With the unusually high temperatures and all-round pleasant sunny weather in September and October this year in the Basque Country, folk were starting to wonder if autumn was ever going to start, but fortunately it has, as I have been able to see for myself with the glorious colours – accompanied admittedly by a bit of rain – on my latest walk up the Arritzaga Valley in the Basque Country’s Sierra de Aralar, accessible just 30 minutes’ drive from San Sebastián on the coast or a short bus ride from the neighbouring town of Tolosa. The starting point is the village of Amezketa, nestling beneath Mt Txindoki, one of the Basque Country’s most emblematic peaks.
The fairly narrow path that follows the gorge up from Amezketa has long been an important route for shepherds heading up to the high pastureland in the Sierra de Aralar to tend their flock. After about 1 hour climbing alongside this fast-flowing mountain stream, the walker emerges just above the tree line and the beautiful Bisutzako waterfall comes into view.