Discover Estérençuby on hikes with different distances and durations, from short circular routes across pasture plateaus to the explicitly difficult hike to Grotte d’Harpea. The area also features a beech forest, archaeological remains and the Nive. When planning, compare the routes by their distances, walking times and elevation gains.
Compare circular trails by duration
The Tour de Gatarre circular hike is 5.9 kilometres long and takes about two hours. The loop over the Crêtes d’Ithurranburu covers 5.2 kilometres and takes about one hour and 45 minutes. La montagne d’Irau is a longer undertaking at 12.5 kilometres and around four and a half hours, with 800 metres of elevation gain. The hike to Grotte d’Harpea is 14 kilometres long, takes approximately five hours and is explicitly described as difficult. The routes therefore differ in duration, distance and elevation gain.
The route to Grotte d’Harpea starts at the Béhérobie car park in Estérençuby, at an altitude of 327 metres. Check local access and trail conditions before setting out.
Pastoral landscapes, dolmens and geology
The route over the Crêtes d’Ithurranburu crosses the Pagaltzeta pasture plateau above Estérençuby and offers sweeping views towards Spain. Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle and Manech sheep with black or red heads graze along the trail. Grazing may vary seasonally.
The Tour de Gatarre circular hike passes the Buluntza dolmen. It points to the long-standing pastoral use of these trails. Grotte d’Harpea also tells the story of the landscape: geologically, it is an anticline formed by the folding of sedimentary layers during the Pyrenees’ most recent uplift.
La montagne d’Irau first leads through a beech forest and then reaches the summer pastures of Irau. Another landmark is Pic d’Errozate, which stands at 1,345 metres. It is home to cromlechs considered among the highest in the northern Basque Country.
The Nive, fishing and regional trails
From March onwards, recreational fishing on the Nive is a popular activity. In the municipality, the young Nive is more like a mountain stream. Visitors fishing in the Nive de Béhérobie can obtain a fishing permit from the AAPPMA APRN (Association des Propriétaires Riverains de la Nive) or the AAPPMA de la Nive. Check current fishing permit arrangements before fishing; rules and access conditions may change.
The Kaskoz kasko cycling route also connects several landscape sections: it runs through the Orion forest, then descends to Béhérobie and follows the right bank of the Nive back to Estérençuby. Check local route conditions before setting out. At a regional level, the GR10 crosses the Phagaltzeta plateau above Estérençuby. This section connects Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port with the Iraty forest.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Saint-Pierre-D'irube, Suhescun, Espelette, Menditte, Urt, Lons, Angous, Bérenx.
Back to the regional travel overview: Pyrenees-Atlantiques.
