Country:
District:
By car:
Cross the border at Dantxaria (Dantxarinea) and continue on the N-121-B road, then after about 1.5km, turn right onto the NA-4402 which leads to the centre of Urdax. Park near the San-Salvador monastery.
(S/E) Head east past the "Turismo", cross the Nivelle and turn right.
(1) After a few minutes, turn right onto the road signposted Ruta de la Ferraria (the sign has recently disappeared). This path overlooks the river.
Further up, ignore the green/white signposted path which climbs to the left.
(2) 300m further on, you come to a house/shed, leave the track which climbs to the left and take the path which descends to the right of the house, alongside a fence and fruit trees.
(3) After about 4 minutes, leave the track and take a right-hand path down into the forest (it's a good way down!).
At the bottom, cross the river on a footbridge and climb back up to pass behind the Bake Ola farm (Gainekola Borda).
Take the track and go through a large gate.
(4) Come to a track and turn right for about 600m.
(5) Turn left onto the "Loiara" path, marked in green and white.
Continue along the path, alternating between sun and shade, ignoring the small switchbacks, until you reach the end of a wood.
(6) Head due South to the summit of Alkuruntz.
Further on, follow a pretty little house to the right and, after 100m of track, fork right. The path is still signposted and rises steeply. Reach a grassy plateau.
(7) Just after a low stone wall, ignore a path to the left and continue along the signposted path with the Azkar in your sights.
(8) Reach the pass and take the obvious North-East path to the summit of Azkar.
From the top, use a map to find out the names of the various peaks in the area.
Return to the pass and follow the signs for "Urdazubi" down the other side.
The path is always marked in green and white. Pass a drinking trough (non-drinking water) which is often used by local Pottoks as a meeting place.
1/4h after the pass, at a crossroads, ignore a path that climbs to the left and continue downhill to the right. 1/4h later, join a road and take it on the right as if to climb towards the Argandoita antennae, in full view.
(9) On the way up, just before a cattle grid, turn left (North) onto the path marked "Axularen Txokoa", still signposted in green and white.
100m further on, leave the path on your left and continue down through the ferns.
Further on, reach a new signpost.
(10) Follow the "Axularen Txokoa" sign to the left. The descent is sometimes steep and tricky if it has rained.
Arrive at a magnificent thousand-year-old oak tree with a trunk 6m in diameter.
Take the track to the right, still heading for "Axularen Txokoa". Further on, cross a cattle grid, ignoring a path to the right.
Further down, at a crow's-foot, continue straight on (the markings on the left are crossed out).
Pass the Axular farm and descend to the N-121-B road.
Turn left. 150 m further on, after crossing the Nive river, turn right (the signposting remains the same) and drive into the village on a delightful little road lined with drinking-water fountains, sculptures, a wash-house and beautiful farmhouses.
(E) Re-cross the Nive to reach the village square (S/E).
