Country:
City:
To reach the Xurien Borda car park, take the Xurien Borda path, opposite the Trabenia restaurant.
(S/E) At the top of the car park, go past the chicane and turn right. Follow the path that has been created to join theGR®®10, then follow the ‘Yasola’ signs as you cross the stream via a concrete bridge. Continue along the south-facing path, which climbs for 1 km to the Deskargako Lepoa Pass, a junction of numerous paths.
(1) Continue climbing due south, leaving a wide track and theGR®®10on your right. This path climbs for 500 m and leads to the Venta Yasola, situated on the French-Spanish border.
(2) Follow the track which heads left into the woods, heading south-east. At the edge of the woods, turn left heading due north onto a fairly steep grassy path which you follow up to the ridge. Then take the path on the right which follows the ridge south-east towards the summit of the Petite Rhune.
(3) Cut across to the right, then head northwards to reach the summit with its enormous cairn.
(4) Petite Rhune summit: head down towards the east, joining a track that passes to the left of a rocky mound and takes you to the foot of this cliff face. A small cave houses an unusual and surprising feature.
Around the cave, you’ll find carved stones.
Then follow this path to the Col de Zizkuitz at the foot of the Rhune.
(5) Head down to the left, towards the north, along a path that leads further into the woods. Follow this path along the hillside, first northwards then eastwards, and continue to the Col des Trois Fontaines.
(6) Continue due north to reach the “cayolar” or shelter surrounded by boulders. Go round the back of the cayolar and cross the boulders heading west to discover the Grotto of the Virgin, nestled in a recess: statue of the Virgin of La Rhune.
(7) Return to the Col des Trois Fontaines.
(6) From the pass, turn right onto theGR®®10, which descends north-west, and follow it to the car park at the Trabenia stopover lodge (S/E).
. There was just one unpleasant sight on this hike: a poor dead pottok, half-eaten by animals, about three-quarters of the way along the route.
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
