Pyrenees Excursion - Ampuriabrava to San Sebastiàn
This bush trip, which spans the full width of the Iberian Peninsula, explores the storied Pyrenees mountains.
The journey begins on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the Gulf of Roses, then traverses the entire range of peaks from southeast to northwest, and ends at the waters of the Bay of Biscay.
From the cockpit, you’ll admire all the best that this spine of peaks displays, including the ridges, valleys, and summits of the Pyrenees themselves, to the small villages, fields, and forests that complete this wonderful Iberian mosaic.
Assistance on the trip will be available in the form of a 'Back on Track' button on the VFR Map -- however, be advised that using this will disable achievements tied to the activity.
Total Legs: 4 Total Distance: 286 Total Time(125kts): 2 hours 17 minutes
Leg 1
Ampuriabrava to La Cerdanya
Leg Distance: 60 Approximate time at 125kts: 29 minutes.
Ampuriabrava(LEAP) to Aiguamolls de l'Emporda(POI1)
Distance: 1.48NM Bearing: 349° 1 minutes
After launching from Empuriabrava Airport, head north to Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, a national park in Spain's Caledonia that protects wetlands formed just inland of the Bay of Roses.
Aiguamolls de l'Emporda(POI1) to Figueres(POI2)
Distance: 6.41NM Bearing: 257° 3 minutes
Figueres, birthplace of surreal artist Salvador Dalí, lies to the west-southwest.
Figueres(POI2) to Boadella Reservoir(POI3)
Distance: 7.98NM Bearing: 307° 4 minutes
Northwest of Figueres, over patchworks of fields and then foothills of the Pyrenees, lies Boadalla Reservoir, which was formed by damming the Muga River.
Boadella Reservoir(POI3) to Lamanere(POI4)
Distance: 13.47NM Bearing: 271° 6 minutes
Cross into France to visit Lamanére, a small mountain village of the Pyrenees.
Lamanere(POI4) to Camprodon(POI5)
Distance: 7.39NM Bearing: 246° 4 minutes
Turn to the southwest, cross back into Spain, and visit the small village of Camprodon.
Camprodon(POI5) to Ribes de Freser(POI6)
Distance: 8.77NM Bearing: 265° 4 minutes
Fly to the west, to the town of Ribes de Freser, which lies at the confluence of the Freser, Rigard, and the Segadell Rivers, all important waterways of the Pyrenees.
Ribes de Freser(POI6) to Fornells de la Muntanya(POI7)
Distance: 5.46NM Bearing: 280° 3 minutes
West-northwest of Ribes de Freser lies the small village of Fornells de la Muntanya, which features beautiful stone architecture built into mountainsides.
Fornells de la Muntanya(POI7) to Alp(ALP)
Distance: 7.7NM Bearing: 291° 4 minutes
Continue on your course to the village of Alp, home to a small ski resort, La Molina.
Alp(ALP) to La Cerdanya(LECD)
Distance: 1.34NM Bearing: 304° 1 minutes
Land at Aeródromo de la Cerdanya, which lies just to the northwest of Alp.
Leg 2
La Cerdanya to Aeródromo Coscojuela De Sobrarbe
Leg Distance: 90.55 Approximate time at 125kts: 43 minutes.
La Cerdanya(LECD) to Bellver de Cerdanya(POI8)
Distance: 3.93NM Bearing: 252° 2 minutes
After launching from Aeródromo de la Cerdanya, head to the west-southwest to Bellver de Cerdanya, a Pyrenees town with a number of outlying villages.
Bellver de Cerdanya(POI8) to La Seu d'Urgell(POI9)
Distance: 14.25NM Bearing: 266° 7 minutes
West of Bellver de Cerdanya, across a deep valley, lies La Seu d'Urgell, a city at the confluence of the Valira and Segre Rivers that is known as the gateway to the tiny country of Andorra.
La Seu d'Urgell(POI9) to Rialp(RIALP)
Distance: 15.14NM Bearing: 288° 7 minutes
From La Seu d'Urgell, turn to the northwest to the village of Rialp.
Rialp(RIALP) to Estany Tort(POI10)
Distance: 8.25NM Bearing: 304° 4 minutes
From Rialp, continue to the northwest, and pass over Estany Tort, a beautiful high mountain lake, one of many in this rugged section of the Pyrenees.
Estany Tort(POI10) to Pico de Aneto(POI11)
Distance: 15.87NM Bearing: 293° 8 minutes
Continue to the northwest, flying above the high Pyrenees to Pico de Aneto, the highest point in the range at 11,168 feet above sea level.
Pico de Aneto(POI11) to Posets Maladeta Nature Preserve(POI12)
Distance: 5.33NM Bearing: 278° 3 minutes
Posets Maladeta Nature Preserve lies just to the west-northwest of Pico de Aneto, and protects some of the most beautiful features of the Pyrenees.
Posets Maladeta Nature Preserve(POI12) to Pico Posets(POI13)
Distance: 4.55NM Bearing: 276° 2 minutes
Continue on a west-northwest course from Posets Maladeta Nature Preserve to Pico Posets, the second highest mountain in the Pyrenees at 11,053 feet above sea level.
Pico Posets(POI13) to Plan(PLAN)
Distance: 6.14NM Bearing: 223° 3 minutes
From Pico Posets, turn to the southwest to the tiny hamlet of Plan, which is set amid spectacular mountain scenery.
Plan(PLAN) to Tierrantona(POI14)
Distance: 13.07NM Bearing: 192° 6 minutes
South-southwest of Plan lies Tierrantona, which, like Plan, is surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery.
Tierrantona(POI14) to Aerodromo Coscojuela De Sobrarbe(LEPG)
Distance: 4.02NM Bearing: 251° 2 minutes
From Tierrantona, head west-southwest and land at the small grass airstrip at Coscojuela de Sobrarbe.
Leg 3
Aeródromo Coscojuela De Sobrarbe to Aeródromo De Lumbier
Leg Distance: 87.42 Approximate time at 125kts: 42 minutes.
Aerodromo Coscojuela De Sobrarbe(LEPG) to Ainsa(A?NSA)
Distance: 4.48NM Bearing: 332° 2 minutes
Once back in the air, head north-northwest to Aínsa, a village at the base of a band of high cliffs.
Ainsa(A?NSA) to Monte Perdido(POI15)
Distance: 16.37NM Bearing: 342° 8 minutes
From Aínsa, fly north-northwest to Monte Perdido, "Lost Mountain," which is the third highest peak in the Pyrenees at 11,007 feet above sea level.
Monte Perdido(POI15) to Glacier d'Ossoue(POI16)
Distance: 9.52NM Bearing: 305° 5 minutes
Turn to the northwest, following the crest of the Pyrenees, and pass into France to visit Glacier d'Ossoue.
Glacier d'Ossoue(POI16) to Candanchu(POI17)
Distance: 17.18NM Bearing: 272° 8 minutes
Nearly due west of Glacier d'Ossoue, on the Spanish side of the border, lies Candanchú, a ski resort town.
Candanchu(POI17) to Anso(ANS?)
Distance: 13.35NM Bearing: 260° 6 minutes
West-southwest of Candanchú lies the village of Ansó.
Anso(ANS?) to Burgui(POI18)
Distance: 7.96NM Bearing: 254° 4 minutes
Maintain your heading and reach the small town of Burgui.
Burgui(POI18) to Embalse de Yesa(POI19)
Distance: 8.65NM Bearing: 216° 4 minutes
Southwest of Burgui lies Embalse de Yesa, a reservoir that many call the "Sea of the Pyrenees."
Embalse de Yesa(POI19) to Liedena(POI20)
Distance: 6.86NM Bearing: 276° 3 minutes
The small village of Liédena lies just to the west of Embalse de Yesa.
Liedena(POI20) to Aerodromo De Lumbier(LELE)
Distance: 3.05NM Bearing: 335° 1 minutes
Land at tiny Lumbier Aerodrome, which is set amid large fields.
Leg 4
Aeródromo De Lumbier to San Sebastiàn
Leg Distance: 47.96 Approximate time at 125kts: 23 minutes.
Aerodromo De Lumbier(LELE) to Irati(IRATI)
Distance: 2.12NM Bearing: 331° 1 minutes
Fly to the northwest once back in the air to Irati, a Pyrenees forest, the second largest beach-fir forest in Europe. The Irati River runs through this forest.
Irati(IRATI) to Embalse de Itoiz(POI21)
Distance: 7.1NM Bearing: 344° 3 minutes
North-northwest of Irati lies the Embalse de Itoiz, a dam that holds back a large reservoir of the Irati River.
Embalse de Itoiz(POI21) to Eugi(EUGI)
Distance: 11.83NM Bearing: 327° 6 minutes
Continue to the northwest to Eugi, a small village on the southeast shore of the Eugi Reservoir.
Eugi(EUGI) to Santesteban(POI22)
Distance: 11.5NM Bearing: 322° 6 minutes
Continue on course to Santesteban, a town on the Ezkurra River.
Santesteban(POI22) to Bera(BERA)
Distance: 8.92NM Bearing: 354° 4 minutes
Fly due north to the village of Bera, which lies along the Bidasoa River.
Bera(BERA) to San Sebastian(LESO)
Distance: 6.49NM Bearing: 314° 3 minutes
Land at San Sebastiàn Airport, which lies just inland of the Bay of Biscay.
