dmu

If your OH has a health problem, then make sure there's a Hospital and/or relevant specialists nearby. The spa waters attract curists with urinary disorders, and there may not be other specialists. Will his healthcare insurance cover you yourself in France? If not, and if you aren't of retirement age, you must take out a private healthcare insurance, or set up a business and contribute into the System.
I believe the same applies in Spain re your healthcare insurance and setting up a business. You should ask specific questions on these important issues and on the question of treatment for your OH, not just what outdoor activities there are!

Bonnet

The outdoor activities were in response to her thinking of setting up a place for vacationers or renting space in some capacity.
The health situation is the same all over France and is always applicable.

dmu

This goes without saying! I'm just thinking priorities....

And there's another aspect: if the OP's daughter is thinking of leaving the UK with her parents, then this raises other important issues that must also be researched when looking at options, in whatever country....

EuroTrash

Bonnet's post kind of confirmed my impression of Haute-Pyrenées though I've only passed through and stayed for the odd night. It's a bit of a Marmite destination - either you love it or you find it's not for you at all. Not for the faint-hearted.

(I like 'provident insurance', I'd just like to be convinced that insurers actually call their policies that - it's unfortunate that there's the Provident Insurance Group and they've hijacked the term.)

I thought the OP meant her husband is a retired doctor on a pension! Doh.

Gail01

thanks again for everyones comments, I feel I need to clarify my husband isn't ill. He got medically discharged from the armed forces after a broken leg was not detected which didn't heal correctly and found distance running with weight a problem so was unable to go on operational detachments.

Bonnet

Well Gail01, if OH wants to get fit there is the famous G10, ostensibly a road upon which hardy walkers and runners cross the tops of the Pyrenees which takes a couple of months west to east or alternatively the road to St. Jacques de Compostella which would take about two months from the 65. Closer to home there are the mountains all across the dept and he could choose any angled slope he wanted. There are millions of fields just waiting to be conquered!

Seriously if he dos have mobility problems he won't be able to access as many places as he might because the dept is either mountains or foothills.Except for highways in valleys and the river levels (and the Canal du Neste) , just about everything else is sloped.