenees buses run direct or change at the village of Pierrefrites.
Valée d’Asp — train to Oloron and then bus.
Cauterets — bus from Lourdes (outside of train station)
Gavarnie — bus via. Luz St Saveur. The small mini bus that runs from Luz to Gavarnie is not on the SNCF timetables and I don’t thick you can buy a through ticket.
Buses from St Saveur nearly always travel on to Bareges.
Bagneres du Luchon is also served from Lourdes.
I’ll post more details when they become available.
Wow! All of these wonderful Pyrenees articles are giving me seriously itchy feet. Humphrey’s two stories are so evocative of warm lazy evenings spent in various bars and eating houses.
I can’t believe it is 28 years ago that I stumbled off the train at La Tour de Carol on my first ever hike. I had my Mom’s frying pan strapped on the outside of my rucsac. I’d just thrown my job in so had no need to stop walking. I ended up in Biarritz. And to think that my only preparation was a short walk along the Birmingham-Fazeley canal. There is real joy in being a naive traveller. Memories of the first trips will last forever.
Keep up the good work Andy.
Dave,
As you know very well, a walk down the Birmingham-Fazely canal should prepare you for anything !!!!
“Pierrefrites” sounds a delicious place, but maybe the village of Pierrefitte might be a better bet for catching a bus!
Steve — I dont worry about the typos
Actually, I prefer my name. There is something faintly wonderful about this town which is half France in Bloom and half concrete factory!
You haven’t lived until you’ve spent three hours here waiting for a bus
I know Pierrefitte well enough, Andy! Its best feature is the lifesize fake bear at the junction up to Cauterets, advertising cheese (“Mangez du fromage – c’est bon”). The rusty hydroelectric pipes are also a great tourist draw, of course…