Puente la Reina/Gares walks

Forty-ninth stage of the Camino de Santiago. This short stage remains very interesting thanks to the towns you pass through, such as Mañerú, Cirauqui and Villatuerta, until you reach your destination for the day, Estella, on the River Ega, a marvel from centuries past, which welcomes you with a very photogenic bridge.

Fiftieth stage of the Camino de Santiago. This stage takes you to the southernmost reaches of Navarre, to the picturesque village of Torres del Río, with its Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a jewel of Romanesque art. In the blazing sun, this route is long and gruelling. When you arrive in Irache, known for its wine fountain, you will have walked for only half an hour, and you will still have 27 km to go… yet Irache wine is very strong, even if it goes down easily! Remember to fill your water bottle… with water!

The medieval old town of Estella, through which the River Ega flows, boasts numerous Romanesque and Gothic buildings that bear witness to its former splendour. ‘Estella la bella’, as the pilgrims of the Middle Ages called it, is situated in Navarre, on the Camino Francés, between Puente la Reina and Logroño. I visited this beautiful town during the forty-ninth stage of my Camino de Santiago.

Forty-eighth stage of the Camino de Santiago. A stage like today’s is described in Spanish as: todo derecho – straight ahead all the way. You walk alongside the River Arga with little change in elevation until you reach Pamplona, at the foot of a group of hills covered in beech, oak and wild pine trees. As you approach Pamplona, the landscape becomes more clearly influenced by civilisation, with its conifers, reforestation and farmland. The rest of the stage is dominated by the Alto del Perdón, which offers a magnificent view. From there, you can see Pamplona and the Pyrenees behind, and opposite, the vast Navarrese plain. You will spend part of the day climbing up and down this mountain range, passing through quiet little towns that resemble islands floating amongst the fields of grain.

Fifty-first stage of the Camino de Santiago. On this stage, you leave Navarre and enter La Rioja, famous for its vineyards, before reaching Logroño. The twenty kilometres of this section begin with a path through ravines, but once you reach Viana, the route becomes much easier to walk. Make the most of your late afternoon and evening to visit Logroño, a city rich in history and traditions dating back to the Middle Ages. In the evening, the narrow streets of the old town are bustling with life.

A superb hike with four peaks over 1000 m, two superb lakes and also a dolmen, a menhir, an ancient Roman road, all in a protected natural setting.

The Adi overlooks the Urepel valley and the Quinto Real, which belonged to the kings of Navarre. The inhabitants paid a grazing fee corresponding to one-fifth of the herds, the quint.Currently reduced to 2,000 ha on the French side, but belonging to Spain, only the families of Saint-Étienne de Baïgorry have use of it. Herd owners pay a grazing fee (vacade) for each animal. This is why a fence marks the boundary of the Quinto Real.

This loop is a superb hike in Lower Navarre, taking you in turn to the peaks of Lindus, Xaxperro and Sorotepo. This ridge route between France and Spain offers total immersion in the open, wild landscapes of the Basque Country. Throughout the route, panoramic views of the Baigorri valley, the surrounding Basque peaks and, on a clear day, the High Pyrenees follow one after another. A complete itinerary, between high-altitude pastures, airy ridges and a pastoral atmosphere, ideal for hikers in search of tranquillity and wide open spaces.

A loop to climb the Tres Mugas, the highest point in the Bardenas Reales, then pass the foot of Puy Águila.