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Access: in Sare, take the D306 towards Col de Lizarrieta. On the long straight road, do not turn left towards the Sare Caves, but continue straight ahead. 2 km further on, on the left, there is a large car park with a picnic area: park here.
(S/E) Take the road in the opposite direction to how you arrived by car. 250 m further on, cross the stream on the right via the wooden footbridge (yellow signpost) and climb up the gravel track on the right. After a short descent, you will come to a three-way junction.
(1) Take the track on the right (yellow signpost). This dirt track will soon start to climb steeply. Stay on this track, ignoring the paths on either side. Almost at the top, you will see the first pidgeon hunting hut on your left.
(2) Turn right, then 50 m further on, take a path on the left that climbs towards a large hunter's hut painted in army green. Continue climbing this path towards the south. You will soon reach a plateau with picnic tables. Take the track on the left that passes below a few pidgeon hunting huts.
The track becomes a path and climbs into the forest (yellow markings), then descends and crosses a first stream before climbing up again on the left.
(3) It then winds and crosses a second stream before climbing among the rocks and heather (yellow markings) and reaching the first permanent pidgeon hunting hut. Go around it on the right to climb up to a plateau (beautiful view of Atxuria, also known as Pena Plata).
On this plateau, keep right on the horizontal grassy path. Pass along an enclosure. The path climbs slightly and then winds.
(4) In a bend that descends to the right, leave the track and continue straight ahead (yellow markings). When you reach a cross track with a cluster of beech trees, take it to the right (yellow markings). Continue to a crossroads with a boundary marker.
(5) Keep to the right. A little further on, at the sign/post, go straight ahead towards Lizarrieta (yellow markings).
(6) Pass the Col de Nabarlatz, follow the ridge along the border and reach a second permanent pidgeon hunting hut.
(7) 20 m further on, at the boundary marker, descend to the left (leaving the markings) towards the Etxalar pidgeon hunting huts with an explanatory sign about pidgeon hunting. The pylons on site are used to erect the nets.
Continue downhill towards the south, passing another hut with commemorative plaques, then above a Venta inn. Follow the white, red and green markings and rejoin the yellow-marked trail, which you take to the left.
(8) Pass an original suspended pigeon hunting hut and descend the track to the Col de Lizarrieta.
Descend along the road on the French side (right).
(9) A few hundred metres further on, in a bend in the road on the right, take the marked path on the left. The path winds through magnificent oak trees and crosses a ruined barn. When you reach a barn in good condition, continue straight ahead (the summit of La Rhune is in front of you).
(10) 300 to 400 metres further on, at the signpost, descend to the right. Join the road and take it to the right; the car park is 100 metres away (S/E).
Visorando member
Local authority
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
