Elatzeta circular starting from Irun

The starting point for this hike is the Ugalde-Ventas car park in Irun.
To get to this starting point by car, see the "Practical information" section below.

The presence of numerous pidgeon hunting huts along the route means that this walk cannot be done during the pidgeon hunting season.

(S/E) The car park is located in an industrial area, which you will first need to leave. Take the street opposite (Lekunberri Kalea). At the end, turn right and follow the street that leads to a passage under the motorway.

(1) At the exit of this passage, take the second path on the right, which is unpaved and grassy. You will come to a wire fence that you must pass through... and close behind you. Follow this pretty path along the Ugalde erreka (river).

(2) Take the path on the right that goes uphill, then turn left at the next small intersection. Go through a small gate and close it behind you.

(3) Turn right, and you will come to a concrete road. Follow this road for a few dozen metres, keeping to the left.

(4) Leave the concrete road and take the path on the right, which climbs quite steeply.

(5) Head right towards the ruined tower. Almost at the foot of this tower is the summit of Elatzeta, at an altitude of 199 metres, which is not particularly distinctive.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the path, passing at the foot of a series of pidgeon hunting huts.

(7) Continue for about 20 metres, taking the path opposite, then descend to the left through the woods to reach a main path further down: the path is a little hidden under the leaves here. At the large intersection, turn right and join a busy road (GI-3452).

(8) Head left and carefully follow this road to a triangular crossroads directly below a power line.

(9) Turn left to follow the Camino de Santiago Vasco del Interior. This is the end of the paved route on a pretty path through the forest.

(10) Go through a gate (make sure you close it behind you) and keep left at the crossroads just after it.

(11) Cross a bridge over the River Ugalde and continue along the path that runs alongside it on the left. Join the passage under the motorway.

(1) Turn right and retrace part of the route you took on the way there in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

The starting point is a short distance from Ventas de Irun station. Molino errepidea Street connects two roundabouts and crosses the railway tracks nearby: follow it towards Ventas Olaberria. At the roundabout on the south side of the tracks, take the^third exit towards the Ugalde-Ventas car park. Then follow the "P" sign, turning right and parking in the car park. This car park overlooks Lekunberri kalea Street.

For information, the journey by car from Saint-Jean-de-Luz is approximately 18 km.

(6) The tower at the top was built to defend the town of Irun during the last Carlist War (1875). Currently, only four sections of wall remain, in poor condition and overgrown with brambles. Originally, there were a series of eight towers around Irun, built under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel D. Juan Arana, who was the military commander of Irun at the time.

Of these towers, only the ruins of two remain, one in Zubeltu and the other here in Elatzeta.