Etchebar circular loop via Pic Salhagagne

To reach the start, follow the Soule valley southwards. At the entrance to the village of Tardets, take the road on the right (all directions) which serves as a diversion. Pass the first bridge on the right before taking the second (alternating traffic), towards Etchebar. Follow the D57 for about 4.5 km. Pass the sign for Licq (C2) on the left and turn right towards Etchebar town hall. At the next junction, turn right towards Etchebar. 30 m further on, park on the left in an open space used as a car park.

(S/E) Take the road immediately to the left, then left again 200 m further on, to reach the top of the village via the Chemin de Kharrikapea. Once past the last houses, turn left onto the Chemin d’Arhan, marked^PR® Yellow, which turns into a hillside path after the last meadow access roads. You will reach the Ibarreborda lodge.

(1) Walk past the lodge and, 50 m further on, turn left, heading south. Follow the path uphill to the ruins of Behetiborda. Turn left, heading south-west, to reach the Arretalephoa house. The remains of an old power line seem to mark the way.

(2) Walk past this abandoned house (now in ruins). A few dozen metres further on, the path forks. At the yellow sign, leave the main path and take the right-hand fork towards Bosmendieta. Follow a south-westerly ridge, climbing through the woodland on the left bank of a stream below. Take care here, as the path is slippery in wet weather. At a place called Muruche, you’ll reach a crossroads of paths.

(3) Turn left and then quickly leave the forest to enter the clearing. Cross the stream and climb up a grassy valley, leaving a small peak (992m) on your left. Join the track, follow it straight ahead for a few metres, then leave it to reach Pic Salhagagne.

(4) Descend northwards, then head eastwards to rejoin the track below. Take the stony path on the left, cutting across the track’s hairpin bends several times, then join the^PR® route^.

(5) Here, join the Tour d’Etchebar route. Now follow the yellow^PR® markings. You’ll reach a large clearing at a crossroads of tracks. Keep left on the^PR® to rejoin the track at the edge of the forest.

(6) Enter the forest straight ahead, continue the descent and reach a meadow and a road at the Alkornoa farm.

(7) Take this road, then the stony path that follows it. You will eventually reach the D57 road; turn left onto it for a few metres to return to the Etchebar car park (S/E).

Signposting: Yellow, fairly well marked, but stay alert in tricky sections.
A pleasant walk, very little tarmac, idyllic paths. Wild in places and not very busy.
Please note: in summer, there is little water along the route. Outside this period, there is a stream after the Arretalephoa house.

(4) Before Pic Salhagagne, you can take a detour to the Bosmendieta orientation table.