The Bayonet Ridge

Bayonet Ridge by Captain Robert Batty who took part in the battle

The French held a very strong fortified position on The Rhune, which is the dominating mountain in this part of the Pyrenees. On 7 October 1813 the Light Division crossed the river Bidassoa and stormed the enemy fortifications on the Bayonet Ridge. The attack was a complete success and secured the Greater Rhune for Wellington, forcing the French to retire to their second line of defences on the lower Le Petit Rhune.

It was yet another overcast morning when we arrived at the village of Vera to climb through the woods to The Bayonet Ridge. We had about four hours to explore the area before the rain arrived and forced us to give us and seek shelter in the collection of tax free shops which now clutter the area.

More photographs at:

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La Rhune

La Rhune is a large mountain on the Spanish-French border between the rivers Bidossa and Nivelle. It consists of two peaks the higher is Grande Rhune and in November 1813 was occupied by Welllington and the Light Division. The lower peak is Petite Rhune, and was strongly defended by Soult and the French. The battle of the Nivelle opened with the light division assault on La Petite Rhune.

It was one of those desperate hand to hand battles, which make such stirring reading. There is a detailed account in "Wellington, the Bidassoa and Novelle" by Major Gneeral F C Beatson, which was our companion during our visit in 1996.

A full account of the day we spent on La Petite Rhune, together with more photographs, can be found at

http://walkingpyrenees.blogspot.com/

Ainhoa and the Pass of Maya

Another overcast day, but a very enjoyable first visit to Ainhoa and a return visit to the Pass of Maya.

On our previous visit to Maya we had failed to find Mount Gorospil, and had done more research in preparation for this visit to avoid another disappointment. We found this sign post which led us to the path used by the French in 1813 and then to Gorospil.

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Louis XIV and Signal Redoubts

Wet and miserable weather returns, not at all what we had expected from the South of France in June! Despite the weather we set off to explore the hills behind Sare, and in particular The Louis XIV and Signal Redoubts, which had played such an important part in the battle of the Nivelle on 10 November 1813.

This walk on a dull and cold June day would bring home to Jan and I just how difficult it must have been to campaign with Wellington. It was difficult enough to climb the muddy paths leading to the hills, and the redoubts, behind Sare. But to imagine how much more difficult it would have been to do so when hungry, wet, cold and carrying all your personal belongings on your back. And to then have to fight to capture these strong redoubts from the determined French who were defending their own country.

The area held by Marshal Soult covered 20 miles from St Jean du Luz on the coast inland to Urdrax, and consisted of a whole series of defended villages, barricades and strong redoubts on the crest of the hills.

Our visit is covered in this weeks Walking Napoleonic Battlefields.

http://walkingpyrenees.blogspot.com/

Saint Barbe Redoubt

Sare from the Saint Barbe Redoubt

It was a great relief to awake to blue skies and we planned our second day over breakfast with “Wellington , The Bidassoa & Nivelle” by F C Beatson. Our objective was to find the Saint Barbe Redoubt, which formed part of Marshal Soult’s defensive works attacked by Wellington during the battle of the Nivelle in 1813.

We were spending two weeks exploring Wellington’s 1813 battlefields, and had based ourselves just outside the small French village of Sare. We were fortunate to have a detailed diagram of the area in November 1813 and both our Gite and the Redoubt were marked on it.

Our plan was to walk into Sare and then around the area until we found the Redoubt.

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The Petite Rhune

Our first day in the Pyrenees did not start well. Waking to light rain we set out to walk up The Petite Rhune. However we were directed to the wrong path, the rain turned from light to heavy and we climbed The Grande Rhune - the wrong mountain! Things could only improve, and they did. Returning to Sare the rain stopped and we felt much better after a hot meal. We were directed to the correct path, and followed it far enough to confirm that it went to The Petite Rhune.

You can read the full story at:

http://walkingpyrenees.blogspot.com/

Salisbury to Sare

The first two days of the holiday cover the journey to Sare and a brief introduction to the Battle of the Nivelle, in which Sare played an important role.

Unlike the previous blogs about Walking Napoleonic Battlefields, this one will be a diary of our 16 day walking holiday in 1996. The aim was to explore the whole area, and in particular the Rhune, Vera, Maya and Roncesvalles.

This time we would have plenty of time to wander at will, and try to find some of the less well known locations. Some would be worth the effort, others not really.

We would also have time to revisit Maya and Roncesvalles and try to find paths and locations which we had failed to find the previous year.

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