TWO Trellech residents have recently returned from an 868-kilometre adventure across the Atlantic Pyrenees.

From June until mid July, Mike Moffatt and Alex Campbell from Trellech adventured through France and Spain by traversing from the Atlantic Pyrenees to the Mediterranean coast.

Their journey took them a distance of 868 kilometres, with an ascent of 38,880 metres. Their overall ascent was four times the height of Everest.

The pair began in Hendaye on 4th June and finished in Banyuls Sur Mer on 12th July.

Their route took them across wild, remote and spectacular high cols (the lowest point on a mountain range), with some of the higher cols above 2750 metres still containing deep snow laying on the more northern facing slopes.

En-route they saw eagles, lammergeier, chamois, marmots, African vultures and a variety of small lizards including the European adder and venomous Montpelier snake.

Wild camping often in the more remoter areas also gave them sensational night views of the stars and constellations above them.

When back in Monmouthshire, both Mike and Alex give up some of their spare time to be part of Monmouth Town Council’s litter warrior group. As a contrast, on their journey they noted how the whole of the Pyrenean range is practically litter free.