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FRANCE - Walking in the western Pyrenees
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About the Pays Basque:
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Basque: History
SAMPLE ITINERARY
The following walks are a typical example of our program.
The choice and/or order of walks may change to suit
conditions. Dave has about 25 walks in his repertoire.
Day 1
Meet at Dax railway station at 16h30 and transfer to
our comfortable farmhouse in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Day 2 - Ostabat (5 hours, 12 kms.)
A fairly gentle start to the week. This walk starts
from the Col d'Ipharlatzé (a saddle within view
of the house) and heads north along the edge of the
Lantabat valley. Winding through gentle farming country,
our route eventually joins the pilgrimage route to Santiago
de Compostela (the GR65) and passes the 12th century
chapel in Harambelz, once a staging post for the pilgrimage
and a sanctuary for those who had run the gauntlet of
bears, wolves and human predators in the Ostabat woods.
We end the walk in Ostabat itself, former meeting point
of several of the routes leading to Santiago.
Day 3 - Urdos (4 hours, 8 kms)
Urdos is a tiny hamlet with an ancient château
and a 17C chapel, and is the starting point for one
of our shorter walks, some 40 minutes drive from Etxexuria.
We climb up by the river under the shade of chestnut
and oak woodland, past picturesque old barns, shepherds'
huts, craggy rocks and lush vegetation. The occasional
herd of wild goats, salamander lizards, and evidence
of badgers, can also enliven proceedings. We have the
option of walking up to the Iparla ridge and the Spanish
border, from where we continue along below the ridge
before circling round and behind a mountain, prior to
descending back towards Urdos.
Day 4 - Source of the Bidouze (6 hours
- 12 kms)
There is a mystical, Lord of the Rings feel to this
walk, which is undertaken, for the most part, in beech
forest. We leave the minibus on the edge of the forest,
then start a long but gentle uphill in shade, by the
River Bidouze. Eventually we arrive at a vertical limestone
cliff face below a hanging valley, and are faced with
a dark cave containing the source of the Bidouze, and
if one is to believe Basque legend, the home of a "laminak"
or two (Basque equivalent of leprechauns)! From here
we hit a track that takes us to our lunch spot above
the hanging valley, where we enjoy wonderful views of
surrounding forest and mountains. After lunch, we continue
the circuit past a wood pigeon netting site (only active
in October), eventually dropping down and through lush
farmland surrounded by hills, to the minibus.
Day 5 - Col d'Ispéguy (6 hours
- 12 kms)
One of the most attractive villages in the Pays Basque
is Saint Etienne de Baïgorry, on the road to Spain
from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and about 40 minutes drive
from Etxexuria. Halfway up a stunning pass leading from
St Etienne to the Spanish border we park, then wind
round and up a hill to join the GR10. This continues
up past cliffs to the Spanish border, where the path
turns east and we follow it with superb views into both
Spain and France to the col d'Ispéguy (one of
the Pyrenean crossing points for the mother of all cycle
races, the Tour de France). There are several opportunities
for cool drinks and purchase of gifts or even duty free
alcohol at low Spanish prices!! The last phase of the
walk includes a descent down the valley through shaded
woods and by the side of a fast flowing mountain stream.
Day 6 - Salies de Béarn (0 kms!)
As a rest from walking, today we drive north out of
the Basque country to this charming mediaeval Béarnaise
town. Here you can wander around a typical French market,
do any necessary banking or post office business before
lunching in the local park. In the early afternoon you
can visit the town's famous spa baths to relieve any
aching muscles. The claim is that the baths can cure
you of anything from infertility to blindness!
Day 7 - Sommet d'Occabé (5 hours,
12 kms.)
Starting at the Col de Burdincurutcheta (1135m), this
walk climbs up through the Iraty beech forest (the largest
in western Europe) to a large open plateau and the Summit
of Occabé at 1456m and the highest in the area
accessible on foot . Here we pass a formation of 26
cromlechs (stone circles) dating back to the Iron Age.
After lunch we descend back into the forest
Day 8
Pack and transfer to Dax railway station by 09h00.
France: Walking in the western
Pyrenees
Dates and costs
27 September – 11 October 2008
$1725 per person per week double/twin share with shared
bathroom and $1825 en suite per person per week twin
share, joining in France.
(WEEK
1 FULL)
26 September – 10 October 2009
$1800 per person per week double/twin
share with shared bathroom and $1900 en suite per person
per week twin share, joining in France.
There is a 10% reduction for two week bookings.
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