Mount Ursuya from Mendionde

From Hasparren, take the D22, passing through the village of Bonloc. The road heads south and, 2.5 km further on, turn right towards Mendionde. From this village, head north on the D152. On leaving the village, pass the church at Lekorne. Continue and, after 4 or 5 bends, you will reach a crossroads. Turn left, staying on the D152, and after 500 m, in a right-hand bend, you will arrive at the shaded car park where the walk starts. Park in the natural spaces to the left or right of the road. There is a table and some benches slightly below.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, take the path heading south. After 150 m, the path splits in two. Follow the one on the right, which climbs towards the south-west, and continue for about 600 m.

(1) Turn right towards the west and a little further on the path is partly concrete. It then turns right, towards the north. Continue to the end of this wide path, at an old barn.

(2) Pass through a gate via the designated opening and continue along a well-marked path that winds its way through brambles. This path goes round a small hilltop at elevation 482. As you go round the hill, leave a path on your right that heads west (visible on the OSM Rando map), and continue climbing for about 500 m.

(3) Leave the well-marked path at a bend and continue left towards the fence in front of a large rock. This is the ridge path leading to the first peak, Gaineko Ordokia (599 m), and then Ursuya (681 m), the highest point in the area with a 360° view (large cairn).

(4) Descend to the right, northwards across the meadow and along a wide grassy path, then reach the rocky outcrops. Continue straight on along a more clearly marked path where the slope becomes a little steeper. You will see a metal enclosure which has taken the place of the antenna location marked on the map (the antenna is 100 m away, 50 m higher up next to the descent path). When you reach a cross path before the enclosure, turn left, north-west.

(5) You’ll reach the hikers’ table, slightly off the path. 30 m to the right of this table, behind the gorse on the slope, you’ll find the orientation table. Take the path to the right, south-south-west, which turns into a track, then turn right, north-west, until you reach a bend.

(6) Leave the track and take a small path running along the ridge, on the right, heading east. Reach a clearing, cross it and rejoin the path for about 160 m.

(7) Leave this well-marked narrow path and take a wider grassy path on the left, following it straight ahead. On the descent, cross a ford, continue left towards the north-north-east, and arrive at a barn.

(8) After a barn on the right, take the wide grassy path branching off to the right, heading east. Cross a second ford, and arrive at a track (Route Napoléon) and the Betirigaztenea farm.

(9) Turn right and, from the farm, walk along the road for 200 m. At the bend, leave the road and take a path straight ahead. 50 m further on, turn onto the path on the left, heading north-north-east, and follow it to the car park (S/E).