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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 marked on signs as a carpool meeting point.
(S/E) Starting from the top of the car park, the beginning of the hike is marked on a sign.
Head towards the church and just before it, turn right into a small alleyway 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 in front of a restored dolmen and admire the disc-shaped steles in the new cemetery.
The paved path passes two beautiful restored farms and immediately afterwards, you will come to a crossroads with a small chapel.
(1) Turn left onto this road, 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 to the left.
The paved path passes through the undergrowth. Leave the start on your right and after about ten minutes, cross the stream on a stone footbridge, then reach a small road 100 metres further on.
(2) Turn right for about 500 metres, pass to the right of a beautiful barn and you will immediately 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 leads to a house. Follow the path to the right and climb steeply for about 500 metres until you reach a three-way junction.
(4) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the track that climbs 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 "around Sare 1h10".
(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 Saint-Jean-de-Luz Bay to the north and La Rhune to the east is a reward for your efforts.
Descend to the pass via the same route.
(5) Take the path "around Sare" opposite, to the south-west. It descends steeply and then climbs again. In the hollow, ignore a path on the right. At the top, a stele indicates "Redoute Ermite Baita", but it is difficult to find the remains among so much vegetation!
The path descends again and then runs alongside a fence (at the top of this field there is another small ghost redoubt) to a crossroads with four paths.
(7) Continue to the left and at the next crossroads, turn left again onto the path that descends.
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 (D4) on the left 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 then follow the path opposite, on the mountainside, which gradually descends.
You can admire a beautiful stone building on a hillock slightly to the 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 secondary 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 reach the beautiful main square with its restaurants and pelota court.
Pass between the church and the bakery and return to the car park (S/E).
Local authority
Visorando member
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
