Larraldota from Arancou

From exit 6 of the A64 (Peyrehorade exit), follow signs for Bidache (D19). At the Bidache roundabout (Gramont castle), turn left onto the D936 towards Sauveterre-de-Béarn. After 6 km, turn right towards Arancou (D256). Park at the fronton square and the Bourthaïre lodge (several spaces on the left, behind the lodge).

Yellow signposts

(S/E) From the Place du Lodge Bourthaïre, pass just to the right of the fronton, where a short path joins a tarmac road. At the collection point, descend opposite, on the tarmac. At the intersection with the quarry (be careful, trucks coming out), go straight ahead, on the road that soon climbs towards the Garai district.

(1) At the Garai intersection, near a hangar, continue straight ahead on the paved road known as Chemin de Larraldotte. Continue downhill to the bed of the Louhirasse River.

(2) Cross the river by fording it over a line of blocks (or use a footbridge 50 m upstream). On the other bank, climb up the wide forest path. Turn right at the first intersection and climb steeply into the woods. On the wooded ridge of Coudain (with a pidgeon hunting hut opposite), turn left this time, and leave the forest under some beautiful oak trees. Continue along the obvious path that runs alongside the meadows at the top of the hill (some sections are tarmac). You will come to a T-junction on the Sagorre ridge ( with a view of the Basque peaks).

(3) Take the road to the right (Chemin de las Carbouères). Continue straight downhill until you reach the wide valley of the Bidouze.

(4) At the bottom, at the intersection, turn right to follow the ruins of Les Carbouères (small spring) and walk along the only path that winds along the right bank of the river. Cross a concrete ford over the Louhirasse and reach the intersection of the ruins of Larraldotte.

(5) At the ruins (barely visible under the brambles) of Larraldotte (access to the Bidouze), you will find a double intersection: turn right, then immediately left, and follow an ascending path through the Arranbide forest (beautiful oak trees). At the top, you will come to a bend in a track (Chemin de Couyoula).

(6) Follow it to the right. It passes through a high point with distant views and descends to the Garai neighbourhood.

(1) Opposite the hangar, turn left towards the village, taking the road you came on.

Facilities and services: water point, toilets

(1) Notre Dame de l'Assomption Church

(4) Fauna/Flora: Pedunculate oaks

Pedunculate oaks (Quercus robur) are very common trees in the forests of the Basque Country, often associated with other trees such as beech and chestnut. Their fruits are connected to the branches by a long stalk (hence their name), and their foliage is deciduous. It is a large tree, 25 to 35 metres high, with some specimens exceeding 40 metres. When isolated, it can reach impressive dimensions, with a trunk exceeding 5 metres in circumference. It can easily live for 500 years, but trees aged between 700 and 1,200 years can be found.

(4) The Bidouze

A tributary of the Adour, the Bidouze (Biduze in Basque) is a river that rises in the heart of the Arbailles forest and flows peacefully for over 80 km before joining the Adour. Wild and modest in its upper reaches, it was once used for river trade in its lower reaches.