Arditurri Mines

Short walk around the Arditurri mines.
Lovely undergrowth with numerous small streams and paths.
When the weather's fine, you'll have a view of San Sebastien Bay and its rocky outcrop.

Details

743925
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 438 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 443 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 391 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 94 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park opposite the bridge over the Oiartzun Ibaia stream.

(S/E) Heading towards the mines, take the path leading up to the left, which takes you back to the cycle path.

(1) When you reach the cycle path, turn right and follow it upwards. Further on, at the small building on your left, you'll see the Three Crowns in front of you: Irumugarrieta, Txurrumurru and Erroilbide peaks. A few metres further on, you'll reach the entrance to the Arditurri mines.

(2) Take the concrete ramp up on your left, then after 20 m take the gravel path up on your left. Keep to the left until you reach a staircase made of earth and wood, which leads to a retention basin. Continue to the footbridge and cross the undergrowth. Cross the stream. Stay on the main path and continue straight ahead until you reach the Arditurri stream.

(3) Take the left-hand path. Cross the forest and continue on the gravel path. At the next junction, turn right and continue along the path until you cross a stream.
Continue for around 500 metres and take the gullied path down to the right (be careful, it's a tricky descent) to reach the "Unaileku" border, where you can picnic or take a break on a pleasant moss carpet below.

(4) Continue South to the next intersection, follow the white and yellow signs (PR®-GI1009) towards Sorotxo.
Cross the numerous streams to the ridge separating Arluxe from Ezurmendi.

(5) Turn left. A few metres further on, you'll see some iron rocks. Continue along the path, where you'll often see the Bay of San Sebastian in the distance, and the open-cast mines below. Rejoin the Gl3420 road.

(6) Take the right-hand path, marked White and Yellow, towards Olaetxe. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead. At the next intersection, keep right (white and yellow markings).

(7) This part is a tricky descent, as it is very stony and slippery. After crossing the undergrowth, rejoin the Gl3420 road.

(8) The last part of the hike is on the road. Keep to the right-hand side of the road (as visibility on the left-hand side is very poor for motorists).

(E) After 200 m, take the right-hand road, cross the bridge and arrive at the start car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 100 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 115 m - When you reach the cycle path
  3. 2 : km 1.41 - alt. 149 m - Mine entrance
  4. 3 : km 2.79 - alt. 262 m - Take the left-hand path
  5. 4 : km 4.85 - alt. 307 m - You arrive at the "Unaileku" border
  6. 5 : km 6.06 - alt. 337 m - Turn left
  7. 6 : km 7.13 - alt. 370 m - Take the path on the right
  8. 7 : km 8.14 - alt. 310 m - The descent is tricky as it is rocky and slippery.
  9. 8 : km 9.21 - alt. 105 m - Final section (road and bridge)
  10. S/E : km 9.46 - alt. 102 m - Car park

Notes

- You can visit the Mines
- The mining reserve has a picnic area with tables and chairs, as well as a children's playground, ideal for a family day out.

Worth a visit

- Cycle path from the Mines to Arragua (round trip) 14km.
- Numerous hotels and restaurants nearby.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
joel38120
joel38120

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We particularly enjoyed this hike because it takes us through unusual landscapes without any difficulties. Most of the route is through a chestnut forest, which is very pleasant in summer and also in autumn. The paths are often wide and well maintained, and the few trees across the path are easy to step over. Tracking the route with Visorando was very helpful.

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Lulu40
Lulu40

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty walk. Very good route
Crossing streams is no problem

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eric bourdon
eric bourdon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

superb hike along the south face of the three crowns. There are many waterfalls and streams to cross, so waterproof footwear is advisable. The autumn undergrowth is fantastically colourful.

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Loulou33
Loulou33
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Family hike. Very well signposted, with paths intersecting the itinerary so you can make the walk longer or shorter. Passage through river arms, which can be a little tricky after heavy rain.

We really enjoyed this outing, which ended with a swim in the crystal-clear river back at the car park.

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Lannemi
Lannemi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk around the mines in the undergrowth. Some of the footbridges over the stream have been washed away by flooding, but it is still easy to cross. A short diversions to the site of the mines at the start or after the finish is worthwhile.

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Jjack 64
Jjack 64

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good route, but some tricky stream crossings after a period of rain.
A lot of trees on the ground since the last storm, but the forestry staff do what is necessary

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Jerome3351
Jerome3351

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello

Thank you for this route. It's a very nice walk. Pretty and pleasant undergrowth, apparently full of porcini mushrooms if we are to believe the baskets of the locals between points 2 and 3.
Above the mine (which apparently can be visited but was closed today), a little further on next to a building there is a very accessible mine entrance. We walked 5 metres in the dark for the atmosphere.

In terms of difficulty, there's nothing unheralded apart from the many collapsed trees along the paths: you need to do a bit of gym at times.

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Martine et Patrick
Martine et Patrick

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An interesting hike from a historical point of view, but also for its pleasures: numerous waterfalls and pools where you can swim above the mines. An epicurean option could be as follows: start from the mine car park, which is easier to find than the other one, hike, and on the way back have lunch at the restaurant: from the voie verte, after a tunnel, follow the sign to the museum of popular musical traditions; after a few dozen metres, cross the stream on a bridge; there's a first restaurant on the left; we tried the one on the right a little further on, Tollare, excellent, wild turbot for less than 14 euros and a bottle of very good cider for 2.50; they served us at over 15:00. And we finished the walk peacefully at the end of the greenway, which is flat, with about 2 km left to digest!

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randos64
randos64

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful walk and very clear explanations.

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guiton13
guiton13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful walk in glorious sunshine!
The route was reliable but a few more precise explanations would have made it easier to be sure of taking the right path, but we didn't get lost. The improvements I would make would be :
- between point 2 and point 3: between "cross the stream" and "continue straight on" I would be a bit more precise because there are several small streams and paths, especially at the end.
- in explanation 3, a small detail: I'll add that at the next intersection, take the downhill path on the right and not the uphill path on the left.
These are just a few details, but once again a superb hike!
Thank you

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niko64
niko64
• Edited:

Hello "dpangloy",

Sorry you couldn't find the start of the hike... but I hope "gazok54" has solved your problem!

Amicalement,
niko64

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niko64
niko64

Hello gazok54,

Thank you for your reply to "dpangloy".

Amicalement,
niko64

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niko64
niko64

Hello Didier,

I'm glad you enjoyed my walk! And thank you for your comment (I'll make a note of it and thank you for the information you gave me to amend point 2).

Best regards,
Good hiking

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didier.lama
didier.lama

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike.
Description. At point 2, first take the concrete ramp that goes up on your left and then, after 20 m, take the gravel path that goes up on your left.
I'll certainly do it again, but in the opposite direction, starting with the 6-8 gradient uphill.
This will allow me to drop off the least fit part of the group at point 6, so that they only do the easiest and most beautiful part of the 2-hour walk, most of which is downhill.
To be sure of finding the start of the hike, the day before I'd visualised the last few metres of road, the sign indicating the mines, the bridge and the car park on Google map.
Thank you for this hike

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thanks dpangloy.
Sorry you didn't find the starting point for this hike. To find it for sure, Visorando offers several methods:
- the coordinates of the starting point if you have a GPS
- the link "Click here to find out how to get to the start of the hike" in the practical information section.
- the highly accurate ign map
- the Visorando application, which you can try for free for three days.
Have a good walk!

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