In Eighteenth Century France there was a great demand for very tall, straight tree trunks to be used as masts of sailing ships. (Mâture is the French word for 'mast'.) One area of the Pyrenees produced ideal trees - but how could the trunks be brought down a very steep ravine? The answer was to hack out a path, through solid rock, for the mules to carry the trunks. 300 years later, the path is still there and, apart from the occasional rockfall blocking the path, makes for an excellent hike.

Who, but a madman, would take his 76 year old mother along this trail? You've probably guessed...

Here we see my brother, Martin, taking an important call from his agent. Nice to be hiking in the Pyrenees and yet not lose bookings. Click on Martin Taylor to find out more about my brother and his uncanny resemblance to a well known footballer.