Uhart-Mixe - Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

(S) From the Chapel of Soyarza, head along the path descending south-west towards the Bois d’Ostabat. Follow the edge of the woods on your right to reach a memorial stone.

(1) Turn right to continue downhill, cross a wooded area before reaching the hamlet of Harantbeltz. Continue to the Chapel of Saint Nicholas of Myra.

(2) After the chapel, leave the tarmac road and head south-west along a path descending into the woods to reach a stream, before climbing back up to the crossroads.

(3) Ignore the^PR® sign, continue south-west along the path and join a small tarmac road at the top.

(4) Begin the descent to reach the Ibidiako Erreka stream.

(5) Turn south, staying on the tarmac road. At the fork, head right into a wooded area. The road bends sharply to the right.

(6) Stay on the road heading west, then south-west, until you reach the fork at the hamlet of Bidartéa.

(7) Turn left towards Ostabat Asme. Continue until you come to a small building on the left and a sign for a stopover lodge.

(8) Turn left (south-west) onto the grassy path leading down towards the Ospitalia Lodge. Enter the village of Ostabat-Asme and continue until you are walking alongside a concrete retaining wall on your right.

(9) Turn right at a 90° angle (north-west) onto a small uphill street heading towards the village centre, noting the beautiful colourful houses in the hamlet (provisions available at a grocery shop/bar). At the end of the street, turn left and continue until you reach the fork by the small water trough.

(10) Turn right (south-west) onto the small road, heading towards the Gaïneko Etxea farm. Pass the junction at the hamlet of Burguzaharra by first turning right then left and following the signs for the Gaïneko Etxea farm. Continue to the hamlet of Kontxunenea.

(11) Keep heading in this direction (south-west) until you reach the hamlet of Gainekoetxea (stopover lodge).

(12) Continue south-west to the hamlet of Bettanenea.

(13) Carry on to the hamlet of Etxeleta, then turn left to reach the junction with the D933, in front of the Commission Syndicale de l’Ostābāret building.

(14) Turn right and walk carefully along the verge of the D933 until you reach the sign marking the entrance to the village of Larceveau.

(15) Turn right just before the Elf petrol station onto the Route de Saint-Palais. Continue to the first junction. (You can stock up on supplies if you turn left into a bakery and cheese shop). Turn right then left and follow the signs for Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Continue to the hamlet of Xaharra,

(16) Ignore the^PR® sign that points right and carry on straight ahead. Cross the hamlet before reaching the pumping station.

(17) First turn right then left and carry on through the Ithurbidea farm, then continue along a path to the hamlet of Hegilondoa.

(18) Turn left onto the tarmac road. At the transformer, head right onto the grassy path and continue to the hamlet of Bastida Iriatea. Follow the tarmac road to the fork.

(19) Turn left and continue to the hamlet of Pagolategia.

(20) Leave the small tarmac road and turn left onto a grassy track. Cross the Arlako Erreka stream, then follow a forest track close to the stream to reach the D933. After passing through a metal gate, follow a lovely path to the right overlooking the main road. After about a kilometre on this pleasant route, return to the D933 via a parallel path, sheltered by a hedge. Cross the hamlet of Utziate, then continue for 150 m before turning right for a few dozen metres.

(21) Head left and continue until you reach the Galzetaburu Cross, the highest point of this stage.

(22) Cross the main road carefully, first turning right then left, and continue along the D522 towards Gamarthe. In the village, carry straight on until you reach the junction at the Elizaldia farm (where you can buy cold meats).

(23) Continue straight on, keeping to the side of the D522, to join the D933 some 800 m further on.

(24) At the stop sign, keep left towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, on the left-hand side of the D933, then turn left at the first junction onto the cycle path. Continue to the hamlet of Bizkaia.

(25) Head right, passing a lodge. At the fork, continue straight on, passing a horse boarding stable, and carry on to the next fork.

(26) Following the red and white markings, turn left onto the Chemin de Endizola and continue to a fork.

(27) Head west and continue until you reach a sign indicating a cattle grating.

(28) Continue left round a hairpin bend and carry on until you reach the junction with the^GR®78.

(29) Ignore this^GR® and continue straight on (south) towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to reach the hamlet of Ithurraldea.

(30) Continue south to reach the village of Bussunarits. Walk through this sprawling village until you reach the junction with the D120.

(31) Continue to the right (south-west) on the B-road, passing the Château d’Aphat before crossing a stream, followed by a wooded area. Descend gradually, with a view of the Pyrenees mountain range in the background, until you reach the junction at the entrance to the hamlet of Larraldea.

(32) Leave the D120 and continue straight on along Rue Landart-Alde. At the T-junction, turn left until you reach the junction with the D18.

(33) Turn right and enter the town of Saint-Jean-le-Vieux. At the stop sign, cross Route de Saint-Palais and head left across the square towards the hairdresser’s.

(34) Turn left, pass the sports hall and continue to the right after it, skirting a large pasture on your right. Continue to the tunnel that passes under the D933.

(35) After the tunnel, turn left immediately to continue along Rue Herri Basterra until you reach the wooded area, and head for the crossroads.

(36) Turn left, continue to the first houses, then go straight on, passing the Iraty joinery. Pass between a farm and a large white house.

(37) Turn left after the house to rejoin the D933. Cross the main road carefully. Take a small path on the left which initially runs alongside this road on the left-hand side, then, after a 90° bend, moves away from it. Continue to the signpost.

(38) Turn right towards La Madeleine and continue to La Croix de la Madeleine.

(39) Turn left, walk past the church, cross the River Laurhibar and continue along the Chemin de Taillapalde to the junction with the D401 at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

(40) Cross carefully and head straight on towards the Citadel. Continue along Chemin de la Porte Saint-Jacques. Pass the building, the historic gateway to Santiago de Compostela, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Walk along Rue de la Citadelle to Porte Notre Dame.

(41) Go through the gate and turn immediately left to follow the Nive de Béhérobie on your right. Continue to the footbridge and cross it to find, on the other side of the river, the entrance to Camping Plaza Berri udal kanpina (E).

Provisions available in Ostabat at a bakery, grocery shop and bar, in Saint-Jean-le-Vieux (37) and in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (41).
Camping Plaza Berri udal kanpina. Tel: 05 59 37 11 19 Info:

You’ll pass through numerous hamlets with typical Basque houses.
The Porte Saint Jacques (40)
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, the Porte Saint Jacques is the historic gateway for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, who, coming from the Madeleine district of Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, pass through Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port towards Roncesvalles. It offers a lovely view of the Arradoy hill, once a stone quarry and now planted with vineyards under the Irouléguy appellation. A quick glance at a first-class sports complex. In front of the Jai Alai, a large building below where Cesta Punta (Basque pelota) is played, stands the bas-relief of Juan de Huarte, a physician and philosopher who pioneered career guidance and authored a famous work cited by Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws.