Nature escapes in the Basque Country: 16 places to unwind and switch off

Iraty, Holzarté, Txingudi, Urdaibai, Urkiola, Gorbeia, Valderejo, Bertiz, the Urederra, Bardenas Reales… 16 places to recharge in nature in the Basque Country.

In the Basque Country — Euskal Herria, on both sides of the border — a few kilometres are often all it takes to swap the town for the forest or the clifftop. Mountains, forests, estuaries, canyons, desert: here are sixteen places to breathe deeply and explore at an unhurried pace, from Labourd to Navarre.

The northern side: mountains and gorges

The Irati forest, the great beech forest

Straddling the border, the Irati forest covers around 17,200 hectares and is described as the largest beech forest in Western Europe, with pedunculate oaks and ash too. Long isolated, it was only reached by road in 1964. It is protected under the European Natura 2000 network.

Getting there: on the French side via Larrau; on the Navarrese side via Ochagavía. In autumn, the beeches turn a coppery colour.

The Holzarté gorges and footbridge (Soule)

Near Larrau, the Holzarté footbridge hangs more than 150 metres above the Olhadubi canyon, on the route of the GR 10. Built in 1920 by Italian workers for the woodcutters, it was replaced by a new structure in 2021 and is almost 70 metres long. From the Auberge de Logibar, allow about 1 hour to climb up (2 hours there and back). The car park is small, so the shuttle bus is recommended.

The Pas de Roland and Artzamendi (Labourd)

In Itxassou, the Pas de Roland is a pierced rock beside the Nive, which legend says Roland broke open. Above the village, Artzamendi (924 m) and its cromlechs can be explored on several walking circuits, from the easiest to the most demanding.

La Rhune, the iconic summit

You can’t talk about nature in the Basque Country without mentioning La Rhune (Larrun): find out everything in our complete hiking guide.

The coast: cliffs and marshes

The coastal path, from cliff to cliff

The coastal path (sentier du littoral) starts from the Erretegia protected natural area (espace naturel sensible) in Bidart and runs for nearly 54 km to San Sebastián (Donostia), via Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, Hondarribia and Pasaia. Tracks, steps, beach edges and clifftops: you can walk just a short stretch, such as Bidart → Saint-Jean-de-Luz (about 13 km).

The Txingudi marshes (Irun)

In Irun, Plaiaundi ecological park protects 24 hectares of wetland in the Bidasoa estuary, where up to 175 species of migratory birds stop over. Ideal at daybreak.

Jaizkibel (Hondarribia)

Above Hondarribia, the coastal Jaizkibel massif rises to about 545 m (543 to 547 m, depending on the source) at the summit of Allerru, also known as San Enrique: a road and footpaths follow the ridge, with views over Txingudi bay.

The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Biscay)

Declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1984, Urdaibai covers 230 km² (10% of Biscay) and 22 municipalities, around Guernica (Gernika-Lumo), Mundaka and Bermeo. Its estuary (12 km long) and marshes are a major staging post for migratory birds between Europe and Africa; the Urdaibai Bird Center, opened in 2009, studies the birds here. It is also home to the Santimamiñe cave, occupied since prehistoric times.

The Zumaia cliffs

In Zumaia, the flysch cliffs of the Basque Coast Geopark make up one of the most striking landscapes on the coast, especially at sunset.

The southern side: natural parks and wide open spaces

Aiako Harria Natural Park (Gipuzkoa)

Created in 1995, Aiako Harria park (Peñas de Aya) covers 6,105 hectares between the Bidasoa and the Urumea, across the municipalities of Oiartzun, Errenteria, Irun, Hernani and San Sebastián. It marks the western end of the Pyrenees: its summit reaches about 837 m. The Arditurri mines, worked from Roman times until 1984, bear witness to 2,500 years of mining history.

Urkiola Natural Park (Biscay)

Protected since 1989, Urkiola park (5,958 hectares), near Durango, is dominated by Anboto (1,331 m), the mountain where Basque mythology places the home of Mari, the ‘Lady of Anboto’. At the pass (700 m), the Urkiola sanctuary houses an interpretation centre.

Gorbea (Álava and Biscay)

At the heart of Gorbeia Natural Park, Gorbea (1,482 m) is crowned by a 17.23 m metal cross, in place since 1907; hundreds of mountain-lovers traditionally gather there at New Year. Access from the area around Laudio/Llodio.

Valderejo Natural Park (Álava)

At the far western tip of Álava, Valderejo (3,496 hectares) is home to the largest griffon vulture colony in the Basque Country. Its greatest marvel is the Purón gorge, a canyon carved into the limestone. You can also see the abandoned village of Ribera, whose church has Romanesque remains and medieval paintings.

Señorío de Bertiz Natural Park (Navarre)

In Oieregi, near the Baztan valley, the Señorío de Bertiz was the first natural park to be declared in Navarre (1984): 2,040 hectares of beech, oak and alder, home to red deer, roe deer and wild boar. Its historic garden, more than a hundred years old and laid out in Art Nouveau style, is home to sequoias, cedars, ginkgos, camellias, azaleas and bamboo, with ponds and little bridges. Seven trails, from a 1.5 km stroll to a 22 km hike.

The source of the Urederra (Navarre)

From Baquedano, in the Améscoa valley (about 30 minutes from Estella-Lizarra), an easy 6 km there-and-back path (2 to 3 hours) leads to the source of the Urederra, in Urbasa-Andía Natural Park.

Note: booking is compulsory, with a limit of 500 visitors a day. Entry is free, but parking is paid. Swimming is forbidden, dogs must be kept on a lead and drones are banned.

The Bardenas Reales (Navarre)

A complete change of scenery in the south of Navarre: the Bardenas Reales, 41,845 hectares of semi-desert landscapes, have been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 7 November 2000. Eroded formations such as Castildetierra, canyons and plateaux: a journey in itself. See Tudela.

Our tips

Set off early: soft light and quiet trails.
Respect these places: stay on the paths, pick nothing and take your litter home.
Check conditions (weather, closures, bookings) before heading into the mountains.

Sources

Ongi etorri — and enjoy your walk!