Col Pinodieta - Notre-Dame de l'Aubépine Chapel - West face of Errebi

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This circular loop has enough elevation gain for anyone looking for a challenging hike, while still being accessible to all. What's more, you're in the heart of Basque countryside: sheep, pottoks and vultures are all part of the scenery.

Details

n°18311293
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 325 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 325 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 417 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 194 m
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Photos

Mendiondokoborda
The fountain
The Alkurruntz
View of the Basque countryside.

Description of the walk

From Espelette, take the D20 towards Ainhoa. At the Col de Pinodieta, turn left onto the "Chemin de Landako Bidéa". 200 m further on, take the dirt track on the right and park at the entrance.

(S/E) Go up and stay on this path, ignoring the one on the right further on. Continue towards the south-west.

(1) At the cattle grid, continue along the same path, which turns right. At the next intersection, go straight ahead until you reach a Y-shaped junction.

(2) Take the left path, which after a while turns right towards the west.

(3) At the next intersection, continue straight ahead towards the south and join a wide carriageway.

(4) Turn left uphill. Stay on this path for about 400 metres, then follow the path to the right. Immediately afterwards, follow the track to the left heading south-east and you will reach another fork. Take the left-hand path which climbs towards a wooded area and the Notre-Dame de l'Aubépine Chapel. Water source available: a tap on a large round stone.

(5) To resume the hike, head north-northeast, leaving the calvary (three crosses) on your left. Continue straight ahead to join the path that goes around Mont Errebi halfway up the slope and continue straight ahead for about 500 metres.

(6) At this left-hand bend, you will see some caves on your right. Continue along this track and turn right at the next Y-junction. Continue straight ahead and ignore the paths on either side. Head towards the fence around the meadow, where you will find a gate.

(7) Go through the gate and follow the trail left by hikers. After about 100 metres, the trail climbs steeply and heads north across the meadows. Go through the next gate and continue straight ahead. Go through asecond gate just before a sheepfold. Go around the sheepfold on the left and after about 50 m, turn left onto the dirt track heading west and rejoin the track you took at the start of the walk.

(1) Turn right and continue straight ahead to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 194 m - Parking along the fences
  2. 1 : km 1.5 - alt. 290 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 2.03 - alt. 274 m - Y-junction, left.
  4. 3 : km 3.25 - alt. 213 m - At the crossroads, continue straight ahead.
  5. 4 : km 3.73 - alt. 267 m - Carriage road, on the left.
  6. 5 : km 4.66 - alt. 376 m - Chapel, water source
  7. 6 : km 5.19 - alt. 410 m - Caves
  8. 7 : km 5.77 - alt. 411 m - Fence
  9. S/E : km 8.13 - alt. 194 m - Parking along the fences

Notes

Equipment: good walking shoes, hat or cap, drink in hot weather and rainwear.

Worth a visit

Between (2) and (4) there are sheepfolds.

(5) Water source, Notre-Dame de l'Aubépine Chapel and calvary.

(6) Caves.

Throughout this hike, don't hesitate to look up from time to time to catch sight of a flock of vultures.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Julie.B
Julie.B

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, with several paths crossing, so be sure to follow the markings. Some sections are very slippery after rain. We had the pleasure of seeing vultures and enjoying a beautiful view.

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Coquelicot47
Coquelicot47

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route completed around 10 August 2024. It took us 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete, including a 20-minute break to drink, snack and take some photos. The route is varied. Some sections are well shaded. Overall, it is easy and suitable for families. Some sections were difficult to navigate, with ferns lined with brambles. Other sections were not well marked; we had to check and correct them several times using Visorando.

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Coco64
Coco64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike with stunning views, no problems following Visorando.

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Maleval
Maleval

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Sorry, but I couldn't find the route on Visorando, so I just went for it blindly. Otherwise, I recorded an elevation gain of 310 metres. Best regards

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Moamoa
Moamoa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, but not to be done in hot weather

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madydou
madydou ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very nice route with enough climbs and descents to make it enjoyable.
Vultures and pottocks were there to greet us.
Very busy, especially around the chapel and the calvaries.

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Steph64700
Steph64700

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike is beautiful and easy to do. However, the time estimate needs to be revised, as it was supposed to take 3 hours and 15 minutes, but we did it in 2 hours and 15 minutes with a break at the Ainhoa chapel, which is quite busy as it is at the crossroads of several hiking trails.

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colan
colan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good route
Route to avoid when hunting (pidgeon hunting hut)
Suitable for beginners

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Florence F
Florence F

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with stunning Basque landscapes. An excellent route in hot weather.

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colan
colan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, climb on the way up to the Col des 3 Croix
Route done in reverse (caves on the way back)
Satisfaction of the group

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quatrechoux
quatrechoux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route with magnificent views, ideal for getting back into shape at the beginning of spring.
Easy to follow, especially with the route mapped out on your phone.
Watch out for barbed wire at the gateways.

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After a long period of rainfall, the route was more passable in reverse because the climb through the undergrowth would have been a rather perilous descent on soggy ground.

But there is no difficulty in doing the route backwards, you just have to read the description backwards. .

Thank you for the lovely walk.

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Max LANDAL
Max LANDAL

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk

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Walking The Calvary of Ainhoa from the Col de Pinodieta

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