Miramar and Trois Fontaines from the quarries

Short circular on the slopes of La Rhune to the Col des Trois Fontaines.
You can go a few steps further to discover the cromlechs.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 442 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 446 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 578 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 132 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the D918, enter Ascain and cross the village via Rue Ernest Fourneau. At the traffic lights in front of the church, turn left towards the Col de Saint-Ignace and its famous little train, the Rhune.
Take the first street on the right, which leads to the quarry car park.

(S/E) Go to the entrance to the quarries and take the carriage road that branches off to the right and continue to the crossroads a few metres after thefirst road on the left.

(1) Turn onto the path that branches off to the left and join a cross path.

(2) Turn left at the hairpin bend and continue in a south-easterly direction, which gradually turns south-west. Cross the stream (Iramarreko Erreka).

(3) Immediately afterwards, take the widest path to the right, first along the stream and then gradually moving away from it. Climb up to a left-hand bend.

(4) At the bend, continue along the wide track heading south-west.

(5) Continue straight ahead on a grassy path towards the orientation table.

(6) Enjoy the view before continuing along the path on the hillside just below the ridge towards the mountain shelter.

(7) Take the path opposite, which joins theGR®10coming from the right. Continue towards the pass until you reach a marker on the left of the path indicating the direction of return to Ascain, on the left.

(8) Shortly before the Col des Trois Fontaines, turn left and begin the descent, passing by a sheepfold, with the Ruisseau des Trois Fontaines on your right, heading north. Return to the path you took on the way up.

(3) Turn right onto the path you took on the way up, which leads back to the quarry car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 136 m - Quarry car park
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 159 m - Fork to the left
  3. 2 : km 0.91 - alt. 263 m - Left fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 1.95 - alt. 389 m - Crossroads of the circular
  5. 4 : km 2.62 - alt. 487 m - Turn left uphill.
  6. 5 : km 2.99 - alt. 514 m - Grassy path on the right
  7. 6 : km 3.28 - alt. 542 m - Viewpoint - Table d'Orientation de Miramar
  8. 7 : km 4.29 - alt. 550 m - Path on the left along the hillside
  9. 8 : km 4.73 - alt. 532 m - Ground marker - Col des Trois Fontaines
  10. S/E : km 7.6 - alt. 136 m - Return to the quarry car park.

Notes

There are no water sources along the way, despite the name of the destination.

Worth a visit

Near the Col des Trois Fontaines is a cromlech site

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 14954328

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There were five women and seven children aged between five and twelve. The hike offered beautiful views, with some parts more difficult than others, but it was well worth the effort and remained accessible nonetheless.
We came across some pottoks, and there weren't many people around at that time of year.

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User 11435887

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike, views of the ocean practically the entire way, views of the Rhune too, I recommend it!

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M1O9M5O3
M1O9M5O3

Hike cancelled due to lack of parking? At 9:30 a.m., the car park was full... impossible to park along the road, or 2 km further down in the village of Ascain. No parking signs and vehicle removal throughout the village. Not to mention the farmer who drives back and forth with his tractor to tell you not to park there... (in three different places).
Good luck... and if you decide to go hiking on the weekend... get up early.

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estepoet
estepoet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike because you can see for miles, especially the ocean, from practically the entire route! Not difficult because it climbs gradually. A must-do!

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Olivier-rlv
Olivier-rlv

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful climb to La Rhune with stunning views of the sea and the Basque coast.
The walk is easy despite the elevation gain.
The descent is less pleasant but quick.
A walk to be recommended.

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ErwanD2
ErwanD2

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.

Advantage: no trees => beautiful unobstructed views all along the way
Disadvantage: no trees => no shade on almost the entire route (avoid during hot weather)

We only came across a few other hikers (hike taken just before the start of the school holidays)
Horses roaming freely all along the route

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balade montagne
balade montagne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Always a very nice hike:

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preventout
preventout

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off on this hike one morning when we knew the weather was going to turn cloudy, but we reached the orientation table before the clouds arrived and enjoyed a magnificent view of the panorama. We were able to finish before it became too overcast. On that day (in March), we came across a few people, but it was by no means crowded.
We saw more pottoks than "bipeds" and saw lots of vultures.

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krakowsky
krakowsky

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Certainly very busy because it's the middle of August and because it runs alongside the GR10 for a few hundred metres
Otherwise, it's not ideal with children.

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