L'Astate from the Col d'Ispéguy

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike was longer than advertised but very enjoyable. We climbed Astate and returned via Buztanzelai, then descended via the GR10 (sometimes using our hands...). Following the marked landmarks, the route was: 1, 2, 4, then 3 and back to 1: a circular route before heading back to the car park.

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Date of your route : Nov 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent day with a sea of clouds...

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Date of your route : Apr 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike, but make sure you wear good walking shoes as the ridge path and the ascent or descent of the astate, depending on the direction you take, are very rocky.

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I confirm that you can return to the pass via the other side of the ridge.

However, the path is very rocky and steep, and you often have to crawl along like a Dahu, which is why I only suggested it as an option.

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Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike that is worth doing for the splendid views from the ridge and the peaks of Buztanzelhay and Astate. From the Ispéguy pass to the ridge, the path is very stony, similar to a mountain trail, which explains why the going can be quite slow and the hike relatively long (3 hours 45 minutes without stops) given the relatively short distance. It seems that you can take another path on the way back (heading west), which would allow you to make a circular route without returning by the same route. This is probably an interesting option (to try next time ).
The route is quite busy, unsurprisingly, as it partly follows the GR 10 and seems to be a good playground for trail runners.

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Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike, well-marked route (GR10) done on a Sunday, so inevitably busy. Splendid views from the Crête du Pic d'Aintziaga to the summit of Astate.
Personally, I found the route from the Ispeguy pass to the ridge monotonous, but my hiking companion did not :-)
Stony path, rather mountainous.

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Date of your route : Mar 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Steep climb at the start, but then breathtaking views! Some traces of snow during our visit. Often windy, so wrap up warm.

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Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is a great alternative to climbing Iparla via Bidarray for those who are less fit. Buztancelaye is steep, but it is easy to climb thanks to a natural rock staircase. Despite the ease of the climb, there is a beautiful view from the ridges, stretching from the coast to the peak of Anie. And then there is a little reward at the top in the form of a welcoming benta.

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Ascent (unshaded) with several beautiful panoramic views from the ridges.
From Astate, view of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the ridges continuing northwards.

L'Astate wasn't ideal for a picnic (sun, wind, difficult to sit down, ground covered in droppings), so we headed down towards the forest visible to the west (5 mins); there were Pottoks in this area.
At the edge of the forest, away from the sheep seeking shade, you can picnic in the shade, sitting on tree trunks, with a view of the ridge to the north.
We then descended into the forest (westwards) to come back onto a clearly visible path (shown on maps) and thus complete a circular route. This path, in this pretty beech forest, allows you to vary the route, walk in the shade, and adds almost no elevation gain. After leaving the woods, crossing through ferns, then back into the forest, it soon joins the path taken on the way out (turn left, not very well marked, have a map or GPS) at an old round sheep pen (dry stone wall) which you overlook on the way out. Climb back up a little at this point to rejoin the path taken on the way up under the ridges.
Be careful, if you stay on the wide path, it will join the road 1 km below the pass (on the Spanish side).

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Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, Very pleasant hike with beautiful panoramic views...You can enjoy Spanish cuisine at the Ispeguy pass itself (two restaurants)...I have a soft spot for the Spanish side...very family-friendly.

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