From coastal paths to mountain trails, these ten useful additions can help make a day on foot safer, cooler and considerably more comfortable
The Pyrénées-Orientales is made for exploring on foot. One day you might be following a sun-baked path above the Côte Vermeille; the next, climbing through pine forest towards a high mountain lake. There are gentle vineyard rambles, shady woodland routes, rocky ascents and paths where the view is magnificent but the mobile signal has apparently decided to take the day off.
That variety is part of the appeal. It also means that packing for a walk here deserves a little more thought than throwing a bottle of water into a bag and hoping enthusiasm will do the rest.
Good footwear, appropriate clothing and a route suited to your experience should always come first. Beyond those basics, we have selected ten practical items that could earn their place in your walking kit. You will not need every item for every route, but each addresses a real issue walkers encounter in the P-O, from fierce sunshine and loose descents to fading batteries and unexpectedly late finishes.
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1. A proper day-walking backpack
The bag you use matters more once you are carrying several litres of water, extra layers, food and emergency equipment. A normal fashion backpack may be perfectly adequate for a stroll around the lake, but on a longer route, padded shoulder straps, ventilation and a supportive fit can make a noticeable difference.
The Osprey Hikelite Unisex Hiking Backpack, 26L, Raven Black is a purpose-built daypack with enough room for the essentials without encouraging you to pack as though you are crossing the Pyrenees for a month. The Hikelite range is designed around a ventilated back system, which is a particularly welcome feature when the temperature starts climbing.
2. More water than you think you need
If there is one thing not to underestimate in the Pyrénées-Orientales, it is water. Routes with very little shade can become punishingly hot, and a fountain shown on an old route description should never be treated as your guaranteed water supply.
FFRandonnée guidance suggests roughly one litre of water per person for every two hours of walking, with more needed in hot conditions. Your precise needs will vary according to the weather, route, effort and individual, but a tiny bottle is rarely enough for a substantial summer walk.
The Bambaw 1L Stainless Steel Water Bottle, Insulated Bottle for Hot or Cold Drinks, Lightweight Hiking Bottle in Premium Stainless Steel, provides a one-litre capacity and an insulated stainless-steel design. For a longer or hotter route, one bottle may need to be supplemented with another bottle or a hydration reservoir.
View this insulated bottle on Amazon
3. Walking poles for steep or loose ground
Walking poles are not compulsory, and on a flat coastal promenade they may feel rather ambitious. On rocky descents, uneven paths or long climbs, however, they can improve stability and take some of the strain off tired legs.
The Overmont Folding Aluminium Hiking Poles, Ultralight, Adjustable from 105 to 125 cm, One Pair with All-Terrain Accessories fold down for carrying and can be adjusted to suit different users and terrain. If you are new to poles, take time to set them to the correct length and practise somewhere easy before relying on them on a difficult path.
View these walking poles on Amazon
4. A hat that stays useful when the sun gets serious
A cap is better than nothing, but a brim that also shades the ears and neck is useful on exposed paths. This is especially true on the coast, where the breeze can disguise how strong the sun feels until later, when your face announces the news.
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney Unisex Hat is a lightweight outdoor hat with a broad brim and an adjustable chin cord. The latter may not be the height of Riviera glamour, but it becomes considerably more attractive when the tramontane tries to send your hat towards Spain.
5. High-factor sun protection
Sun protection is not just for beach days. Altitude, extended exposure and reflective rock can all add to the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching your skin. Apply a suitable broad-spectrum sunscreen before setting out and reapply it according to the product instructions, particularly after heavy sweating.
For the face, one current Amazon France option is La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 SPF 50 Sunscreen, Enriched with Glycerine, UVA/UVB Protection, Hydrating Facial Care Without White Marks. It is a compact 50 ml facial sunscreen, so remember that you may also need a separate product for exposed arms, legs and neck.
View this facial sunscreen on Amazon
6. A local walking guide that does not depend on a signal
Phones are extremely useful for navigation, but batteries fail, screens break and coverage disappears. A printed guide or map provides a valuable second source of information and can help you choose a route appropriate to the weather, time available and abilities of your group.
Le Guide Rando Pyrénées Orientales: Canigou, Cerdagne, Capcir, Vallespir, Conflent, Cap Creus contains around 50 routes across the eastern Pyrenees. Its coverage includes some of the department’s best-known walking areas, from the Canigou and the lakes of the Capcir and Cerdagne to the Vallespir and Cap Creus.
A guidebook is not a substitute for an up-to-date large-scale map on complex mountain terrain. Check the route, access information and conditions before leaving, and never assume a printed description reflects a recent closure or hazard.
7. A compact first-aid kit
Most walking mishaps are less dramatic than a mountain rescue but still unpleasant when you are kilometres from the car. Blisters, grazes and small cuts are easier to manage when you have basic supplies rather than a crumpled tissue and a vague memory of seeing a plaster somewhere.
The HONYAO Mini First Aid Kit, 90 Pieces, Small Medical Kit for Car, Home, Workplace, Travel, Camping, Hiking and Outdoor Sports measures approximately 15 x 12 x 5 cm and weighs about 240 g according to its Amazon listing. That makes it compact enough for a daypack.
Check the contents when it arrives, learn how to use them and add any personal medication or blister treatment you require. A purchased kit is only useful if it is complete, in date and actually in your bag.
View this first-aid kit on Amazon
8. A rechargeable headtorch
You may have every intention of returning before dark. Walks, unfortunately, do not always consult the schedule. A wrong turn, slower progress, an injury or an irresistible picnic stop can turn a comfortable afternoon finish into a race against sunset.
The PETZL ACTIK CORE Headlamp, 600 Lumens, Grey, Supplied with CORE Rechargeable Battery provides both white and red lighting and can be recharged. A headtorch also leaves both hands free, which is rather more helpful on uneven terrain than trying to illuminate the path with a phone.
Charge it before leaving and consider carrying compatible spare batteries where appropriate. A torch hidden at the bottom of the bag with a flat battery is mainly an exercise in added weight.
9. Backup power for your phone
Even when you are carrying a paper guide or map, your phone remains useful for weather updates, emergency calls, photographs and GPS. Navigation apps can drain the battery surprisingly quickly, particularly when the screen is bright and the signal is weak.
The Anker PowerCore 10000 mAh Power Bank with PowerIQ Technology and USB-C offers a relatively compact source of additional power. Check that you also pack the correct cable for your phone, because a fully charged power bank with the wrong connector is a particularly modern form of uselessness.
Download any maps you need before leaving. A power bank extends battery life, but it cannot manufacture mobile coverage in a remote valley.
View this power bank on Amazon
10. A reusable emergency thermal blanket
A clear, warm start does not guarantee a clear, warm finish. Wind, altitude, injury and rapidly changing weather can leave a stationary walker cold remarkably quickly. An emergency thermal blanket is light, compact and worth carrying even though you hope never to unfold it.
The Lifesystems Heatshield Blanket, Single, Orange is described as a lightweight, durable and reusable thermal blanket for protection from the elements. Its bright orange finish also improves visibility in an emergency.
This is emergency equipment, not a replacement for appropriate clothing, waterproof layers or judgement. Once opened, learn how it should be used and inspect it before returning it to your kit.
View this emergency blanket on Amazon
Before you set off
Equipment helps, but decisions matter more. Check the mountain forecast through Météo-France, choose a route suitable for every member of the group and tell somebody where you are going. Allow more time than the optimistic version of you thinks necessary.
During periods of elevated wildfire danger, consult the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture’s daily access map before entering forest massifs. Access can be restricted according to the risk level, and the situation can change from one day to the next.
Carry suitable footwear and layers even when they do not appear on a neat list of Amazon recommendations. In cooler seasons or at altitude, pack warm and waterproof clothing. In summer, consider starting early and be prepared to change or abandon the walk when heat, wind, fire risk or thunderstorms make the original plan unwise.
Finally, keep the European emergency number 112 saved in your phone, while remembering that a saved number is not the same as a guaranteed signal.
The P-O offers an extraordinary range of landscapes to explore, from paths above the Mediterranean to high mountain country. Pack thoughtfully, check the conditions and leave room in the bag for the one thing no online list can provide: a little common sense.
Useful official information
- Météo-France mountain forecast for the Pyrenees
- Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture information on wildfire risk and access restrictions
- FFRandonnée advice for walking in very hot weather
Ready to put your walking kit to good use?
Why not start with the short and fairly easy coastal walk from Le Racou to Collioure, enjoy history and mountain scenery on the Olette Circular, or combine walking and wine country on the Vineyards of Terrats Circular? More experienced mountain walkers can head higher with the spectacular Col Mitja route from Prats-Balaguer. You can also browse our complete Walk the Region collection for many more routes across the Pyrénées-Orientales. Always check the weather, access conditions and difficulty before setting off.
Wherever your next walk takes you, pack well, take your time and enjoy discovering the extraordinary landscapes of the Pyrénées-Orientales, one path at a time.