INTRODUCTION

From 2018 onwards the format for our "Adventure Trails" trips have changed a little. We have taken the best of the old "Adventure Trails" and blended it with the best of the old "Gravity Enduro" trips to bring you this new and awesome format. Enough climbing to remind you that you are "trail riders" but with more uplift than ever before to get even more value from the incredible trail network and mountains that we have available to us. Not quite a pure shuttling holiday, just more access to bigger and better descents!

This area which takes in the Cerdagne and Capcir valleys is singletrack heaven and lends itself perfectly to classic trail riding with about 400km of marked VTT trails and endless unmarked trails - that's where our local knowledge comes in. We live here permanently and work with the locals on developing the trail network. We know routes to suit everyone from short steady rides to epic downhill adventures adventures. Due to the shape of the valleys and the height of the plateau we have an amazing variety of trails on offer, from singletrack descents of awesome proportions, alpine bike parks and all day rides which are truly epic. With singletrack descents of over 20km available to play on, you are sure to finish every day with a huge grin.

We tailor each week to the group's desires and capabilities. To get the most out of our trips we recommend that a good standard of mountain biking skills in natural rocky singletrack terrain is needed. An ability to comfortably ride red and black Welsh and Scottish trail centre trails is good, but we are riding natural singletrack! You should be comfortable riding all day for multiple days to get the most out of your trip. This venue is not ideal for beginner riders.

We recommend that riders wear knee pads as a minimum on the descents as the trails are rocky! other protection is at the riders discretion.

Check out the additional information for our summer holidays.

A season of Adventure Trails

THE TRAILS

What we do on our guided rides is up to you. We use our transport to give you the most "funtime" we can riding a selection of the best trails in our local area. We don’t set out with a specific plan at the beginning of the week. We will make the best use of the massive variety of trails available to us to ensure that each day gives great riding and a different perspective on the area. Our aim is simply to take you on only the best trails, many that you would not have found without us. We know the area inside out, where to stop for lunch, where the good views are, where the next drinks stop is. Whilst on the trails we often use our years of experience to help clients improve their riding skills in real world situations. For example if you would like to know how to really attack hairpins/switchbacks then we have the knowledge and trails to help you perfect them.

To give a flavour of what is on offer below are details of a few of our favourites.

The Descent To Olette

Check out the video of this descent below.

This is the classic local ride with our own special trail added on to make it even better. We start the ride from "the Mouli" crossing the valley to Mont Louis and then climbing up through the Commando firing range (keep your head down!!). Once up we stop for lunch with a spectacular view across the valley towards the border ridge, before starting the descent. What a trail! The descent starts at just shy of 2000m at the Serre de Clavera and we drop 1400m (about 12km) all on amazing singletrack (including our own cleared trail named 007 as it is a well kept secret) to finish at the bar in Olette. This is a favorite of everyone and people come back again and again just to ride it.

Basse Cerdagne day

Shuttles a gogo on this action packed day. We hit the trails hard, drop after drop each one different in style from the last and with the best part of 3000m of descent done at the end of the day you know you have ridden your bike. As we have crossed into Spain during the day it is only normal that we finish the day with some well earned Cervezas and Tapas!

The Tet Valley offensive

Ride from the door, drop 1000m on perfect singletrack, coffee, shuttle, ride another incredible trail, repeat.... There are so many options in the Tet valley we can keep this up all day eventually finishing in one of our favorite haunts, the bar at Olette. Just a perfect day.

The Ying and the Yang

This trail has rapidly become our firm favourite. Only accessible when the telecabine at La Molina is working it is well worth the effort. After a spectacular uplift to 2400m we crank up the last 150m under our own steam and at this altitude and steepness this small section packs a punch. That done the stunning view from the summit of the Tossa De Alp makes it all worthwile and the knowledge of what is to come gets the adrenaline pumping. From here we fly down an ever changing trail of your fantasies. Plummeting and flowing towards the valley floor 15km below with 2000m of drop gives you plenty of time to reflect on the majesty of the mountains we are in. But just remember, it is always better to be stopped when you are admiring the scenery to avoid becoming part of it!

Circuit of the Galbe

A classic big mountain day which defines the term "Mountain Biking". This ride has it all. Fantastic scenery, a big climb and an amazing 1100m singletrack descent. We start at the Ski station of Formigueres and climb up and over the Serra de Mauri (2412m) before descending to a well-earned coffee stop at the beautiful Refuge de Camporells. Another climb then leads to the famous Estany de Diable (the devils lake) where we stop for lunch and then start our descent. 1100m of the finest mountain singletrack you will ever ride leads us back down to the valley floor and a well-deserved beer at the bar in Formigueres to finish. An epic day out!

The Border Crossing

Possibly the hardest one-day ride you will ever do! A true epic in every sense, the border crossing starts with a very tough two hour climb followed by a portage to reach the summit of the highest mountain on the border ridge (Puigmal 2910m). That is the easy part done, now for the descent. 2000m of all mountain trail descent to test even the best riders’ bike handling skills and nerve. The trail descends for 23km back into France passing the famous mountain sanctuary of Nuria before plunging into the ravine of Llo. After approximately 3 hours of descending we bottom out at the town of Saillagouse for a well-earned beer and a van transfer back to the Mouli. Due to the nature of the descent which is at least extreme and more, we do not offer this trail to everybody.

The Cami Ramader

Once the drovers way up the valley of Evol this trail now offers an incredible one hour, seat of you pants descending trail. The "Cami Ramader" is just the last piece of this big day out which features big climbs, amazing scenery and a heap of singletrack. We normally run this trail from an uplifted start to reduce the climbing required from 2 hours to 1, but it is still a beast of a day out and worth every ounce of sweat!

The Roca Foradada

The Roca Foradada translates from Catalan to "the rock with a hole in it ". On this day we jump in the vans for a quick hop over the border into Spain and head up into the Sierra de Cadi range. A change of rock gives us scenery made up of huge limestone cliffs littered with old drovers and miners trails. A climbing start gets us warmed up for a fun rolercoaster trail to and past "The Roca Foradada" then under the spectacular headwall of the "Cadi". The second part of the day traverses under the cliffs climbing to our high point before we connect into the highlight of the day. Over an hour of undulating then descending singletrack sees us flying along one of the spurs coming out from the main cliff and descending back down to the town of Bellver over 1000m below.

These are just a few of the trails you might try in any one week. There are many more on offer - we estimate we could ride for 3 weeks without repeating a trail!

Video

The descent to Ollete:

INTRODUCTION

Probably the most incredible point to point mountain bike trip you will ever do! From the heart of the Pyrenees to the beaches of the Mediterranean, six days of riding in jaw dropping scenery on gobsmacking singletrack. Take a look at the day by day video series shot by Maxence Cabrie at the bottom of this page.

A mountain biking holiday with a difference. Have you ever fancied going on a journey knowing that every descent is going to be a classic and that every day will be full of amazing trails and sights. We did too! Luckily for us we can see the Med' from our base in the mountains and it gave us the idea of a multi-day trip through the mountains to the sea. After a number of voyages of discovery we have come up with a journey which will challenge you physically and technically all along its route. We've even added more uplift! This guarantees you the maximum 'buzz' for minimum grind on some of the most amazing singletrack you will ever ride!

This trip is a multi day singletrack trail ride adventure on a point to point basis and requires a high level of fitness and technical riding skills. We recommend that you are comfortable riding a minimum of red and black Welsh and Scottish trail centre trails and comfortable in mountainous natural singletrack. You should also be comfortable riding all day for multiple days for up to 50km minimum distance and over 1500m of ascent per day. This trip is not for inexperienced riders!

We recommend that riders wear knee pads as a minimum on the descents as the trails are rocky! other protection is at the riders discretion.

OVERVIEW

This multi-day trip is part of a week long holiday. A Saturday arrival is followed by a Sunday warm-up ride and equipment check. For the next 5 days we climb and descend (always descending on very testing singletrack) to finish at a beautiful beach at the end of the mountains. 

Each night is spent in a comfortable hotel except the last night where we are located high up in a mountain refuge (with a great restaurant). Evening meals are included and are eaten in the hotel or at local restaurants (imagine sitting out in the evenings warmth in a town plaza enjoying your meal with a glass of the local wine) to fill you up ready for the next day’s epic instalment.

On Friday evening we return to our mountain base for a celebration dinner.

A season on the Summit to Sea

Check out the additional information for our summer holidays.

Day 1 - St Pierre to Prades

49km with 3820m of descent

We set off from our base in St Pierre and drop into the "Ridge of Doom" trail to Fontpedrouse to ensure you are wide awake before climbing to the mountain hamlet of Llar and riding the second half (5km and 750m drop) of the "Descent to Olette". After a quick break for coffee and a snack we head up the big climb of the day past the picturesque village of Jujols to the incredible passage through the "Roque Fumade". Once you have removed your blinkers we pick up the start of a 1000m descent to Villefranche passing along the way some beautiful open mountain singletrack, the "machine a laver" (washing machine) and a section of switchbacks that go on forever. After a well-earned drink in Villefranche we roll down the valley to our hotel in Prades. 

Day 2 - Prades to Ceret

55km with 3080m of descent

We roll out of Prades and warm up with a climb and descent to Sahorre before attacking a 45min hike and ride climb accessing an amazing balcony singletrack to the village of Baillestavy. This trail mixes some flowing but rocky descent with tight switchbacks and short climbs leaving you wondering how hard-core the ancient inhabitants of this area were. A road climb/shuttle leads to another favourite feature of the trip, the disused mineral railway to the Col de Formentera. For a flat piece of trail it really is special! At the end of this we return to our favourite direction, down... Known locally as "Omlette 3" as you don't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs you can only guess how good this trail is. From Amelie les Bains we cruise down another disused railway to the beautiful walled town of Ceret (famed as the home of the artist Picasso) for dinner in a tree lined plaza and a beer in one of the many colourful bars.

Day 3 - Ceret to Macanet De Cabrenys (Spain)

Fontfrede descent - 7km with a 920m drop

Fontfrede to Macanet - 17km with 1795m of descent

The fun day! After two pretty hard days we set off in the morning in the van to the summit of the Pic de Fontfrede. From here we descend nonstop for 7km (920m drop) on an array of technical trail that leaves you as breathless as if you had just done the 7km climb. After a refreshment break in Ceret to recover we load up again and head back up to be dropped at the end of the road for the climb to the Col de Salines on the French Spanish border. Lunch is eaten on the ridge with a foot in each country and views in all directions is followed by another technical masterpiece heading down towards Macanet de Cabrenys. After what seems like forever twisting round, over and through granite boulders we pick up the second half of the Macanet Enduro circuit for some groomed descents leading to the village.

Day 4 - Macanet to Coll de L'Uillat

33km with 1150m of descent

Macanet was one of the last villages to fall to the facists at the end of the Spanish civil war and in the morning we cruise a bit more of the enduro circuit before tracing the steps of the fleeing locals to the Coll de Ill were the last remaining generals on the side of the Communists escaped into France. We follow the border ridge on fireroad and then another nice and technical singletrack to the modern border town of Le Perthus passing first a Roman and then a Napoleonic fortress to show how contested this area has been. After refreshments in Le Perthus we hit the road for the final climb/shuttle of the day to the Refuge at the Coll de L'Uillat for our final night on the trail and fantastic views all the way back along the chain of the Pyrenees. The accommodation here is basic but the atmosphere more than makes up for it.

Day 5 - Coll de L'Uillat to Racou Plage

From our mountain eyrie we head out along the ridge of the Alberes range on a jeep track with fantastic views of the sea getting closer and closer a thousand meters below us. At the Coll de Trois Hetres the trail changes and we start down. Open ridges change to granite rock fests and we pass sections of trail with names like "Two fingers and an ankle" and the "Placa des arms" to drop closer to our goal. Just when the arms and legs are starting to really complain at the constant assault we drop out onto a short section of fire road to link us to "The last drop". This trail has been built to persuade you that you are, after all, a mountain bike god! Enjoy... Half a km of road and a sprint for the sign gets us to the picturesque seaside village of Racou Plage and the Med'. The "Summit to the Sea" is truly done.

Videos

Sometimes it is better to let your guests explain a trip. 

This wonderful day by day account from Maxence Cabrie.

This is Sarah and Alans take on their trip. Beautifully done. (published 3rd Oct 2012)

From the heights of the Pyrenees to the Med beaches in 4 days of epic trail riding! (published 20th Jan 2011)

REVIEWS

I thought the agreed strap line was: Pack your knee pads, chamois cream and a packet of ibuprofen. Although, 'We provide the mountain, you provide the screaming' might also work ;-) Beate

Yo dudes & chicks, Now back home, my face slowly beginning to droop as I look up at the sky that looks like something out of a futuristic doomsday film. Glancing over at my bike box that holds my broken and beaten Spes, thinking she's wanting to be fixed and reunited with the Bentley engine for a thrashing. The bottom line is, the pastures have moved on, along with the sun and motivation is on empty. Anyway, the great times in the Pyrenees will not be forgotten and will be held in my heart until the circle starts again. Absolutely brilliant S2S trip, amazing trails, great weather and fantastic company. Many thanks to you all for coming. Massive thanks to Ian (keg) Pendry and Ange (grip shift) Pendry for having me along. It's been a blast. Until we meet again. Dave