Pyrenean Highs: A cyclist's exploration of the mountains' past, present and future [9781399423373]

Overview

A year-long adventure by bike across the Pyrenees to discover the rich history, stunning scenery and epic adventures it holds.

First captivated by the mountains as a cycling fan in the early 1990s, Peter Cossins moved with his family to the French Pyrenees in 2016 and has recently completed a year meandering through the chain by bike. In Pyrenean Highs, he explores the long history of the Pyrenees, investigating how it's been moulded as a result of being a place of escape and sanctuary, and looks ahead to a future where climate warming is already bringing considerable change to the magnificent highland landscapes, to its flora and fauna, and to the lives of the people who live there.

Along Peter's journey of discovery he unearths the world's most remote Pablo Picasso museum, crosses the Catalan hills that inspired Salvador Dalí, gets embroiled in the heated conflict between farmers and environmentalists sparked by the reintroduction of bears, becomes infatuated with the vultures that are once again soaring over Pyrenean peaks. He also reflects on both the joy and the pain that comes from riding a bike in the Pyrenees and becomes obsessed with finding the perfect mountain road.