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Park on the left of the Chapelle de Houndas as you go up, near the picnic tables.
(S/E) Take the D294 on the left, go around the back of the chapel, cross the small bridge over the Serres, leave the car park on your right and continue for another 40 metres.
(1) Take the stony path on the right that goes uphill. 400 m further on, go through a large gate and continue uphill on the wide path marked by theGR® de Pays (GRP®) "Tour de la Vallée d'Ossau" (yellow and red markings). You will arrive at a very small plateau.
(2) Follow theGRP® markings on the left to climb towards the next crossroads.
(3) Continue straight ahead for another 200 metres, then take the path through the thickets on the left to discover the Cromlechs of Lou Couraus, a prehistoric wonder!
(4) Retrace your steps.
(3) Climb into the forest on the left, following the GRP®. The path quickly becomes a single track and can be very muddy and slippery in wet weather! Continue to a fork in the path.
(5) Leave the path on the left and continue climbing this path, following theGRP® markings (yellow and red). Ignore the numerous paths that branch off to the right and left until you reach the crossroads where the direction of Cayolar de Lazercou is indicated on the right.
(6) Leave theGRP® markings and continue straight ahead, still on the same path along the mountainside, until you reach the Col de la Houn Barrade. Then follow the single track path westwards, which goes around the Soum de Counée for about 500 m.
(7) Then turn right towards the north-west. Cross the small plateau between two peaks, still heading north-west (you may find yourself in fog with no clear landmarks, so a compass or GPS will be very useful!) for 800 m. Pass to the left of a small house covered with sheet metal (Cabanes de Castillou) and rejoin a wide stony path.
(8) Continue along the path. Further on, leave Cabane de Garrietche on your left and continue to the right-hand bend just after it.
(9) Leave the wide path and ignore a trail on the left to go straight across the fields and climb west-northwest for 300 m to rejoin the stony path.
(10) Take this path uphill to the left to go around Garrail to the north, then Brèque to the south. Shortly after a left turn,
(11) Leave a path on the left and continue along the stony path, which climbs again at the foot of Pic d'Escurets, until the next bend (to the right).
(12) Leave the path and head straight up west-northwest to reach the ridge and a yellow-marked Sentier de Pays trail.
(13) Turn right and climb up to the summit of Pic d'Escurets (1,440 m), which offers a magnificent panorama from Bayonne to Tarbes, or a superb sea of clouds!
(13) On your return, continue straight ahead, following the yellow markings until you reach a fork.
(14) Leave the path on the left and continue downhill on the right, still following the yellow markings. 400 m further on, the yellow-marked path splits into two options.
(15) Follow the long circular to the right, which winds through the woods on the mountainside. After 1.5 km, rejoin the short circular trail coming in from the left. Continue downhill due south on the stony path to reach the D294 and the Col de Marie Blanque, well known to sports enthusiasts (cyclists, runners, etc.)
(16) To reach the Plateau du Benou from the pass, take the path on the left, heading east-northeast, which descends into the woods. You will reach the plateau 150 m further on.
(17) Then take the path that dips to the left. Continue down the steep path (difficult passages due to stones!), pass a first ford, follow the stream to the right, ignore a path on the left to pass a second ford and continue to the Plateau de la Técouère, crossing several fords (the path can be very muddy). Cross the plateau heading south-east and, shortly after the Abreuvoir de la Técouère, join the Sentier de Pays and its yellow markings on a wide stony path. Continue along this path and pass a few barns and houses. Finally, cross the Arriou Tort bridge and join the D294.
(18) Follow this road to the left to cross the Plateau de Roland. At the Col du Porteigt, leave the yellow-marked trail, which takes a path to the right, and continue along the tarmac road, skirting the Plateau de Houndas and its springs, to reach the Chapelle de Houndas (S/E).
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Visorando member
Moderate 
Easy 
