Oylarandoy Chapel and Col d'Urdanzia from Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry

Follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®10}WPT (1) to the WPT (8) . Please note that the^GR®10route is subject to change. Follow the description below.
The hike starts at the car park by the church in the centre of the village.

(S/E) Leave the car park on the right, crossing the bridge over the Nive. After the bridge, turn right again and follow the river on the left bank. After 400 metres, on the right, cross the Roman bridge over the Nive.

(1) Turn left and (carefully) cross the main road to continue straight ahead. Follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®10}. Follow the small road on the right bank of the Nive, which passes in front of a building and runs alongside a meadow. After 200 metres (be careful!), pass under the old narrow SNCF bridge.

(2) Turn right, follow the road uphill and, after 100 metres, ignore a track that goes straight ahead. Follow the road, leaving it on the right towards the south-west. After 150 metres and a dip in the road, ignore a track on the right and continue towards the south-west. The path climbs steeply and passes under drinking water tanks, above on the right and then through woods.

(3) At a crossroads, turn left heading due south, ignoring the paths that branch off to the left and right. On leaving the woods, at an elevation of 325 metres, the path curves to the left.

(4) Leave the path on the right and continue climbing. Leave another path on the left and turn right to continue climbing south. Follow this path to reach a road after a sharp right turn at elevation 521.

(5) Leave the path on the right (marked "Oilandoi") and head straight ahead, following this road which climbs to the right and leads to an intersection after 200 metres.

(6) Head straight ahead onto a track that continues to climb (^GR®10) in a south-easterly direction.

(7) After 500m, leave the marked trail and turn completely right towards the south-west, onto a grassy track that is rarely used. After 750m, leave a flat track and arrive at a small house (Oilarandodoiko).

(8) Go around this house and continue along a narrow path that climbs up into the meadow. End of the red and white^GR®10markings.

(9) After 300m, turn left due east and leave the path that continues southwest. Continue climbing, following sections of path that lead above the forest. At the upper edge of the forest, head for the rocks and turn right, zigzagging your way up to the plateau where you will find the Oylarandoy Chapel (933m) and the orientation table.

(10) Take the time to catch your breath and enjoy the 360° view. Now descend due south, looking for a marked trail that will take you to the Col d'Aharza (734 m).

Follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®10}WPT (12) to the WPT (14). Please note that the^GR®10route is subject to change. Follow the description below.

(11) At this fork, follow the^GR® markings and continue south on the road that climbs uphill. After 120m, turn right onto the tarmac track.

(12) Leave the tarmac track at a right-hand bend. Continue south on another track to reach the "Col de Leizarze" (828m). Follow this track, which heads south-east. It gives way to a path that continues to climb and joins a tarmac track. Continue on the left to reach the "Col d'Urdanzia".

(13) There is a hut and a cross here. This is a good opportunity to take another break and admire the landscape.
The return journey will be in the opposite direction to Col d'Aharza.

(11) At the pass, turn right onto a path that climbs slightly towards the north-east.
Follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®10}from WPT (12) to WPT (6).
This well-marked path crosses a stream that is often dry, where the ruins of a hut remain. The path now begins to descend. It actually goes around the dome where the chapel seen on the way there is perched.

At elevation 667, continue straight ahead northwards and you will reach a crossroads. Turn left onto the track and continue straight ahead to reach a fork you passed on the way there.

(7) Take the same route back as on the way there.

(5) Leave the^GR® which branches off to the left and follow the road north for about 1km.

(14) At elevation 417, turn left onto a wide, well-marked track that descends. Stay on this track, ignoring the paths that branch off to the left and right, until you reach a fork at Etchalékoto.

(15) Turn left and pass between the house and the sheepfold. Continue down the grassy road. Join the^GR® trail from the outward journey and continue along the same path as on the way out to reach the car park (S/E).

There is a water point next to the toilets near the church.

Sometimes the drinking troughs (supplied with spring water) at the Col d'Aharza and Col d'Urdanzia are equipped with push buttons for filling water bottles.
To my knowledge, there are no huts open in case of bad weather.
As with all long hikes in the mountains, bring at least 2 litres of water, a snack for lunch, walking sticks if necessary, warm clothing and protection from rain and wind.
Take the description of this route and a 1:25,000 scale map with you.

NB: the hike can be shortened in bad weather. At the "Col d'Aharza", simply turn left after descending from the chapel. Follow the description for the return journey.

In Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry, there are shops selling regional products, accommodation, a grocery store, etc.
http://gitospit.free.fr/crbst_7.html