Frank
I agree with Undara that if the weather's fair it's about as easy a 30k day as you can get.
About 2k out of Portugalete you'll be on a pedestrian walkway/cycle path. There'll be an arrow saying you can go left off it and into Ortuella, but it says the main route is just to follow the walkway to Playa de la Arena. We all did that and it was an easy stroll.
Next, after you've refreshed yourself in one of the smart cafés with a beach view, you stroll across beach and bridge, up some steep steps and then a few more km on a level path along the coast.
Undara says you can keep to the coast at Onton, but I'm not so sure. I think you have to do a bit of road work and a long climb here on the road - the only strenuous part. I've just checked my photos looking back along the coast and it looks too steep and rocky for there to be a path IMO.
HOWEVER... when you go down into Miono, you should see a yellow arrow turning right off the road. This optional way then runs parallel to the little river (on r/h side) down to the beach/sea, then it goes up the side of the hill and all the way along the cliffs to Castro Urdiales - even the last little bit where you first come across apartments, just keep on over the headland. The waymarking is very economical, but believe me it works - and I think even this bit saves you a kilometre and it is glorious. Then you can refuel on the outskirts before walking the 2+ km across Castro Urdiales to the municipal albergue. If you think you are going to be completely knackered you might want to get your sightseeing of the church and Templar castle ruins in on the way to the albergue rather than walk all the way back later.
And finally, we had trouble contacting the hospitalero via the phone numbers on the albergue door. There may be a misprint. We eventually got hold of him when someone rang the number in their guide book. Hope this catches you in time! Have a good one
cheers, tom
PS and about that bridge diversion. The diversion sign is still there at the end of the car park (if you go that way) but the bridge is now open. Muggins here believed the sign and took the diversion (another 2km). I had 'asked' (in sign language) the beach police whether the diversion was still in effect. They studied the sign and told me I must follow the diversion - probably because anything official posted in four languages for them has to be respected and obeyed. When I saw them later (as they'd driven round) after I'd found there was nothing wrong with the bridge, I was not best pleased. I did a very good Basil Fawlty impression of a madman tearing down a sign, breaking it over his knee and stamping on it thoroughly. They mimed back that they would make a phone call...
