The three most popular excursions from Luchon are those to the Port de Venasque, the mountain pass at the head of the Pique Valley; the Vallee du Lys and the Cascades; and thirdly, the ascent of Superbagneres.

The greatest of all, and in truth the greatest in the Pyrenees, is the ascension of the Pic de Nethou (11,170 ft.), the highest of the range, and its two great buttresses, the Pics Maladetta (10,867 ft.) and Milieu (11,044 ft).  None but experienced mountaineers, with the most experienced guides, attempt this ascent, which is attended with much danger; but there are many other delightful trips in the vicinity, including a visit to the Spanish village of Bosost; up the Aran valley to Viella; a drive to the picturesquely-placed St. Beat, or to the old Roman town of St. Bertrand de Comminges.

Pleasant walks and drives are probably more numerous from Luchon than from any other Pyrenean resort, and though we were rather too early in the year for mountain climbing, the fine weather enabled us to enjoy several other outings, which we will describe in turn.

The Vallee du Lys and the Rue d’Enfer make an agreeable picnic, either in a carriage as far as the “Cabanes du Lys” (6-1/4 miles), and then horses for the other 3-3/4 miles up to the abyss, the cascades, and the Rue d’Enfer, or on horseback all the way.  We preferred the latter, and taking a good lunch in the saddle-bags, made a start at the favoured hour of ten.  Under the lee of the Quinconces, past the Hotel Richelieu, Villa Richelieu, and the elevated Villa Marguerite, and we were fairly on our way, the air sweetly laden with the scent from the flower-decked fields and the lilac-trees in the gardens.

When we passed the little road on the left leading to the Orphanage of Notre Dame du Rocher, the lilac-scent was very strong; and the position of the various buildings in connection with the institution seemed so attractive that we determined to take a stroll there later on.  Pursuing our way, with the restored ruin of the Castelvieil above us on its “monticule” overlooking the Orphanage, we were soon in a narrower part of the valley, with the wooded slopes on either side.  Then we crossed the river to the left bank, which we followed until reaching the point where the road to the Hospice and the Port de Venasque led to the left, and ours crossed the river by a neat bridge (the Pont de Ravi) to the right bank again.  A little beyond this, the route for Superbagneres —­which we hoped to take another day—­struck off among the trees on the right of the road, which in turn gradually bent in the same direction all up the beautiful Lys valley, till it again curved in the opposite direction and arrived at the base of the Cascades, where there is a fair inn (Auberge du Lys).[Footnote:  Only in summer.] From thence the road forks, but the track to the left is the better of the two, at any rate if on foot, and by it—­after fifteen minutes’ labour—­the foot of the Cascade