Once you have reached Hondarribia beach (see below the section "transport" for how to get to Hondarribia) you follow paseo Ramón Iribarren in a westerly direction, past the port docks and continue along the road which climbs up to the lighthouse, leaving the Castle of San Telmo on the right. Just after the castle, before reaching a horseshoe bend, leave the road to follow a path waymarked as GR-121. In just a few minutes you reach Higuer Lighthouse, the spot you may consider to be the starting point of your route.

The alternative option is to take a taxi up to Cabo de Higuer from the railway or bus station in Irún (7kms; 1h45min walking).

This (urban) prologue stage is unmarked, and marking only begins at the other end of Irún. From that point onwards, waymarking is excellent.

Erdiko Punta (0 kms). Return to Hondarribia along the described itinerary. We recommend crossing the historic town centre rather that following the seafront walk as most publications indicate. This detour through the centre is the same distance and is well worth doing. So, once back in Hondarribia, you continue walking, leaving on your left...

Hondarribia Beach (2kms) (drinking fountains) and the marina until you reach the mouth of the river Bidasoa. Turn right (S) and keep walking alongside Txingudi bay, leaving a sports complex (football fields and athletics tracks) on your right, until you come to the start of paseo Butrón. Head for the fishermen’s quarter in search of the typical houses in...

calle San Pedro (3,5 kms), the fourth street parallel to paseo Butrón. Keep going to the end of the road, until you come to a roundabout (Plaza San Kristobal). Go straight ahead, taking the second exit on the right, calle Javier Ugarte, and further ahead turn right – up the hill – along calle Santiago de Compostela. Continue the tourist route crossing...

Plaza Guipúzcoa (4,1 kms), then calle Harategi and later on the left along calle San Nicolás until you reach the Plaza de Armas (Parador hotel). From this point, go down calle Mayor and exit the old town via the...

Puerta de Santa María (4,5 kms). To carry on towards Irún, you turn right after crossing the bridge and follow calle Minasoreta as far as a large roundabout next to an Eroski supermarket. Exit the roundabout to the south, road GI-3440, leaving it immediately to continue along calle Santa Engracia, which you follow as far as road N-638, next to the airport. You continue walking in a southerly direction until just after passing a bridge over a river (Amuteko canal), where you leave it to continue to your left/straight on along the GI-2134 road which takes you into Irún.

Plaza Zubi Muxu (6,7 kms), a large roundabout with a fountain. Go straight on, down calle Fuenterrabia, cross over a railway bridge and keep going along paseo Colón until at the end of the street on your right you come to...

plaza de San Juan (8,2 kms), where Irún Town Hall stands. Turn left down calle de San Marcial and then follow calle Pellegrin de Uranzu as far as Estebenea stream. Just after crossing the stream, turn right and follow it for about 100 metres until you see a roundabout with a palm tree to the left. Head towards it and go straight ahead down calle Alzukaitz, cross another roundabout and follow in the same direction until you reach a small stream – don’t cross it. Just before it, on the right, is the beginning of a path and cycle lane where you will find the first markings of the GR11 trail.

End of urban section (9,2 kms).