Larrau walks

Climb to the Erroimendy Pass from Larrau to admire this typical region in the heart of the Basque Country, at the gateway to Spain.

A beautiful circular for contemplating the world of Basque canyons. Carved out 80 million years ago by the Olhadübi torrent, the Holtzarte gorges, 100 to 300 metres deep, are among the most spectacular in the Basque Country. In fact, "Holtze arte" means "between walls" in Basque. A path, which is quite steep in places, leads to an impressive footbridge built in 1925 by Italians for forestry work. Crossing it is a thrilling experience and is not dangerous, but some people still close their eyes... An old track leads to the top of the canyon, from where you can climb a beautiful path to the pastoral world of Haut Souletin. The views of the Larrau mountains, including Pic d'Orhi, the first 2,000-metre peak from the Basque coast, are magnificent.

A circular loop of twelve kilometres in a green setting between forest, streams and waterfalls.And above all, the crossing of the Holzarté footbridge, which is the highlight of this fairly demanding hike. If it's too physically demanding, you can turn back once you've seen the footbridge.

Hike in the Basque Country, 3 km from the village of Larrau. This hike offers magnificent 360° panoramic views from the summit: to the east, the Pic d'Anie, the Pic d'Ansabère, the Table des Trois Rois, etc.; to the west, the Pic d'Orhy; to the south, the Otchogorria with its antennas; and nearby to the south-west, the Otchogorrigagna.

This is a short but intense hike to a beautiful, uncrowded waterfall and spectacular scenery. It is best done in late spring to fully enjoy the waterfall.

An accessible short hike allowing you to climb Pic d'Orhy, the first peak to reach 2,000 metres above sea level from the Atlantic Ocean and the highest point in Soule. Magnificent views of the surrounding Basque Country and the high peaks of the Pyrenees.

This is a very beautiful hike which, once you reach the ridge between Arthanolatze and Pic des Escaliers, offers superb views of the Pyrenees on one side and the Arbailles forest and the landscapes stretching from Mauléon to Oloron and beyond on the other.

Variation of the GR®10 starting from the Iraty Campsite. Start in the undergrowth in a magnificent Basque beech forest, then walk through the mountain pastures with griffon vultures circling above. A peaceful short hike with magnificent views of the Pyrenees and the Basque Country. Please note that there are many animals roaming freely, so it is best not to bring your dog. As this hike does not return to the starting point, leave another vehicle at the Col de Bagargi.

Not far from the famous Holzarté Gorges, here is an easy-to-follow route that will take you to the Soule ridges, facing the Western Pyrenees.

A lovely walk in the heart of the Soule Valley, starting from the small village of Etchebar. This extended version of the Etchebar loop offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Pyrenean mountains from the summit of Pic Salhagagne.

The Arbailles massif is one of the limestone ranges that lie just before the Pyrenees proper. Rising to an altitude of nearly 1,300 metres, this mountain offers a magical panorama of the border peaks. The proposed route winds its way through high-altitude pastures and dark forests, until it plunges into the heart of the massif, with plenty of sheep, cows and horses as companions on the walk.

A magnificent and varied hike that allows you to discover the mysterious Occabé cromlechs. After a climb in the shade of a beautiful beech forest, you arrive at the beautiful Occabé plateau with its horses, cows, sheep and famous cromlechs. The view across the plateau is magnificent, especially from the summit of Occabé, which rises to an altitude of 1,456 metres. Descend through the woods and return via a beautiful little path that runs alongside a river to the car park.

This is a beautiful walk. It crosses the largest beech forest in Europe. From the summit of Occabé, the highest point in the Iraty Forest, the view is magnificent. Below, there is a large necropolis of Neolithic shepherds. It has around twenty well-preserved cromlechs. They date back to 1000 BC and are a kind of circle in the middle of which the ashes of the dead were placed.

A beautiful, easy hike on Montagne d'Inchouriste from the village of Haux. A rocky ridge offering magnificent views of the Pyrenees and the surrounding mountains.

This walk via the Col d’Oxibar offers a particularly interesting feature: it opens up the Arbailles karst massif. The geology lends the landscape a distinctive character – at once mysterious and unique – with a cultural dimension rooted in protohistory. After passing through a small wood, the first open slopes already offer a lovely view of the ‘Ibar Esküin’ valley, Alcay, Lacarry and the high mountain ranges of Soule and Béarn. Even at this stage, the nature of the ground gives an indication of this type of limestone terrain, leading to a beautiful promontory where several piles of stones are heaped up: ‘Maide Korralea’, a testament to Soule’s ancient history. After the Oxibar Pass, on the descent, admire the old barn with its shingle roof, made of those old wooden tiles.

To the east of the Saison valley, stretching from Mauléon to Tardets, a range of hills faces the Arbailles massif to the west and the imposing wall of the Pyrenees mountain range, dominated by the Pic d’Anie to the south. The summit of Erretzü marks the furthest point of this range. This position affords it a breathtaking view of the mountains of Béarn and Haute-Soule. The route is very varied. It starts in the undergrowth alongside a lovely stream, then emerges into open ground through fern-filled glades dotted with pollarded oaks. Like the ferns that cover it, the summit changes colour with the seasons, eventually cloaking itself in a flamboyant red in autumn.