The summit of Zubeltzu near Irun

The starting point for this hike is the Ugalde-Ventas car park in Irun.
To get to this starting point by car, see the "Practical information" section below.

The presence of numerous pidgeon hunting huts along the route means that this walk cannot be done during the pidgeon hunting season.

(S/E) The car park is located in an industrial area, which you must first leave. Take the street opposite (Lekunberri kalea). At the end of this street, turn right and follow the street that leads to a passage under the motorway. At the exit of this passage, follow the road and at the first intersection take the path on the right, a cement road.

(1) Leave the cement road and take the small dirt track on the left. The climb through the forest is very steep. Continue straight ahead until you reach the first pidgeon hunting huts.

(2) You will come out onto a wide path. Continue straight ahead: the steep climb is now over.

(3) Turn left and continue to a three-way junction.

(4) Take the track completely on the left.

(5) At a pidgeon hunting hut, leave this track and follow the small path on the right to reach the summit of Zubeltzu at an altitude of 216 m. It is easily recognisable by its triangulation point (cylinder on a cube). Opposite, you will see an old ruined tower. The summit is surrounded by pidgeon hunting huts.

(6) Continue straight ahead, then leave the path at the first intersection and take another path that descends to the left. You will then come to a large track; take it on your right. Further on, pass under a large power line and continue until you come to a track near two houses.

(7) Continue to the left and approach the motorway.

(8) Leave the track by turning completely left onto the Camino de Santiago Vasco del Interior (one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela), signposted in yellow. Join the path you took on the way out, turn right to pass under the motorway again, then turn left and walk through the industrial estate to return to the car park (S/E).

Route by car to the starting point of the hike.

From Saint-Jean-de-Luz, take the D810 to pass through Ciboure and then Urrugne. Cross the border at Béhobie, and at the roundabout after the bridge, take the first exit towards San Sebastián GI-636. Continue on the GI-636. Pass Easy Gas and at the next roundabout, take the^3rd exit Ospitalea and go straight ahead.

At the roundabout, take the^first exit on the right towards Donostia and continue straight ahead. At the roundabout, take the^{third exit} towards Ventas Olaberria (green sign). You are now on Molino errepidea street. Go over the railway line and continue straight ahead.

At the next roundabout, take the^third exit towards the Ugalde-Ventas car park. Then follow the "P" sign, turning right and parking in the car park. This car park overlooks Lekunberri kalea street.

For information, it is approximately 18 km by car from Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

The tower at the top was built to defend the town of Irun during the last Carlist War (1875). Currently, only four pieces of wall remain, in poor condition and overgrown with brambles. Originally, there were a series of eight towers around Irun, built under the orders of Lieutenant Colonel D. Juan Arana, who was the military commander of Irun at the time.

Of these towers, only the ruins of two remain, one in Zubeltzu and the other in Elatzeta.