Around the Bois de Gouloum

This walk takes you to the Bois de Gouloum around the Col de Bugalaran. This lovely route offers stunning views of the village of Aramits along beautiful hillside paths.

Details

5127878
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.83 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,250 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,260 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,854 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 948 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the side of the road before reaching Gourroure. As the road is quite narrow, take care not to obstruct traffic.

(S/E) Take the path to the left of the road. At the three-way junction, turn left onto the path that runs alongside the small stream. At the next junction, veer right, leaving a large concrete pipe on your left. Continue straight ahead, running alongside a field on your right.

(1) At the end of the field, ignore the path you’ll take on the way back; head left until you reach a junction. At this junction, take the path furthest to the left: the signposted path goes to the right but doesn’t give you access to a superb viewpoint over the village of Aramits! Head straight on to reach a large tree, from where you can enjoy the view in question.

(2) Go round it on the left and take the path on the right which drops steeply.

(3) At the junction, keep left and head into the undergrowth. Cross a small stream and follow the path as it bends to the right and heads south. Further on, turn left with the path to reach a small road. Turn left and head straight up to a pretty little house with blue shutters.

(4) Leave it on your left and continue to the three-way junction in the path. Take the path opposite and follow it until you reach the Bois de Gouloum plateau. You will arrive near a large tree on a superb plateau.

(5) At the large tree, turn left towards the pass. Walk for about 60 to 80 metres, then turn right without going up to the pass. Follow the path downhill, keeping to the left at the fork. Pass a paintball field on your left: several paths branch off below. Continue until you reach a forest track suitable for vehicles and follow it to the left until the next junction (entrance to the leisure park).

(6) Once at the junction, take the second track on the left. Do not go up to the park. In front of you is a large meadow enclosed by a large steel gate.

(7) Turn right, leaving the gate on your left, and head back down towards the valley.

(8) At the junction, take the middle path between the ferns and bushes. Follow this track until you return to the pretty house with blue shutters.

(4) Take the path you came along in the opposite direction, until you reach the edge of the small wood after crossing the stream.

(3) Do not head up towards the tree which offered a superb view of the village of Aramits, but turn left onto the hillside path and follow it. At the junction, turn left to return to the field where you started.

(1) Here, do not take the path you took on the way there, which goes down to the right, but continue straight ahead across the field. A path soon appears in front of you; follow it. Continue downhill to the very first junction at the start of the walk, then head diagonally left to reach the roadside car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 961 ft - Roadside parking
  2. 1 : mi 0.45 - alt. 1,207 ft - End of the field
  3. 2 : mi 0.58 - alt. 1,355 ft - Large tree - View of Aramits
  4. 3 : mi 0.64 - alt. 1,270 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.4 - alt. 1,358 ft - House with blue shutters
  6. 5 : mi 2.16 - alt. 1,791 ft - Large tree on the plateau
  7. 6 : mi 3.28 - alt. 1,634 ft - Leisure park junction
  8. 7 : mi 3.4 - alt. 1,690 ft - Steel barrier
  9. 8 : mi 3.61 - alt. 1,640 ft - Path through the bushes
  10. S/E : mi 5.83 - alt. 961 ft - Roadside parking

Notes

This route offers superb views of the village of Aramits.
There is little shade, although you do pass a few streams; take care in hot weather.
May be very busy in peak season.
By following the map, you can easily take other routes that intersect with the one described here.

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.3 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
User 16000983

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The hiking trails are not maintained at all and are very difficult to access (brambles, mud, fallen trees). Disappointing hike

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User 15568410
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I left directly from the church, which adds about 3-4 km to the total distance but allows you to visit the village. With the app, the route is very easy to find. It also allows you to see these beautiful houses and a canal where you can see old farming equipment. As a result, it took me a little over 4 hours, but I really enjoyed it, and it makes this point go from 1 to 2, as it's not very interesting visually on the way back.

I agree with the previous comments: the first part is complicated (from 1 to 2), but the only interesting thing, and not the least, is the lovely view when you turn around. Instead of staying on the path, I took the field next to it after a while and walked through the ferns, 1-2 metres from the trail, rather than through the brambles.
So yes, there was mud (very sticky) and brambles, so wear trousers. My high socks protected me a little.

Before taking the path indicated at point 7, linger for a few minutes. There is an orientation table with a description of the very pretty viewpoint. It is just a few metres above this barrier, which you should not take, as it is a space with barbed wire. On the day of my hike, there were cows and calves, but they easily let me pass. The view is very nice, even though it was quite hazy for me.

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User 25838513

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first kilometre is virtually impassable. Right from the start, the path through the woods was very muddy, not to mention that I agree with the previous review that the path along the field is not maintained. It is difficult to walk on, so bring a machete. It is better to take the return path at the start.

The start of the route is really chaotic, which unfortunately spoils the rest. It's the first time I've ever wanted to turn back, what a shame!!!

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Captain Cavern
Captain Cavern
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

I would actually recommend parking a little way before the start.
Right from the start, the path through the woods was quite muddy, not to mention that – and here I agree with the previous comment – the path running alongside the field is not maintained.
You have two options: either go straight across the field or take the return path.
Apart from that, the walk is well worth the detour and presents no real difficulties.
There are a few gentle climbs.
The rest of the paths are perfectly passable.
Beautiful views of the village of Aramits.
A stroll through the mountain pastures and woodland.
At point 4, be sure to take the path furthest to the left that goes uphill (the one on the right is blocked by a gate).
The GPS track is very useful as there is little signposting.
Thank you for the track.

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Vincent Lafori
Vincent Lafori

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A lovely walk… Just one downside: the path hasn’t been maintained up to point 1. It’s difficult to walk on (brambles). It’s better to take the return route instead.

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Philou64
Philou64
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route completed on 27 February in overcast conditions with fog on the peaks. We’d hoped it would clear, but unfortunately the weather forecast was a bit off – the sun came out just as we’d finished.
A lovely route in the Basque mountains; the description is very accurate. There are virtually no signposts, so a GPS with the track is useful.
We extended the route from point 6 to complete the Tembla Gourante circular route and climb to the summit of Souek (which we didn’t do because of the fog and a recent controlled burn that was still smouldering...)

Suggestions
(4) Keep left and carry on to the three-way junction. Take the path opposite, which goes uphill....
(5) At the large tree, turn left towards the pass. Walk for about 60 to 80 m then turn right onto a grassy track that is barely marked without climbing up to the pass.......
(6) Once at the crossroads, take the second track on the left. Do not go up to the park. In front of you is a large meadow enclosed by a large steel gate. On your right is an orientation table.

Enjoy your walk, everyone.

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