Xoldoko Gaina - Summit and Lake

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's not very clear when you leave the car park as there are two options: either turn sharply left onto a very steep climb (which is the option to take), or continue straight ahead, which is what you tend to do naturally.

Then, at the end of the hike, the fork in the path leading back to the car park, after skirting the lake, is really not obvious... We missed it and ended up well below the car park, but fortunately at the bottom of the road leading back to it.

But there are magnificent views of St Jean de Luz, almost as far as Donostia, much closer than from La Rhune.

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Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike wasn't as easy as expected.
The first part of the climb was very steep over a fairly long distance, so it was very tiring.
Not much visibility of the lake behind the trees.
However, there were beautiful views of the coast and the surrounding mountains.
Be careful on the last part of the hike, as there is a narrow, very stony section on the edge of a steep slope. It's a bit dangerous for children at the end of the hike, especially when they are tired.

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Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with a beautiful view of the bay of St Jean de Luz. Thank goodness we had the Visorando GPS, because at the beginning and end of the hike we almost strayed off course!
Thank you, Visorando!

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Hello @Hub33,

This comment, although friendly, clearly does not refer to this route.

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Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It was the weekend of 15 August, which meant festivities in Ascain, with the car park at the start occupied by fairground rides. You have to use the car parks at the cemetery.
The entire hike requires a bit of practice and there are a few sections that can be tricky with young children.
We recommend walking sticks and suitable footwear, even though the ground was dry... after the rain... slippery..
We took a wrong turn at the start but managed to find our way back thanks to the app alerts😉. In the end, we covered 9.5 km in 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The stop at the waterfall is really nice, but it's poorly signposted, so you can easily miss it!

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Date of your route : May 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We had a wonderful hike with our 18-month-old son (carried in a backpack) in dry, sunny weather 🙂
We followed the advice to do the circuit in reverse. This meant that we started with what we considered to be the most difficult part. The first kilometre (from point 7 to point 6) is on a very narrow path (often along the edge of a ravine), with lots of vegetation (especially brambles) and the ground covered with large stones that appear to cover a drainage pipe. As you can imagine, this first kilometre was tough going for us! (Perhaps it's easier without young children).
Otherwise, the rest of the hike is really great, and the view is magnificent. We loved it!

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Hello,

The signposting is not provided by Visorando and should not influence your choice of route.
It may be mentioned, but this is anecdotal, as you should rely on other criteria or, better still, use the Visorando mobile app, which provides GPS guidance for the route.

In addition, the Visorando app provides a "Get to the start" tool that enters the GPS coordinates of the starting point into a mobile navigation app to help you find the start easily.

Thank you for taking the time to share your impressions.

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Date of your route : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike in good weather
The recommended starting point was difficult to find, so we did it backwards, which was probably better (even if the signage is inadequate!)

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Date of your route : Dec 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short hike which, for us, we did in reverse, allowing us to discover the Rhune and the Three Crowns on the way up, and to keep the coastline in view on the way back.

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Date of your route : Dec 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in rainy weather.
Difficult to find the end of the trail because you had to turn left.
Unpleasant walk along a buried pipe.
The view was blocked, but we can imagine that it is pleasant!

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Date of your route : Oct 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with magnificent views of the coastline. After point 6, the path is indeed difficult, so I would avoid it if it rains heavily.
Easy to follow with the GPS track and explanations, but be careful at point 6 where you need to turn left onto a small path that leaves the main trail.
Thank you for this lovely hike

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Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike. It would be better to warn hikers that they need to leave the main path and turn left at "6".

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Date of your route : Aug 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with a good climb at the start offering superb views of the bay. We came across horses grazing and dozens of vultures; there must have been a carcass nearby.
Sunny during the first half, then a little shade afterwards.
Just watch out for the fork in the road where you leave the main trail to finish the walk.
Ideal for a ~2 hour 15 minute hike.

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Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed this hike, which is varied (summit with views of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye, forest paths and views of a mountain lake) and easy.

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Date of your route : Oct 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very parish specific to Brittany, thank you

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