Country:
District:
Access: climb up to the Col d'Ibardin via the D404, then descend on the Spanish side to Bera de Bidassoa via the NA-1310. When you reach the village, turn left at the stop sign to reach the car park, which is 100 m away.
(S/E) Continue on the NA-4410, heading east, for about 700 m.
(1) Turn left onto a small road that climbs steeply towards a farm. Continue along this road, from where you can see the Rhune on your right as you climb. When you reach a plateau, cross it for about 250 m.
(2) At the crossroads, take the track on the right and, 50 m further on, the path that climbs to the left.
(3) After 250 m, follow the track to the right and continue climbing. The track winds through the forest.
(4) At the pass, ignore the path that climbs steeply opposite and take the track on the left towards a beautiful oak tree. After about 100 m and a short but steep descent, take the track on the right, which supports the HRP.
You will reach a pass that serves as a crossroads for numerous tracks.
(5) Just before the signs, turn left towards the summit, following a variant of the HRP. Go around a sharp left-hand bend and walk for about 250 m.
(6) Ignore a grassy track that descends to the left and continue climbing straight ahead. Reach the pass at a hairpin bend on the right. The summit is just 100 m to the left. Climb up instinctively as there is no clearly marked path.
(7) Aritzmendi: the view is magnificent. Descend via the same track.
(6) Turn right onto the grassy track and continue to a fence.
(8) Turn left to descend along it.
(9) About 500 m further on, at a crossroads, turn left again. Further on, cross a stream and continue along the same track, climbing uphill to reach the Txarrantxarri pidgeon hunting huts.
(10) Descend opposite. About 200 m further on, below a house on the right, take a path that descends to the left into the forest.
(11) When you see the concrete track on the left, do not go down towards it, but continue straight ahead.
After 50 m, at the three-way junction, go down to the left. The track first becomes passable for vehicles and then paved.
At the bottom, the road follows the Xantel stream and then joins the Ibardin-Bera road (NA-1310).
(12) Take this fairly busy road to the left for 200 m, then turn left onto a pretty bucolic path that runs alongside the stream and leads you to the centre of the village.
At the stop sign, turn left. The car park is 100 m away (S/E).
This is a very beautiful route that is generally not very steep, with pleasant paths through meadows, forests and countryside. The return journey is a little stony, particularly along the stream, but it's better than the concrete track! There are no markings, but the author's trail is excellent and sufficient. However, it's still a good idea to take a map with you, just in case... Always bring warm clothing, as there are passes with strong winds. As is often the case in the Pyrenees, there are numerous springs and streams...
Visorando member
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
Local authority
