Marcadau Valley

Key information: Marcadau Valley

• An exceptionally beautiful area of varied walking south-west of the pleasing town of Cauterets. Tough Bala?tous to its west, grand Vignemale to its east.
• This long valley winds up into a high, wild area of bare rock, cascades, patches of meadow and stunted pines, surrounded by the broken border- ridge of the high Pyrenean range, with Refuge Wallon at its heart. 
• Cicerone rightly call this is a walkers' paradise, although it can look bleak on a wet day. A huge range of day walks from Wallon, from climbing border-ridge peaks such as the Grande Fache, to exploring side valleys and cols to circuiting the lakes at the heart of the great bowl.
• And you can make the valley part of grand multi-dayers, crossing the high cols to the east below Vignemale to reach the Vallée de Gaube or the Garvarnie area. Or across the southern passes into Spain. 
• Refuge Wallon is a cheerful place, but its accommodation is at the basic end.
• This can be tough walking in high, remote mountains, with very unpredictable weather. Come prepared. 

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For more information and photos, including on wildlife and the landscape and including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our French Pyrenees walk page.