Barcus walks

A pleasant walk starting from a Basque village in Béarn. Beautiful views of the Pyrenees range from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the Pic d’Orhy. Marked trail, a little muddy at the start, with lovely houses on the ridges all along the route.

A short, easy walk next to the Aramits adventure park. Beautiful views over the plain and the mountains: Anie, Madeleine, etc. Picnics possible at the summit. The route alternates between woodland and meadows, with a few signposts except for the summit.

A lovely stage through Soule (Xiberoa) to its capital, Mauléon-Licharre (Maule-Lextarre).

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.

A short, easy walk that can be combined with the Soum d’Aulis, or, alternatively, shortened by descending via the road from the Soum de Rut. Beautiful views of the Pyrenees from the summit.

A short, pleasant walk where you can have a picnic at the summit. Beautiful views of the Anie and the scattered settlements on the borders of Béarn. No difficulty. A few yellow markers to help you find your way.

A beautiful stage that ends in a grand finale in a superb valley.

A climb from the village of Sauguis-Saint-Étienne through mountain pastures and forests to La Madeleine, the highest point at an altitude of almost 800 metres, offering a 360° panoramic view of the mountains of the Basque Country and the Pyrenees.

To the east of the Saison valley, stretching from Mauléon to Tardets, a range of hills faces the Arbailles massif to the west and the imposing wall of the Pyrenees mountain range, dominated by the Pic d’Anie to the south. The summit of Erretzü marks the furthest point of this range. This position affords it a breathtaking view of the mountains of Béarn and Haute-Soule. The route is very varied. It starts in the undergrowth alongside a lovely stream, then emerges into open ground through fern-filled glades dotted with pollarded oaks. Like the ferns that cover it, the summit changes colour with the seasons, eventually cloaking itself in a flamboyant red in autumn.

A beautiful, easy route in the Basque Country, starting from the village of Ossas-Suhare. The route passes through the village of Suhare, nestled at the foot of the Arbailles massif, with views over the Soule countryside.

A lovely route for exploring the village of Arette, partly along quiet country roads. You’ll discover pretty bridges and hidden paths in the heart of the village. The path offers little shade, but much of the route follows the stream.

Discover, during a return trip through the forest, a little spot steeped in history: Caesar’s Camp. These are the remains of an oppidum (a fortification built on high ground and surrounded by ditches, serving as a refuge and a meeting place) lost in the heart of the Bois de Pée forest, 10 minutes from the town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie.

This beautiful circular loop in the foothills offers a wide variety of landscapes. Meadows with their traditional stone huts, woods and fern-filled glades dotted with pollarded oaks follow one another, not to mention the streams over which mills have been built. This allows one to better appreciate the riches of this multifaceted Basque agro-pastoral culture. There is no shortage of views: the nearby Arbailles karst massif, the flysch hills and the summit of La Madeleine, as well as the mountains of Haute-Soule.

Starting from the charming village of Issor, this walk, which runs partly through woodland, is ideal on hot days. After leaving the village, the path enters a wood, then crosses streams. In summer, the play of shadows and the coolness of the surroundings are particularly pleasant. In days gone by, the villagers used this path to transport boxwood from the neighbouring Bisarce mountain on the backs of mules. This hardwood was used to make a wide range of everyday objects.

A lovely little walk to the north-east of the village of Asap-Arros, a few kilometres from the town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie. The route follows mainly a narrow country road, with a few kilometres on footpaths.

A beautiful, easy hike on Montagne d'Inchouriste from the village of Haux. A rocky ridge offering magnificent views of the Pyrenees and the surrounding mountains.

A lovely circular route a few kilometres from Oloron. Walk along the Gave d'Ossau before discovering the Pont du Diable and venturing along the edge of fields and through the undergrowth.

Forty-fourth stage of the Camino de Santiago. During this stage, you leave Béarn for the Basque Country. A very long stage, mostly along country roads and paths through woodland. As you do not pass through any large villages, it is best to stock up on provisions at the start.

A beautiful walk with a surprising highlight: a splendid view of the valley from the highest point!

This walk via the Col d’Oxibar offers a particularly interesting feature: it opens up the Arbailles karst massif. The geology lends the landscape a distinctive character – at once mysterious and unique – with a cultural dimension rooted in protohistory. After passing through a small wood, the first open slopes already offer a lovely view of the ‘Ibar Esküin’ valley, Alcay, Lacarry and the high mountain ranges of Soule and Béarn. Even at this stage, the nature of the ground gives an indication of this type of limestone terrain, leading to a beautiful promontory where several piles of stones are heaped up: ‘Maide Korralea’, a testament to Soule’s ancient history. After the Oxibar Pass, on the descent, admire the old barn with its shingle roof, made of those old wooden tiles.

After a nice steady climb on a wide track, you come out onto a vast pasture area. There are beautiful views throughout the climb, followed by a vast panorama from the top. A geological curiosity: large blocks of pink puddingstone at the summit.

A lovely walk in the heart of the Soule Valley, starting from the small village of Etchebar. This extended version of the Etchebar loop offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Pyrenean mountains from the summit of Pic Salhagagne.

At the entrance to the Aspe Valley, 10 km south of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, lie the first foothills of the Western Pyrenees. The Mail Arrouy, or Rocher Rouge, towers over the Oloron plain from a height of 1,250 m. Although the route is well-known, it is rarely used, physically demanding and the landscape is rather wild... That is the price you pay to admire this beautiful region! Recommended for experienced hikers only.

Not far from the famous Holzarté Gorges, here is an easy-to-follow route that will take you to the Soule ridges, facing the Western Pyrenees.

This short walk offers a refreshing view of the charming village of Lourdios-Ichère and some of the mountains surrounding the valley, such as Layens and Biscacou. You’re sure to come across donkeys, horses and pigs along the way.

A magnificent walk that takes you up to an altitude of 700 m to discover superb views of the valleys and the surrounding Escot pass. You’ll alternate between grassy paths and forest trails, passing several water sources that are ideal for a refreshing drink!

This short walk is ideal for stretching your legs before exploring the pretty village of Sarrance!

The Way of St James (Voie d’Arles - GR® 653) offers a lovely, easy and shaded route in the Aspe Valley, winding through gorges and sun-drenched valleys. We do not suggest this as a circular route here, as the train (TER line 55) allows you to return easily to your starting point.The route is suitable for all seasons; however, avoid wet periods! Warning (2025): following the severe flooding in the Aspe Valley in September 2024, some sections of the path may be damaged. Check before setting off.