Walking between St Jean Pied de Port and Valcarlos

[Tim.proctor]

By way of introduction I am Tim Proctor ex owner of Errecaldia B & B in St Jean Pied de Port now retired and living just off the pilgrim route on the frontier Arneguy/Valcarlos. My post concerns two issues, the first is general security while walking on a public road. First point always wear brightly coloured clothing, not drab colours. Secondly always walk on the side of the road facing on coming traffic in other words always walk on the left side of the road. This advice is general but most important on the D933/N135 St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona road which is a major highway (it might not look it but it is) and used by heavy trucks and coaches.
My second point is that you should not be walking on the D933/N135, you should have left that road immediately after leaving Uharte Cize which is a suburb, if you like, of SJPdP. There is a clearly signposted turn off the D933 on the right which takes you down a short very steep slope then across a small river onto a bridge. After that you simply follow the signs along the traffic free back roads until you reach the border shopping area of Pekotxeta. Walk through the shopping area then take the road which runs between the river on your left and the Repsol service station to your right, DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE. This lovely little back road with banks covered with wild flowers will take you to Arnequy where you should cross the main road (D933 now N135). Leaving the frontier police station to your left cross the river and take the road up the side of the fronton (Pelota court) then follow this lovely little road all the way to Valcarlos. Please take this advice and be safe.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Dark blue line (part is hidden) - Camino
Light blue line - is actually a river
Red line - the border (the river forms it here)

 

[Camo]

By way of introduction I am Tim Proctor ex owner of Errecaldia B & B in St Jean Pied de Port now retired and living just off the pilgrim route on the frontier Arneguy/Valcarlos. My post concerns two issues, the first is general security while walking on a public road. First point always wear brightly coloured clothing, not drab colours. Secondly always walk on the side of the road facing on coming traffic in other words always walk on the left side of the road. This advice is general but most important on the D933/N135 St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona road which is a major highway (it might not look it but it is) and used by heavy trucks and coaches.
My second point is that you should not be walking on the D933/N135, you should have left that road immediately after leaving Uharte Cize which is a suburb, if you like, of SJPdP. There is a clearly signposted turn off the D933 on the right which takes you down a short very steep slope then across a small river onto a bridge. After that you simply follow the signs along the traffic free back roads until you reach the border shopping area of Pekotxeta. Walk through the shopping area then take the road which runs between the river on your left and the Repsol service station to your right, DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE. This lovely little back road with banks covered with wild flowers will take you to Arnequy where you should cross the main road (D933 now N135). Leaving the frontier police station to your left cross the river and take the road up the side of the fronton (Pelota court) then follow this lovely little road all the way to Valcarlos. Please take this advice and be safe.

But AFTER Valcarlos it looks like N135 is only road? correct?

 

[Tim.proctor]

But AFTER Valcarlos it looks like N135 is only road? correct?

After Valcarlos the route goes on and off the N135.

 

[Tim.proctor]

By way of introduction I am Tim Proctor ex owner of Errecaldia B & B in St Jean Pied de Port now retired and living just off the pilgrim route on the frontier Arneguy/Valcarlos. My post concerns two issues, the first is general security while walking on a public road. First point always wear brightly coloured clothing, not drab colours. Secondly always walk on the side of the road facing on coming traffic in other words always walk on the left side of the road. This advice is general but most important on the D933/N135 St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona road which is a major highway (it might not look it but it is) and used by heavy trucks and coaches.
My second point is that you should not be walking on the D933/N135, you should have left that road immediately after leaving Uharte Cize which is a suburb, if you like, of SJPdP. There is a clearly signposted turn off the D933 on the right which takes you down a short very steep slope then across a small river onto a bridge. After that you simply follow the signs along the traffic free back roads until you reach the border shopping area of Pekotxeta. Walk through the shopping area then take the road which runs between the river on your left and the Repsol service station to your right, DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE. This lovely little back road with banks covered with wild flowers will take you to Arnequy where you should cross the main road (D933 now N135). Leaving the frontier police station to your left cross the river and take the road up the side of the fronton (Pelota court) then follow this lovely little road all the way to Valcarlos. Please take this advice and be safe.

I will add this photo to help in finding the route. If when leaving St Jean Pied de Port on the D933 you come to this sign stop, reverse your steps by about 50 metres and take the signposted route to your left.

 

[Dani7]

Thank you so much Tim. I plan on walking this section in 2026. Very helpful.

 

[Camo]

I will add this photo to help in finding the route. If when leaving St Jean Pied de Port on the D933 you come to this sign stop, reverse your steps by about 50 metres and take the signposted route to your left.

I have added all your route suggestions to my Web-App and in fact all sections were already active in Google, so here is a screenie of the "Virtual Tour" where Google has this turn as Step 7 - you can see the steep road and bridge