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The starting point is in the village of Sare. Park in the large car park at the top of the village. This location is also indicated on signs as a carpool meeting point.
(S/E) Starting from the top of the car park, the beginning of the hike is indicated on a sign.
Head towards the church and just before it, turn right into a small lane that runs down alongside the old cemetery. After a few dozen metres, the small street turns into a paved path (a remnant of the Napoleonic era).
Cross the D4 and continue straight ahead. Pass a restored dolmen and admire the disc-shaped steles in the new cemetery.
The paved path passes two beautiful restored farms and immediately after, you will come to a crossroads with a small chapel.
(1) Take this road on the left, which climbs steeply and runs alongside pretty Basque houses. At the end of the road, descend naturally to the right and then take the path immediately on the left.
The paved path passes through the woods. Leave the path on your right and after about ten minutes, cross the stream on a stone footbridge. After 100 metres, you will reach a small road.
(2) Turn right and continue for about 500 metres, passing a beautiful barn on your right, until you reach another road.
(3) Cross it and continue straight ahead as indicated by a sign for "Suhalmendi". The path climbs to the end of a road that serves a house. Follow the path to the right and climb steeply for about 500m until you reach a three-way junction.
(4) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the track that climbs up to the left (not marked on the map). Continue to the pass, from where you can see the summit of Suhalmendi with its antennas on the right. At the edge of the forest, a sign indicates "autour de Sare 1h10" (around Sare 1 hour 10 minutes).
(5) Climb up to the right to the summit of Suhalmendi.
(6) Enjoy the 360° view and note the remains of a redoubt used by French troops to fight Wellington's army. The view of the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz to the north and the Rhune to the east is well worth the effort.
Descend to the pass via the same route.
(5) Opposite, head south-west along the path "around Sare". It descends steeply then climbs back up again. In the hollow, ignore a path on the right. At the top, a stone marker indicates "Redoute Ermite Baita", but it is difficult to find the remains among the vegetation!
The path descends and then runs alongside a fence (at the top of this field there is another small ghost redoubt) until you reach a crossroads with four paths.
(7) Continue to the left and at the next crossroads, take the path downhill on the left again.
You will arrive at a car park at the Col de Saint-Ignace and reach the road not far from the La Rhune rack railway station.
(8) Take the road on the left (D4) which leads to Sare. After about 500m, take the first small road on the right, and a few metres further on, turn left. Pass two houses, then continue along the path on the right. When it turns left, continue for a few metres and follow the path opposite, which gradually descends down the mountainside.
You can admire a beautiful stone building on a hillock to your left and the village of Sare below.
Pass a small barn in good condition, then further down you will come to a second barn on a flat area where you will also find the side entrance to the beautiful house mentioned above.
(9) Continue straight ahead, descending along the same path. When you reach a cattle grid, you will find yourself back on the tarmac road to the village of Sare. Cross the Route de Véra (D406) and follow the car park on the left. At the end, take the small path on the right, pass in front of the large pelota court and then turn left towards the church to come out onto the beautiful main square with its restaurants and pelota court.
Pass between the church and the bakery and head to the car park (S/E).
Local authority
Visorando member
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
