Ochagavía/Otsagabia walks

The Pic d’Orhy is the first 2,000-metre peak in the Pyrenees when approaching from the Atlantic. This giant of Soule is characterised by its imposing, pyramid-shaped silhouette. A relatively short route with no technical difficulty, to be undertaken only in good weather.

An accessible short hike allowing you to climb Pic d'Orhy, the first peak to reach 2,000 metres above sea level from the Atlantic Ocean and the highest point in Soule. Magnificent views of the surrounding Basque Country and the high peaks of the Pyrenees.

A lovely walk through the forest, circling Lake Irati.

Variation of the GR®10 starting from the Iraty Campsite. Start in the undergrowth in a magnificent Basque beech forest, then walk through the mountain pastures with griffon vultures circling above. A peaceful short hike with magnificent views of the Pyrenees and the Basque Country. Please note that there are many animals roaming freely, so it is best not to bring your dog. As this hike does not return to the starting point, leave another vehicle at the Col de Bagargi.

Occabé is the highest point on the Iraty plateau. It offers a 360° view of the Pyrenees mountain range. The Occabé plateau is home to the most extraordinary megalithic site in the Basque Country. The ascent and descent take you through the largest beech forest in Europe. It's beautiful everywhere.

A magnificent and varied hike that allows you to discover the mysterious Occabé cromlechs. After a climb in the shade of a beautiful beech forest, you arrive at the beautiful Occabé plateau with its horses, cows, sheep and famous cromlechs. The view across the plateau is magnificent, especially from the summit of Occabé, which rises to an altitude of 1,456 metres. Descend through the woods and return via a beautiful little path that runs alongside a river to the car park.

This is a beautiful walk. It crosses the largest beech forest in Europe. From the summit of Occabé, the highest point in the Iraty Forest, the view is magnificent. Below, there is a large necropolis of Neolithic shepherds. It has around twenty well-preserved cromlechs. They date back to 1000 BC and are a kind of circle in the middle of which the ashes of the dead were placed.

This is a very beautiful hike which, once you reach the ridge between Arthanolatze and Pic des Escaliers, offers superb views of the Pyrenees on one side and the Arbailles forest and the landscapes stretching from Mauléon to Oloron and beyond on the other.

An easy walk offering superb panoramic views from the Organbidexka ridge, stretching from the Pic d’Orhy to the peaks of Béarn via the Pic d’Anie.

Climb to the Erroimendy Pass from Larrau to admire this typical region in the heart of the Basque Country, at the gateway to Spain.

This is a short but intense hike to a beautiful, uncrowded waterfall and spectacular scenery. It is best done in late spring to fully enjoy the waterfall.

A beautiful circular for contemplating the world of Basque canyons. Carved out 80 million years ago by the Olhadübi torrent, the Holtzarte gorges, 100 to 300 metres deep, are among the most spectacular in the Basque Country. In fact, "Holtze arte" means "between walls" in Basque. A path, which is quite steep in places, leads to an impressive footbridge built in 1925 by Italians for forestry work. Crossing it is a thrilling experience and is not dangerous, but some people still close their eyes... An old track leads to the top of the canyon, from where you can climb a beautiful path to the pastoral world of Haut Souletin. The views of the Larrau mountains, including Pic d'Orhi, the first 2,000-metre peak from the Basque coast, are magnificent.

A circular loop of twelve kilometres in a green setting between forest, streams and waterfalls.And above all, the crossing of the Holzarté footbridge, which is the highlight of this fairly demanding hike. If it's too physically demanding, you can turn back once you've seen the footbridge.

Hike in the Basque Country, 3 km from the village of Larrau. This hike offers magnificent 360° panoramic views from the summit: to the east, the Pic d'Anie, the Pic d'Ansabère, the Table des Trois Rois, etc.; to the west, the Pic d'Orhy; to the south, the Otchogorria with its antennas; and nearby to the south-west, the Otchogorrigagna.

This route starts at the Royal Arms and Munitions Factory in Orbaizeta and takes a lovely circular route through the forest, following much of the local path known as SL-NA-59B.It is enhanced here by a visit to the ruins of Arlekia Castle, which gave its name to the walk.

The D'esternguibel valley is a wild site in Lower Navarre. Its steep sides are bristling with ridges and peaks. Iraukotuturu is the highest peak. To reach it, head for the Errékaxaro pass and from there follow a path carved into the rock in places, which was once used for transhumance of sheep.

A beautiful circular route on grassy slopes between 1,000 and 1,400 m takes you to an exceptional panorama, the ruins and the Roman tower, which rises to 1,423 m. A great moment and a great memory. GPS essential.

The Arbailles massif is one of the limestone ranges that lie just before the Pyrenees proper. Rising to an altitude of nearly 1,300 metres, this mountain offers a magical panorama of the border peaks. The proposed route winds its way through high-altitude pastures and dark forests, until it plunges into the heart of the massif, with plenty of sheep, cows and horses as companions on the walk.

Mendizar is a remote and little-visited peak in Navarre. Offering beautiful panoramic views, it lies on the Atlantic–Mediterranean watershed. A long and beautiful circular walk, passing through the Col d’Organbide on the way out, to reach this magnificent viewpoint.

We thoroughly enjoyed this route, which I "invented" to change my usual habit of climbing almost straight up through the forest and descending almost the same way. A variety of landscapes and atmospheres are on the menu during this fairly leisurely 3½-hour walk. I have fond memories of passing by the stream and its blue-green pools, surrounded by meadows covered with spring flowers. It's as romantic as you could wish for. In short, you want to take your time here, so those who are keen on sporting achievements should refrain!

Seen from a distance, the silhouette of Behorleguy gives the impression of an enormous peak and of being difficult. In fact, this is misleading and when you arrive on its southern face, it has a rather rounded shape. It is an enormous limestone fold that heralds the Arbailles massif. Magnificent view from the summit with the Pic des Escaliers to the south and the Arbailles massif to the north.. At the Col d'Aphanize, you can see a vertical chasm 500 m deep, one of the deepest chimneys in the world.

Three places of interest: - The Roman ruins of the Urkulu Tower - The Bentarte Redoubt - The summit of Leizar Athéka, itself crowned by a fortification.

The Urkulu Trophy: this imposing stone tower is thought to have been built in Roman times to intimidate invaders of the powerful Roman army... even though it is located off the route from Bordeaux to Astorga via Pamplona.

The Iramendy ridge is bristling with poudingue peaks (conglomerate of round pebbles). From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, this gives it the appearance of a dinosaur. Climbing to the summit via this ridge from north to south requires a bit of scrambling (level 2 lower). The proposed hike climbs to the summit via the other ridge. No difficulties other than the total elevation gain and a few steep sections. Magnificent 360° view of the surrounding mountains.

From the Nive de Béhérobie in Estérençuby, head up one of its tributaries, the Bihurriko Erreka, to discover the peaceful heights where shepherds and their sheep reign supreme. The Azketa huts are inhabited during the summer grazing season. They shelter beautiful Basque-Béarnaise horned sheep. These pastures are also popular with pottoks, the small Basque horses.