Things to do in Navarra: hiking in the Irati Forest

The Paraísos Erlan route is a tranquil, circular route that starts out at the Irabia reservoir. It takes about an hour to cover the 6 kilometres walking through beech woods, following forest paths and old woodcutters’ trails.To reach the starting point you'll need to cross Orbaitceta, a pretty country village located in Merindad de Sangüesa, and from there follow the signs to the reservoir where the waters of the Irati river collect. The first part of the route runs around the reservoir and then follows a path that will bring you to the green slopes of Mozolotxiki. It's a straightforward, easy route. The second section takes you up a path that'll lead you up to the wooded hill of Ermuñoa, from where there's a perfect panoramic view of the reservoir and a mass of slim beech trees covering an area of 940 metres. Once you're done photographing the views, it's back down to the beginning of the trail.

After resting your feet for a while and getting your breath back, head for Elkorreta cave, an odd triangular opening in the depths of the rock that inspired the legend of Gartxot. Continue on for about a kilometre, walking through leafy forests of oak and beech enjoying panoramic views of the Salazar Valley at the foot of the Abodi mountain range below. It might be a bit of a surprise to see cattle grazing peacefully right by your side!After reaching the cave, the trail starts to descend along a fenced path until you get to a dirt track and then make your way down through stands of oak trees until you find yourself back at the pretty hamlet of Izalzu.As you’ve seen, Navarra has a magic all of its own. From legends so ancient that no-one is quite sure when they originated, to traditional trails that have changed little and are almost exactly the same today as they were in the past. Choose your route for exploring the Irati Forest, and live an adventure that will seem like the stuff of fairy tales.