Hélette walks

Baigura is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Basque Country. The 360° panorama offers views of: - to the east and south, the Pyrenees mountain range, the Pic du Midi d’Ossau, the Pic d’Anie, the Pic d’Orrhy and the peaks of Labourd; - to the west, Navarre, Autza and Iparla; - to the north, the beaches of the Basque Coast and the Landes.

The ascent of Soylandotchipi (or Soïlando Txipi) is almost a round trip. The path that used to allow you to complete the circular route is now claimed as private property by a local resident, which means you have to retrace your steps, but you won't lose out as the route is less road-based and less rocky.

There are several routes to the summit of Baigura, one of the Basque Country's most iconic peaks, renowned for its exceptional views. Starting from the village of Hélette, the climb is very varied. From the last houses to the nearby groves, it feels like you're setting off on a short walk to get some fresh air among the ferns. Then, as the morning light begins to gild the slopes of Erregelu and Ursuia, you find yourself drawn into a more ambitious hike, the view of the surrounding valleys becoming more beautiful as you gain height. Following a mountain path close to the ridges, the promontories follow one after the other and the summit of Erregelu, which seemed so far away, is now within reach. From its paragliding launch site, Baigura is already close by, and all that remains is to enjoy the panoramic view.

A circular walk of moderate difficulty to the top of the Baigura massif, starting from Bixintxo Chapel.

Baigura is one of the iconic peaks of the Basque Country, particularly for its view, which can give you a crick in your neck on a clear day. The panoramic view is renowned, with few peaks missing from the picture and even the peaks of the Hautes-Pyrénées visible on a very clear day. Baigura is also an exemplary mountain in terms of its commitment to combining traditional pastoralism with the outdoor activities offered by the leisure centre. Everyone has a role to play in maintaining these exceptional landscapes and sustaining the economy of the valleys. Baigura also offers a concentration of ecosystems that are a delight to visit on this hike. From heathland with gorse and ferns to rocky, windswept ridges, through undergrowth and peat bogs, there are endless discoveries to be made and the horizon is constantly changing. A benchmark for circular sporty hikes.

A lovely circular walk to discover remarkable trees in the foothills of Mont Baïgura.

A mid-mountain hike towards Baïgura, which takes you up to the peaks for a stunning 360° view.

BaÏgura is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the north of the Basque Country, with a 360° view of the mountains and the surrounding plain. Unfortunately, like many peaks, it is dotted with antennas, but they are very useful... It is a favourite spot for paragliders who jump from the top of the north face.

A small peak offering a wonderful 360° view, especially if the weather is on your side. Views over the Adour plain and all the peaks to the south: Ursuya, La Rhune, Mondarin, Artzamendi, Iparla, Baigura... and the entire Pyrenean range to the south-east.

A lovely, fairly short hike that will take you up to a 360° panoramic view around Garralda Peak.

A lovely walk that takes you up into the Arbéroue Valley.

A beautiful ridge walk with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks.

This hike has an ideal profile, with a steep but steady climb and a gentle descent with beautiful landscapes to admire. The 360° view of Bégura is magnificent

A short circular route along the river with the sweet name of Joyeuse. This route is recommended by the tourist office and is reproduced here for use with Visorando.

Walk around Mount Abarratia and its archaeological site with defensive lines in the massif.

This hike avoids the busiest routes (Chemin des Écoliers). It winds through meadows and fern fields on the northern slope and, still through meadows, skirts the summit on the southern slope. The final climb is steady. Magnificent 360° view from the summit of the coast, the Landes plain, the mountains of the Basque Country, Béarn and, further to the left, on a clear day, the Hautes Pyrénées. The return is via Gaineko Ordokia and the eastern slope.

A very beautiful walk offering unbroken views of the mountains. Along the route, you’ll see beautiful Basque houses, woodland, pastures, horses and good paths. You will walk on very little tarmac (200 m), a little on a stony track, and on comfortable wide paths, trails and meadows. Below the summit, you can stop to study the landscape using an orientation table. In good weather, panoramic views from the summit are guaranteed, with views of the surrounding mountains and the Basque coast.

A short drive along small roads to discover the hilly landscape, passing by the beautiful Macaye church. A relaxing route.

A lovely ridge route with beautiful views of the Iparla ridges, amongst others. Sometimes off-trail, so requires good visibility and a good understanding of the terrain.Best done in winter or spring to avoid invasive ferns, especially on the descent from (10) to (13).

The climb to Haltzamendi is a truly enjoyable hike. Without any particular difficulties, it offers varied landscapes. From the summit, a splendid viewpoint, we have a bird's eye view of the eastern ridges of Baïgura.

Far to the north, Mount Ursuya offers magnificent views of the Basque and Béarn mountains, the plain and the valleys of Piedmont.

Climb Ursuya via the easiest route. A circular loop at the summit will save you from having to descend the final steep climb, which is quite strenuous. Firstly, as you climb, you can admire the coastline and the wooded countryside of the Basque Country, as well as the plains of the Landes. Further on, you’ll see some typical thatched cottages and the surrounding secondary peaks. At the summit, there’s a magnificent view of the Baigura and all the peaks of the Basque Country.

A short circular loop to climb above Bidarray.

A varied route suggested by the Tourist Office, reproduced here for use with Visorando. You walk through woodland or pastoral hillsides before reaching the valley, which is criss-crossed by small streams, the main one being the Mouline, a tributary of the Nive.

An almost circular route to climb Adarre and descend via the Col de Chancho.

Loop passing through Mount Ursuya, a peak jutting out from the hills.

Hiking around Louhossoa, a small Basque village near Cambo.

To be honest, this route does take you along a few tarmac roads, but they are very quiet. An easy route accessible to all in the hills above Ayherre and Labastide Clairence.

A circular route through the hills around Ahaize. If you’re lucky enough to do this route in autumn, the colours are splendid.

A beautiful walk that crosses three promontories with stunning views.

This hike to the summit of Larla from Satali avoids the steep climb from Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa. You can learn about the mining activity that once took place here and enjoy superb views of the surrounding peaks.

Le Larla, 705 m, is a magnificent viewpoint over the mountains surrounding Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, Saint-Jean-Pie-de-Port and the entire eastern face of Iparla with its majestic ridge.

A route that starts from the hilltop village of Bidarray, crosses it and returns to it after climbing a little higher.

A very pleasant and original route to reach Iparla from Bidarray. The path up to the Col de Lacho is rarely used and quite wild. Splendid views. A real treat!

A very beautiful hike with a variety of paths. Beautiful views of the Iparla mountain range throughout the climb. At the summit, there is a magnificent 360° view, as is often the case in the Basque Country. You can see the beaches of the Basque Country and Landes, the Béarn Mountains and, on a clear day, even the Hautes-Pyrénées. The climb to the summit is demanding and in places you will need to follow the description and GPS track carefully. There are no markings indicating this hike until (10), a nameless pass.

This is a lovely route for enjoying peaceful, magnificent views of the modest but beautiful Basque hills and, above all, the Penas d'Ichusi.

A magnificent hike on theGR®10trail in the dizzying haunt of vultures. From the summit, on a clear day, you can see the Pyrenees mountain range as far as the Pic du Midi de Bigorre... and on the other side, the ocean as far as the Landes coast. Please note: the start ofthe GR® 10 behind the sheepfold is no longer accessible. The owner has prohibited access to his farm. Another route has been set up, which is 2 km longer and just as steep as the original hike.

Magnificent climb to Jara with breathtaking views of Larla, Iparla, Buztanzelai and Autza and, to the north, the ridges of Haltzamendi and Baigura. A variety of paths, almost always in the open, ending with a cornice path overlooking the Landes plain. Arrival at the summit with a 360° view of the peaks of the Basque Country and Béarn. A pleasant picnic area awaits us there.

A very pleasant hike, not very difficult but offering magnificent views all along the route and, of course, at the summit: a 360° panorama. To the north-west, the coast and its towns, with Baigura and Ursuya in the foreground. To the west, Iparla. To the south-west, Jara with its antennas. To the south, Orhi and Bearn with the Pics d'Anie and Ossau.

This beautiful hike offers 360° views of many of the peaks of the Basque Country.

Here's another way to do a nice loop in Ursuya. This hike is always on open ground on wide paths with magnificent views from the start to the summit. The end of the return journey is via the Iramalda and Harrixuri ridges with Cambo-les-Bains in front of you and, further away, Bayonne and, of course, the coast. On the left, you can see La Rhune, Mondarrain, Artzamendi, etc.

This beautiful loop to discover the foothills of Ursuya and its many springs is published by the Basque Country Tourist Office and is reproduced here for use with Visorando.

Far to the north, Mount Ursuya offers a magnificent 360° view of the Basque coast and the Béarn Pyrenees.

Here is a possible route for hiking the Iparla ridges! Please note that this is a fairly strenuous hike, especially the final "ascent" of the ridges.