Today’s walk is consderably shorter than the others and so allows for a little downtime to enjoy the calm of the beautiful Lastur valley and the unique tiny village of Lastur itself. Many regard this valley as the most pretty and unspoilt in the Basque Country, certainly within the province of Gipuzkoa, and it retains its sense of remoteness. The emerald green meadows and limestone karst landscape are complemented by the rural architecture of the village with its chapel, pelota court and working water mill. From the village there is a fairly short ascent to an old irrigation canal, which we follow along the entire length of the valley northwards with fine views of the valley and surrounding mountains all the way until – before you know it – the Bay of Biscay comes into view and we start our descent through mixed forest all the way down to sea level to the pleasant little seaside town of Deba. Take the time to wander along the beach lined with old villas and the small but pretty old town with its imposing church. But remember to save a bit of energy for the final short hike uphill to the hamlet of Arriola, famous for breeding fighting bulls, and our overnight accommodation at the Arriola Txiki farmhouse – the perfect place to grab a hammock and relax in its wonderful garden overlooking the coast.
Overnight Arriola
Day_3_Lastur_to_Arriola_basquecountrywalks
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Distance/walking time/cumulative elevation gain:
10.7 km / 3h15min / 370m approx.