Around the Col des Abeilles from the Chapelle d'Olhette

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A hike in the heart of nature, with views of either the sea or the mountains, but also offering the chance to discover dolmens and a fortified camp dating back to Napoleon.

Details

n°20707659
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.62 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 392 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 385 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 398 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 49 m
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Photos

And still La Rhune
The Basque coast and the beaches of the Landes
The pass offers a beautiful view of the Spanish mountains
Ziburu mendi

Description of the walk

Park near the Chapelle d'Olhette chapel on the D4.

(S/E) The walk starts from the car park just off the road that runs alongside the Olhette Chapel. Head towards Insola.

(1) Ignore the path on the right, which will be the return route.

(2) Leave the road to Insola and head right towards the Col des Abeilles.

(3) At the pass, before joining the road, take the wide path that climbs to the left towards Ibardin (GR®®10).

(4) At the fork, almost at the top, take the small path on the right. Enjoy the view of Ibardin, the neighbouring peaks including La Rhune, and the Bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

(5) Pass through the middle of the Redoute des Émigrés and continue downhill to the Col des Abeilles.

(6) At the pass, turn onto the wide track marked Piste 2.

(7) At the fork, take the left-hand path.

(8) At the intersection, take the right-hand path.

(9) Leave the wide track that descends and follow the very narrow path that branches off to the right.

(1) Turn left onto the reverse route of the outward journey to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 49 m - Chapel of Olhette
  2. 1 : km 0.47 - alt. 66 m - Start of the circular loop. Walk along the - Intzolako Erreka (cours d'eau) - Affluent de l'Hanibarreko Erreka
  3. 2 : km 1.87 - alt. 124 m - Junction
  4. 3 : km 2.81 - alt. 234 m - Col des Abeilles
  5. 4 : km 4.15 - alt. 383 m - Junction
  6. 5 : km 4.5 - alt. 393 m - Redoute des Emigrés (Urrugne)
  7. 6 : km 5.36 - alt. 244 m - Take track 2. - Col des Abeilles (244 m)
  8. 7 : km 6.33 - alt. 252 m - Junction
  9. 8 : km 7.25 - alt. 149 m - Junction
  10. 9 : km 7.52 - alt. 99 m - Small path
  11. S/E : km 8.62 - alt. 50 m - Chapel of Olhette

Worth a visit

The Col d'Ibardin is also well known for its ventas, where you can buy a wide range of products at lower prices than in France.

La Redoute des Émigrés is a pentagonal military fortification that served mainly as a defence for Marshal Soult against the British army of the Duke of Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
g70
g70

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A short, easy hike with little elevation gain, featuring a few remarkable sites (dolmen, redoubt, etc.).
Bring something to collect chestnuts when they're in season!
I discovered the Col des Abeilles, which I knew without knowing it, as it is on the road to the Col d'Ibardin.
The only downside was the section through the undergrowth at the end of the route, which was difficult to find (thanks to the reviews of previous hikers who pointed out this tricky section). This section can be avoided by taking a small detour along a wider, better-marked path.

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User 13975617

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike. It's true that the trail at point 9 is difficult to find because it's completely overgrown, and we came out covered in scratches. It was very difficult to move forward through the brambles from head to toe (about 400 metres). It's a shame because the rest of the hike was superb, varied and very accessible. I would recommend the route but try to find an alternative at the end.

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Baroux031
Baroux031

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb views, but there are about five points where you have to choose between two paths that are not explained and require you to keep your nose glued to your phone or cut through brambles..
I would advise against taking the small path at the end: you may encounter a cow with no escape route, muddy fields, brambles, etc

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Elo n' Co
Elo n' Co

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A ballad loved by the whole family.
Pros:
- The view is superb.
- The forest section is enjoyable in hot weather.
- The trail is fairly easy to follow

Cons:
- It's very crowded at the start, but it quickly thins out
- Mud and puddles to cross if it has rained a few days before (start and end of the route)
- end of the route (between 8 and 9) overgrown with vegetation. When it rains, the route is impassable. We came back with wet feet. There are some repetitive sections... to consider.

Despite everything, we loved it and will definitely do it again 😁

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milo40
milo40

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route with beautiful 360° views of the sea and mountains. Not difficult and not very busy at this time of year. Be careful at point 9, however, as the route turns right and the path is becoming overgrown (vegetation) and is very difficult to see. Be sure to follow the GPS track on the app.

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eric bourdon
eric bourdon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant hike that begins as a gentle stroll along a mountain stream before becoming a little more strenuous on the climb up to the Col des Abeilles. The view from the redoubt over Ibardin is superb. The return route is a little more difficult to follow.

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Murielle Biez
Murielle Biez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike through the woods to reach a beautiful view of the ridges. Lovely scenery.

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Virgini.40
Virgini.40

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that is not very busy at this time of year.

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Malikolo
Malikolo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Perfect hike, easy start in the woods before tackling a moderate climb. Clearer return via the ridges. Not very busy

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jrstpaul
jrstpaul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk with the advantage of having all the main climb in the shade. Beautiful views of the Rhune and the ocean.

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Aaméliiiie
Aaméliiiie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A nice parish-specific to Brittany hike that took 2 hours and 50 minutes with children. The start is shaded by trees, and then we were treated to some beautiful views.
We had some trouble finding the path (point 9) because it is narrow and overgrown, but we trusted the Visorando route and continued. Despite a few scratches on my legs (I was wearing shorts) from this section, I recommend this hike.

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Pierre des "Confirmés"
Pierre des "Confirmés"
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied walk, starting in the woods along a river, then hiking along the ridges with views of the mountains and the ocean... A lovely day, but we encountered quite a bit of water following recent rains.
One comment on the description: the distance seems to be incorrectly estimated. It is stated as 8.62 km, but we counted 2 km more.

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Castelet
Castelet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk offering a route through the woods along a river and a route along the ridges with beautiful unobstructed views.

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Rando du mardi ou jeudi
Rando du mardi ou jeudi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant and not difficult tour.

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bernard-etchegaray@orangefr
bernard-etchegaray@orangefr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, very varied. Beautiful views. Thank you.

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