Around Ahaize

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Nothing is going right on this hike

Firstly, as has already been mentioned, point 1 is poorly situated (50m too early) and is completely impassable due to the mud. As a result, we were forced to take a 1.5km detour along the tarmac road to reach point 2.

What’s more, the walk goes downhill for 3 km (4.5 km including the detour), then back uphill. See the elevation profile. This is something we generally prefer to avoid on a good walk, where we usually like to go up and then back down. Perhaps the starting point should be right at the bottom; that would make more sense.

Finally, during the descent we’re more or less in the forest, so without many views, and then during the climb, the lovely views are often behind us – a shame… so it would have made more sense to do it the other way round, but that brings us back to the problem with point 1, where we’d find ourselves stuck if we chose that route.

In short, a hike that needs updating, or removing. It’s a bit of a shame because there are still some lovely views between points 4 and 5. If anything, just do a round trip starting in reverse up to point 4, then come back (1->5->4->5->1); that way you’ll get all the lovely views without the pointless descent (1->2), or the bit ‘passing between the farms on concrete roads’ (2->3), which I also think is pointless.

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Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are plenty of beautiful views. The only downside is the start of the route after the inn, where the path veers right into the forest. It is impassable and, moreover, does not correspond to the actual location

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Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, and there’s a friendly inn at both the start and finish

Be careful: the first section is hard to spot and is also very muddy and therefore slippery

That’s the only tricky bit; after that, it’s all great

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Date of your route : Oct 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A lovely walk in glorious sunshine. Beautiful scenery. Pure bliss.
Gérard

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Date of your route : May 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A slightly shorter alternative is more pleasant, as it avoids spending too much time on the road.
Before point "4", take the track on the left that climbs and is marked in red; keeping to the left (red markings) you’ll reach Antxia (house). The markings lead you through a gate and up a track that joins (at elevation 393) the road leading to Montxondorenea (after your point "5"). Then, follow the road back to the starting point.
Set in open meadows for the first part, this route is shaded from Antxia onwards.
Thank you for your descriptions, which are as helpful as ever.

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Date of your route : Jan 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We had to take a detour because there was a hunt on, but it was still great fun

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Thank you for your comments; I will check them out on my next visit so that I can improve the information provided.

Choosing a starting point is a difficult compromise because I work as a leader for a walking club, so we need to be able to park several vehicles without inconveniencing local residents.

A journalist from Sud-Ouest recently asked me about this after being fined at Mondarain, and I must admit that it is often a tricky issue when planning a route.

Best regards
Hervé

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Date of your route : May 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello,
To get to the starting point, you should specify that you need to take the road via Etxepareko Borda; however, it is easier to set the starting point at 2 and park at Ahaice.
Between points 4 and 5, you should take the left-hand turn-off leading to Martikotenborda farm.
Enjoy the hike
Best regards

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