To get from Berga in the east of the Pyrenees to Pamplona in the west, you can follow motorway pretty much the whole way, and it would take about 6 hours. Far more interesting instead to take the scenic route, skirting the foothills, which also opens up some stunning scenery and takes in numerous world class crags. After our stop-off in Vall de Lord, we ignored the insistent whinging of the sat nav and stubbornly wound our way along the tiny L401 to Col de Nargo. You’re very much aware of travelling against the grain of the land, but the vistas are breathtaking. I sometimes worry that we’ll run out of rock in my lifetime, but I’m sleeping easier after this drive – quite a lot more than you can shake a stick at, and that’s before you hit the acres of crags at Perles and then the tonnes of climbing at Col de Nargo.

We fell victim to a micro heatwave at CdeN, arriving to temps in the mid 20s and with nothing but south facing rock.

We only lasted a couple of routes before bailing to the aircon in the van and heading further westwards and up into the hills…

… passing a mirador with views back to CdeN…

… and then completing the Grand Tour of Lleida crags with a drive-by of Abella de la Conca, Terradets, and Collegats, before picking up the N260 “Eje (Axis) Pirenaico” to El Pont de Suert and our base at Camping Baliera for some more Roca Caliente.

We’d enjoyed exploring the high altitude cragging in the area the previous year, and still had plenty of post-its tucked into the guidebook to explore.

https://rockaroundtheworld.co.uk/tag/roca-caliente/

First a few domestic duties…

… then off exploring. First stop: the group of crags around Santoréns. We scoped out a couple of disappointing sectors before settling on Sector Niu Guei (not the huge pyramid in the background – that’s a world of multi-pitch-adventuring, much of it aid, bookmarked for a future visit. Our crag is the smaller triangle at its foot, gained in an easy 5-10 mins or so.

We just did a couple of routes: Aprovechamiento vecinal de setas, a much better than it looks 6a, and a short-lived effort on the adjacent 6c. More to come back for.

We had a revisit to the absolutely lovely Alins, high above Valle de Isabena…

Valle de Isabena & Alins

… and Helen led Se Quien Eres, 6a

Then went to explore the climbing on El Tallo d’Aulet south of Sopeira. We baulked at the prospect of the uphill slog from the regular parking so embarked on a 4×4 adventure via the alternative high-level approach to Sector Triangulo. Many 4×4 approaches are navigable with care in a regular vehicle but we were in full low-ratio off-road mode. Hopefully the below map…

Plus the guidebook description (a bit vague) plus this shot of the key signpost where you head RIGHT, will help if you choose to follow in our tyre tracks.

Alternatively, here are the coordinates for the sector if you decide to approach from below: N42.318005, E0.721755 https://www.google.com/maps/place/42.318005,0.721755

Good views of the unusual brown formations from the approach drive

… and from the end of the 4×4 track

There are routes up to 50m on this lefthand “cragging” sector, with longer, mixed, multi-pitch adventures to 150m further right. We did El Caso Urquijo, 6a…

… and Hotel Glamour, 6b…

Both good, especially the latter, with really interesting rock features. Certainly not over-travelled and a real sense of being far from the madding crowd, enhanced by our first Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) sighting of the trip.

For comparison (quite distinctively different from the Griffon Vultures we’ve seen all over the place!)

Heading back via Sopeira gave us the opportunity to recce some of the remaining sectors. The roadside Sector Puente looked OK for a future YECTOYD visit, but the Paret d’Escales is definitely on the list for a wild-looking adventure…

… including an equally eye-popping descent via an ancient crumbling zigzag pathway.

Having made the most of a “Bluebird” day for a trip to Cavallers (separate post), a cruddy forecast had us back on the road-less-travelled heading west towards Riglos, and taking the opportunity to recce a few more crags, courtesy of Roca Espana guidebook:

Bisaurri is in a great location and would probably look more inviting on a sunny day:

Sesue is undeniably roadside and the climbing looks worthwhile (certainly handy for a drive-by)

Rapun was possibly the pick of the bunch, with a choice of a shady sector on a steep brown limestone fin or a sunny conglomerate wall (new since the guidebook). Both easy access and very near the motorway. Note the climbing ban from 1 April.

Handy topo at the foot of the crag:

Here’s a map to help you find them:

Also worth a shout out for the N260 Eje Pirenaico – Worth the drive in itself and be sure to check out the Congosto de Ventamillo for another atmospheric climbing spot!