Macaye walks

A short drive along small roads to discover the hilly landscape, passing by the beautiful Macaye church. A relaxing route.

This hike avoids the busiest routes (Chemin des Écoliers). It winds through meadows and fern fields on the northern slope and, still through meadows, skirts the summit on the southern slope. The final climb is steady. Magnificent 360° view from the summit of the coast, the Landes plain, the mountains of the Basque Country, Béarn and, further to the left, on a clear day, the Hautes Pyrénées. The return is via Gaineko Ordokia and the eastern slope.

A very beautiful walk offering unbroken views of the mountains. Along the route, you’ll see beautiful Basque houses, woodland, pastures, horses and good paths. You will walk on very little tarmac (200 m), a little on a stony track, and on comfortable wide paths, trails and meadows. Below the summit, you can stop to study the landscape using an orientation table. In good weather, panoramic views from the summit are guaranteed, with views of the surrounding mountains and the Basque coast.

Loop passing through Mount Ursuya, a peak jutting out from the hills.

Far to the north, Mount Ursuya offers magnificent views of the Basque and Béarn mountains, the plain and the valleys of Piedmont.

Climb Ursuya via the easiest route. A circular loop at the summit will save you from having to descend the final steep climb, which is quite strenuous. Firstly, as you climb, you can admire the coastline and the wooded countryside of the Basque Country, as well as the plains of the Landes. Further on, you’ll see some typical thatched cottages and the surrounding secondary peaks. At the summit, there’s a magnificent view of the Baigura and all the peaks of the Basque Country.

This hike has an ideal profile, with a steep but steady climb and a gentle descent with beautiful landscapes to admire. The 360° view of Bégura is magnificent

A varied route suggested by the Tourist Office, reproduced here for use with Visorando. You walk through woodland or pastoral hillsides before reaching the valley, which is criss-crossed by small streams, the main one being the Mouline, a tributary of the Nive.

An almost circular route to climb Adarre and descend via the Col de Chancho.

A short circular route along the river with the sweet name of Joyeuse. This route is recommended by the tourist office and is reproduced here for use with Visorando.

BaÏgura is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the north of the Basque Country, with a 360° view of the mountains and the surrounding plain. Unfortunately, like many peaks, it is dotted with antennas, but they are very useful... It is a favourite spot for paragliders who jump from the top of the north face.

A mid-mountain hike towards Baïgura, which takes you up to the peaks for a stunning 360° view.

A lovely circular walk to discover remarkable trees in the foothills of Mont Baïgura.

Baigura is one of the iconic peaks of the Basque Country, particularly for its view, which can give you a crick in your neck on a clear day. The panoramic view is renowned, with few peaks missing from the picture and even the peaks of the Hautes-Pyrénées visible on a very clear day. Baigura is also an exemplary mountain in terms of its commitment to combining traditional pastoralism with the outdoor activities offered by the leisure centre. Everyone has a role to play in maintaining these exceptional landscapes and sustaining the economy of the valleys. Baigura also offers a concentration of ecosystems that are a delight to visit on this hike. From heathland with gorse and ferns to rocky, windswept ridges, through undergrowth and peat bogs, there are endless discoveries to be made and the horizon is constantly changing. A benchmark for circular sporty hikes.

Here's another way to do a nice loop in Ursuya. This hike is always on open ground on wide paths with magnificent views from the start to the summit. The end of the return journey is via the Iramalda and Harrixuri ridges with Cambo-les-Bains in front of you and, further away, Bayonne and, of course, the coast. On the left, you can see La Rhune, Mondarrain, Artzamendi, etc.

Far to the north, Mount Ursuya offers a magnificent 360° view of the Basque coast and the Béarn Pyrenees.

This beautiful loop to discover the foothills of Ursuya and its many springs is published by the Basque Country Tourist Office and is reproduced here for use with Visorando.

Hiking around Louhossoa, a small Basque village near Cambo.

There are several routes to the summit of Baigura, one of the Basque Country's most iconic peaks, renowned for its exceptional views. Starting from the village of Hélette, the climb is very varied. From the last houses to the nearby groves, it feels like you're setting off on a short walk to get some fresh air among the ferns. Then, as the morning light begins to gild the slopes of Erregelu and Ursuia, you find yourself drawn into a more ambitious hike, the view of the surrounding valleys becoming more beautiful as you gain height. Following a mountain path close to the ridges, the promontories follow one after the other and the summit of Erregelu, which seemed so far away, is now within reach. From its paragliding launch site, Baigura is already close by, and all that remains is to enjoy the panoramic view.

A circular walk of moderate difficulty to the top of the Baigura massif, starting from Bixintxo Chapel.