Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry col d'isperguy loop via the cretes

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Park by church at far end of village and walk past fonton court OPP church steeple

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Immediately afterwards cross bridge and bend left following these signs along road

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50m later veer left downhill on smaller road which is OPP col d',ispeguy signs

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On a very small country road pass a couple of big red and white Basque farm houses cross a stream and start climbing uphill past more houses after a cattle grid. Look for redy-pink way markers on walls and telegraph poles. It's now a climb all way to top of pass

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Ignore the red number two sign turning off left after ten min climb and continue along road which now dips down slightly

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Nice oak and chestnut woodland

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Pas another farmhouse as you drop down to left (true right) of a stream

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Where Rd climbs again pass a white house on right with an eau de source (spring water) where U can refill. It's signed by house wall

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Pass final house and road ends at 3km.55 and 360m continue straight ahead on narrow woodland path

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Rock hop over lovely little stream in woods

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Beautiful quiet woodland trail zig zag uphill hard now toward pass. This is old smugglers route. Today from autumn to late winter it's not smugglers you might encounter but hunters. Keep an eye out for hunting underway signs and wear something bright and make plenty of noise!

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At 550m and hr half from start (5.5km) rise up above forest into gorse and fern covered slopes with lovely view down valley to green Basque fields

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Clear path up exposed slope slightly on Spanish side with green hills unfolding below

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The gr10 runs 50m below ridge on Spanish side but most ppl walk close to ridge for views but be careful someone fell off and died last daytime we walked this route!

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It only takes 30min to walk along the ridges butv allow lots of time to take in views. Eventually path bends to right and drops towards sheep pens at obvious pass

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Ignoring tracks descending east from col go straight over it and staying with gr10 climb up otherside

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What I followed wasn't gr10 but gr5 transfrontalier route. At main pass at 927m ?? Hit the gr10 and turn right north and drop down. This is a lovely pass full of sheep and horses

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Goes down quite steep and can be slippery when wet but clear trail

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Path climbs again slightly and traverses around steep sided flank of hill going slightly back on itself. Look across to other side of valley at thin but high waterfall

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Narrow path could be sketchy in icy conditions and best avoided. It's narrow and steep

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Reaching this col either follow road right or stick to gr10 and veer right continue along footpath. No major time difference. Sticking with gr10 path stays high on south flank of hill

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Often huge numbers of vultures here taking advantage of combo of lots of livestock and steep hills and cliffs

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Cross down a ridge with beautiful babies down to village over hills and beyond to high mountain. One of best views on walk

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Left here and into wooded valley

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Left where path becomes notably wider and roll down through the chestnut trees

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At valley floor follow a stream downstream

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Pass a water source and sheep trough and moment later a narrow country road. Turn right and descend downhill on it to village

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The gr 10 cut corners off road by dropping through woodland. First is hundred metres along surface road

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Back into hardy Basque farming countryside stick to road. There is only one place where gr cuts off road and it's very short short cut

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Go right at Rd fork by large green and white house with palm tree

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Pass the vvf and right at gendarmerie and into village proper

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Arrive in village centre by main square bank and bar. Go right and continue straight ahead to church 5min later. Job done!

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Cross old humpback bridge and then right through park back to church and car