Cascada de Xorroxin

The Cascada de Xorroxin is a small waterfall in the Baztán valley, in the north of Navarre, near the village of Erratzu, in a corner of the Basque Pyrenees that is among the greenest and most rural parts of Spain. The valley is a land of meadows, beech woods, chestnut groves and scattered hamlets of white-walled houses with carved doorways and family coats of arms, and rain falls in abundance, which is why everything is so lush. The waterfall is not large, with a drop of about four metres, but it lies in a lovely setting, where a stream runs over a rocky step into a small round basin, and the sound of the water, the moss on the stones and the filtered light under the trees give the place a magical feel.

The stream is the Iñarbegi brook, which is regarded as one of the sources of the Baztán river, and the water is crystal clear and cold. The river runs down the valley through the town of Elizondo, the capital of Baztán, and then joins the Bidasoa, which reaches the Bay of Biscay at the French border. Ferns, mosses and liverworts cover the rocks, and the woods around the fall are filled with beeches, with gnarled trunks, and chestnut trees, whose nuts are collected in autumn. The area is particularly beautiful in autumn, when the leaves of the beeches turn copper and gold.

As with many places in the Basque lands, local legend adds to the atmosphere. The name Xorroxin is linked to the lamia, a figure of Basque mythology, a female spirit with a woman's body and the feet of a duck or a goose, who lives near water and combs her hair with a golden comb. According to the tale told here, a lamia pined for love that was not returned, and her tears gave the waterfall its water. Such stories are told to children in the valley and are part of the folklore of the Baztán, which is known for tales of witches and spirits.

The waterfall is reached on foot along a marked trail from the village of Erratzu. The walk goes through meadows and woods and is short and gentle, of around three kilometres in total, so it suits families and casual walkers, though the path can be muddy after rain, and good shoes are advisable. There is no entrance fee, and the site is respected by locals, so visitors are asked to take their rubbish away and to keep to the path.

The valley has much else to see, including the villages of Amaiur, with its ruined castle, and Elizondo, as well as the Señorío de Bértiz natural park. The waterfall suits nature lovers, walkers and families, and it is best in spring and autumn. Check the weather and the state of the trail before setting out.