Day 9

A longer walk from Laruns today, mainly on a local signed route which took us across the Rivers Ossau & Valentin, then up steep enclosed lanes to the village of Aas. After that it was downhill to the Valentin again and into the Spa of Eaux Bonnes. Once there, the path zigzagged gently up to another viewpoint before returning us to the town and back down to Laruns - nearly 15Km altogether.

The Blip shows Eaux Bonnes from above on the other side of the valley. It looked amazing from the distance, but, when we got there, a lot of the hotels were actually boarded up and on need of new owners and some tlc. The Spa developed in the late 19th century - "taking the waters" is obviously not so popular nowadays, although one thermal treatment centre has been renovated, including the addition of a dome on top.

The weather was kind, in that it didn't rain, and there were various other points of interest, including the insectivorous butterwort actually in flower on a shaded, moss-covered, wet rock face.