At the Col d'Lbardin, take the road on the right that climbs towards Les Ventas. It is best to park on the right, on the French side after the last shops. The return path arrives here at the foot of a small wall.
(S/E) From the car park, continue up the road to the end, then pass to the right of the Venta Mendi Mendian. Take the path marked "accès pompiers piste 4" until you come to a barrier.
(1) From there, turn left to the car park of the last venta and follow theGR® 10 on the right, marked in red and white. Follow it, ignoring the paths on the right and left.
Join a track coming from the right and continue straight ahead. The track ends when you reach a sign marked "Descente des Fous". Follow theGR®10, which continues on a balcony path (view of San Sebastián). Go around the Manddale and leave this balcony path to follow theGR®10, which turns and descends to the right towards Bizkartzu.
(2) At the cairn marking this spot, go completely to the left and look for the start of theGR® trail. Be careful, as the signs are confusing. Follow theGR® to an unnamed pass (elevation 421).
(3) At this unnamed pass, continue downhill, slightly to the right, north-west, and after crossing a magnificent holly forest, you will arrive at the Col de Pitare.
(4) Follow theGR®10, which continues opposite. Please note: the IGN map is not up to date: it shows theGR®10branching off to the left, but the route has changed.
Follow theGR® to the north-west until you reach Osingo Lepoa. From there, the slope becomes steeper until you reach the Col de Xoldoko Gaina.
(5) Leave theGR® which continues opposite and look for the start of a path on the right. There are no more signposts. The path becomes a pretty grassy track which follows the ridge (lovely views, with the Spanish mountains on the right and the ocean on the left, with views of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Urrugne, Guethary and Bidart). After 600 metres of flat ground, the path begins to descend while remaining on the ridge. Pass some ruins and a little further on, the slope becomes steeper until you reach a road.
(6) Take the road on the right and, 50m further on, take a path on the right. When you reach a small meadow, continue straight ahead. Pass between two brambles where a path begins to descend.
(7) The path levels out as it joins an underground water pipe and heads south. N.B.: the path that follows a contour line is narrow and poorly paved. You will reach the Lac d'Ibardin dam.
(8) As the dam is now closed to the public, continue on the path on the right that goes around the lake to join a track
(9) Take the track on the left which runs along the top of the lake and then closer to it. It then makes a wide bend to the right and then to the left and joins a wide path.
(10) Follow this track for 2 km. When you reach a grassy area, you will see the car park and shops at the top on the right
(11) Turn right onto this grassy slope, heading towards the low wall of the car park. The last 150 metres will take you back to the car park at (S/E).