Colline de la Bergerie in CAMBO-LES-BAINS (64)

on foot : 1h10 - Difficulty Very easy
Distance : 2km
Vertical rise : 70m
Public : Famille

Classified as a Sensitive Natural Space since the 80's and property of the department of the Atlantic Pyrenees, the hill of the sheepfold represents a parenthesis of greenery in the heart of an urbanized area for the inhabitants of Cambo les Bains. Formerly high place of holiday, the castle which dominated the massif disappeared today but the English garden arranged at the time continues to delight young and old with its species of exotic trees of a remarkable diversity.
At the top, after having enjoyed an unobstructed view of the Basque mountains and walked along the avenue of hundred-year-old trees, you will reach the educational building "Elondare". Contraction of "Elorri Mendi" which means "the mountain of hawthorn" and "ondarea", "heritage", this building is intended to welcome the public for the purpose of biodiversity awareness.

Itinerary

Step 1 :
Ascent of the hill The route begins on a paved road. After 100 meters, a children’s playground will be on the left. Continue along the road, passing a private property entrance on the left, until you reach the start of a steep dirt path that ascends for about a hundred meters before becoming more gradual. The trail continues under a pleasant forest cover with various tree species (pedunculate oaks, chestnut trees, wild cherries, pines, etc.). Reach the summit plateau after 670 meters of progress. Follow the path under an avenue of oaks until you reach the Elondare building.
Step 2 :
In the woods Cross the track and take the grassy path in front of you to follow a fence on the right. Enter the woods, pass a piece of equipment on the right, and then descend to the right after a bench onto a wide trail. At the bottom of the descent, turn left and follow the departmental road below on the right. After 400 meters on a wide dirt trail, you will reach an intersection with a road.
Step 3 :
Small section of road Turn left. Stay alert to road traffic on the 300-meter stretch of road, then turn left onto a wide track.
Step 4 :
Beech forest Continue on the track, which narrows, passing a water collection building on the left. The path continues through beautiful specimens of pollarded beech trees. Keep going straight until you reach a section of road, which you should follow for 300 meters to return to the starting parking lot of the hike.

Don't miss

Elondare (Heritage)
Designed entirely of wood and shaped like a leaf, its name comes from the contraction of "Elorri Mendi," which means "the mountain of hawthorn," and "ondarea," meaning "heritage." This building is intended to welcome the public for the purpose of raising awareness about biodiversity. Visitors will find information about the Sensitive Natural Area of the Colline de la Bergerie, its history, and its management. The department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques offers nature activities there, including the observation of bees in educational hives installed by the "Nature et Abeilles" association from Larressore.
Pollarded beech trees (Nature site)
A species that thrives in cool and humid areas, the beech tree finds all the conditions it needs to flourish on the northern slope. The few beautiful specimens present here are pollarded. Also known as "trognes," these trees have undergone successive low cuts for decades, giving them their distinctive shapes. These cuts, often made to provide firewood, result in scars that appear as bulges on the tree. The presence of these trees is a boon for saproxylic insects (those that feed on dead wood) and, consequently, for birds like woodpeckers that feed on their larvae.

Points to note / Informations :

Cet itinéraire de randonnée est sur une zone pastorale, merci de prendre connaissance des bons gestes à adopter.

Points to note :

Portion de route (43.3484678;-1.4056505)

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