La Petite Rhune via Ziburumendi

From Urrugne, take the D4 to Herboure. At the roundabout, continue on the D4 for 1.7 km. When you reach the chapel on the right-hand side of the road, turn right onto the small road (Chemin de Inzola, dead end) just after the chapel and park in the car park a little further on.

(S/E) Head south along the track until you pass the cattle grid (about 450 m depending on where you parked). Continue for about thirty metres past the cattle grid.

(1)On the left, leave the track via a gap in the fence and take a path heading east which descends towards the Intzolako Erreka river. Cross the river using a concrete EDF pole which serves as a bridge and head left, staying on the path which passes through a small wood and emerges into a clearing. Continue along the meadow on your right, still heading east. The clearly visible path crosses the clearing and runs along the edge of the meadow again, but this time on the left. A little further on, turn right, heading south, until you reach a fork in the path on a slight rise in the meadow.

(2) Take the left-hand path heading south-east, which continues through the meadow, descending slightly towards a small wood. Enter the wood and keep following this single path, which crosses a stream via two wooden beams. Continue through the wood (sometimes a little muddy) on this path until you reach a wide track. Turn left onto this path heading north-east. About 200 m further on, stop about 40 metres before a fence marked with a ‘private property’ sign.

(3) Leave the track to climb a small hill on the right (easy) and turn left to join a wide track. (From here, it is easier to find your way). Continue along the track for nearly 1 km in a south-westerly direction, then head straight south for about 300 m to find the start of a path on the left.

(4) Turn sharply left (hairpin bend) onto a wide track (heading north-east) and follow it uphill. After about 140 m, you will reach a bend. Pass a small path on your left (yellow signpost leading back to the Manttobaita pass), take the bend to the right, staying on the same wide, fairly stony path. After a^first bend to the right, a^second to the left and then a^third to the right, continue for another 200 m to reach a magnificent wayside shrine on your left (alt. 380 m).

(5) Take the left-hand bend just after the wayside shrine and continue. A Basque flag appears before the summit and a few metres further on, a second wayside shrine at the summit of Ziburumendi.

(6) Enjoy the 360° panorama. From west to north, the entire Basque coast with the ocean; to the south-east, La Rhune and La Petite Rhune.
Then descend south-east to reach the Col Deskargako.

(7) This pass, through which the GR®10 passes, offers several routes. To continue, take the path to the south-east (between the brambles to the south-west and south-south-east) towards Subizia. The slope quickly becomes quite steep and you must climb straight up for 200 metres of elevation gain. Once you reach the foot of Subizia, the path goes round it to the south-west and then south-east to reach the Col de Subizia.

(8) Continue south-east, leaving the path leading to La Rhune on your left, and follow the broad ridge for over 500 m. Go round the walls of La Petite Rhune on the right, then climb left towards the north to find the path leading to the summit of La Petite Rhune.

(9) Huge cairn at the summit and 360° panoramic views. To the west, views of the Pic des Trois Couronnes and the Ventas d’Ibardin; from west to north, the entire Basque coast with the ocean; to the east, the Rhune; to the south, a string of Spanish mountains.
After admiring the scenery, return along the same path in the opposite direction to the Col de Subizia.

(8) Take the well-marked path on the left, heading north-west, which descends towards the Venta Yasola. After a few hundred metres, you will reach a spring with a large blue reservoir that supplies the Venta.

(10) You can fill up with water here. Continue the descent for about 150 m, with a 50 m drop in altitude, to reach Venta Yasola. Refreshments are available.

(11) To continue the descent, take the path leading westwards for 200 m across the small meadow and arrive further down at the junction with a track.

(12) Turn right onto the track heading north-north-east, which leads back to the Col Deskargako.

(7) Turn left onto the GR®10 path, marked in red and white, heading south-west. When the path turns left, towards the south, continue for 150 m and take a sharp right-hand bend to the bridge over the Intzola.

(13) Cross the Intzolako Erreka river and continue north on the GR®10. Caution: less than 200 m further on, there is a tricky section with smooth, wet rocks, a risk of slipping, and fallen trees blocking the path when I passed through.

(14) Continue north-west, keeping your bearings, cross a wet section and reach a junction.

(15) Leave the GR®10, which heads left, and continue right along the track heading north-east; pass a short stretch of track on the right leading to the riverbank, turn left and then keep heading north until you reach the junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Follow the outward route in reverse and return to the car park (S/E).

At point (10), you will find a source of drinking water. A blue reservoir that supplies the Venta a little further down.

Stunning views of the ocean and the Basque coast, the surrounding mountains, horses, etc.