I’ve always wanted to accompany the annual movement of the animals to their summer pastures in the Pyrenees. This is a long tradition in this area, in the Aude, but more particularly the Ariege. This weekend we had the chance to walk with half a dozen donkeys to their pastures up in the Pays de Sault at more than 900 metres above sea level.

Paule, one of the women who belongs to our walking group looks after donkeys on her land at Belvis on the plateau du Sault. When she moved from Montpellier a few years ago, she brought one donkey, Mina, with her. Since then, without particular intention, she has acquired several more donkeys given to her by local people who no longer have need of them, or who can’t give them the care and attention they need.

Each year, she invites the walking group to help her walk the donkeys from their winter stable in Belvis down to the lush pastures in nearby Belfort, a sweet little village, nestled in isolated meadowland on the edge of local forests. It’s a pleasant walk on farm tracks over rolling fields and on forest paths strewn with leaves.

The donkeys were suitably capricious and stubborn. Given their natural pace, it was easy for Nicholas to keep up on his short legs and he enjoyed splashing in puddles and finding sticks and bugs along the way. The mist added a certain atmosphere to the experience that was no less beautiful than had it been in glorious sunshine.

The donkeys were delighted to reach their destination and to have access to grass and flowers as far as their eyes could see. They also enjoyed the several kilos of carrots that were their reward for the journey.

It was a great experience and one I hope to have the privilege of repeating sometime – perhaps in the Ariege or in the high Pyrenees.