Looking for recommendations - other Caminos near Pamplona

[Mendo girl]

Hi all! Next spring I will be introducing some family members to the Camino Frances. We will start in SJPP but after Pamplona I would like to connect to another Camino since just last year I walked from Pamplona to Burgos on the Frances. Preferably a Camino where the stages are not too long (around 20K). It doesn't have to start in Pamplona but be accessible from Pamplona). What do you suggest? Thank you!!

 

[Flog]

You could take a bus up to San Sebastian and continue on the Norte, an hour's journey, but would it be fair to your family to whip them away from the Frances after three days, just as they are settling into it, and would their legs be able for it? Or are you continuing alone, in which case you might find yourself feeling the same?

 

[CaliPeregrino]

If the walking direction doesn't matter to you, you can connect to the Camino Catalan from Puente la Reina, walking "backwards" toward the Pyrenees. It's gorgeous, has less people, has some great towns like Jaca, for example, and plenty of places to eat and stay. Just an alternative thought. Good luck with your planning!

 

[BandL]

Earlier this year, Spring 2024, my wife and I walked the Camino Baztan from Bayonne to Trinidad de Arre. Having done the Frances, you will have crossed the medieval bridge at Trinidad de Arre as you entered the outskirts of Pamplona. So you could walk the Baztan in reverse from Pamplona. It's roughly 110km and usually done in five or six stages. Be aware that it was very quiet when we did it, requires a bit of planning and there's not a cafe every 5 kms, so it's a completely different experience to the Frances.

 

[Tincatinker]

@Mendo girl, how are your navigation skills? Walking contrariwise on any Camino is always a fun exercise but on either the Catalan or the Baztan you’ll need good gps and the skills to use it.

If you do want to give your family members a taste of Camino then St Jean to Pamplona is scarcely more than an amuse-bouche before you take them off on an interesting Spanish hiking trip. If you’re in need of adventure hike them through to Leon and then take the Salvador/Primitivo diversion.

I see you’ve only yet walked to Burgos. There are so many adventures left to you further down that road that, perhaps, leading your family onwards from Burgos would meet your needs for novelty and theirs for Camino

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I know of route from Pamplona to Irun on the Camino Norte using the Camino Baztan for part of it. I have not walked it, just plotted it out.

From Pamplona walk the Camino Baztan in reverse for two Gronze stages to Berroeta. From there you go off camino following the highway N-121a north for about 7 kilometers to Oiregi where the Via Verde del Bidasoa starts on its 44 km way to Irun, about a marathon distance away.

Via Verdes are old railways converted to walking and cycling routes, what we in the US call rail trails. So it should be easy walking. And it is downhill to Irun. Also, if you use Google Maps to plot a walk from Berroeta to Oiregi you see it plots a way following the highway but not on it. It uses smaller parallel roads.

I think there is lodging along the way but most likely off the trail.

For more information on the Via Verde del Bidasoa visit this webpage:

Vía Verde del Bidasoa

Vías Verdes

www.viasverdes.com

Bidasoa Greenway - Vías Verdes de España
www.viasverdes.com

 

[BombayBill]

I know of route from Pamplona to Irun on the Camino Norte using the Camino Baztan for part of it. I have not walked it, just plotted it out.

From Pamplona walk the Camino Baztan in reverse for two Gronze stages to Berroeta. From there you go off camino following the highway N-121a north for about 7 kilometers to Oiregi where the Via Verde del Bidasoa starts on its 44 km way to Irun, about a marathon distance away.

Via Verdes are old railways converted to walking and cycling routes, what we in the US call rail trails. So it should be easy walking. And it is downhill to Irun. Also, if you use Google Maps to plot a walk from Berroeta to Oiregi you see it plots a way following the highway but not on it. It uses smaller parallel roads.

I think there is lodging along the way but most likely off the trail.

For more information on the Via Verde del Bidasoa visit this webpage:

Vía Verde del Bidasoa

Vías Verdes

www.viasverdes.com

Bidasoa Greenway - Vías Verdes de España
www.viasverdes.com

Wow this is a great resource suggestion for those of us trying to connect disparate Camino routes.

 

[Beeman]

Hi all! Next spring I will be introducing some family members to the Camino Frances. We will start in SJPP but after Pamplona I would like to connect to another Camino since just last year I walked from Pamplona to Burgos on the Frances. Preferably a Camino where the stages are not too long (around 20K). It doesn't have to start in Pamplona but be accessible from Pamplona). What do you suggest? Thank you!!

Walk to Irun then walk the Camino Vasco to Burgos. The stages are not too long and it seems very attractive.

 

[Mendo girl]

Walk to Irun then walk the Camino Vasco to Burgos. The stages are not too long and it seems very attractive.

Hi, Thanks! That sounds very straightforward.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

after Pamplona I would like to connect to another Camino

Wow this is a great resource suggestion for those of us trying to connect disparate Camino routes.

Walk to Irun then walk the Camino Vasco to Burgos. The stages are not too long and it seems very attractive.

My post #6 above was essentially a repost from this thread from last year:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/linking-the-camino-aragones-and-pamplona.83652/​

In that thread @Dave suggests doing the Baztan in reverse to Elizondo and then taking the GR 11 to Irun. Also @VNwalking says that the Camino Viejo can be taken from Pamplona and then a 20-some kilometer off camino walk could connect you to the Camino Vasco. You could walk that in reverse to the Camino Norte or forwards to Burgos.

FYI, the Gronze website gets its name from the GR 11, eleven being onze in Catalan.

 

[Canche]

If the walking direction doesn't matter to you, you can connect to the Camino Catalan from Puente la Reina, walking "backwards" toward the Pyrenees. It's gorgeous, has less people, has some great towns like Jaca, for example, and plenty of places to eat and stay. Just an alternative thought. Good luck with your planning!

Oh I want to try that