Bilbao - Oviedo options for 6 days nowish

[Londoner]

I'm flying into Bilbao this week, and out from Oviedo next week (because those are the best flight options)... what recommendations to you folk have for 6 days walking between those two points? Are the albergues still open this time of year? I'm not so fit... is there a less challenging section between those two places?

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

I'm flying into Bilbao this week, and out from Oviedo next week (because those are the best flight options)... what recommendations to you folk have for 6 days walking between those two points? Are the albergues still open this time of year? I'm not so fit... is there a less challenging section between those two places?

this is so subjective, and difficult because I could easily spend more than one day each in Bilbao and Oviedo. on this website
http://www.gronze.com/camino-norte
you can look at each step, and the elevations you will climb on them. you can also see where you can stop if you want to walk a shorter distance than the step suggests.
most would say skip the step between Bilbao and Portugalete. Many say include Guermes (I am not one of them but may be the only one). I liked the portions that went along the beach but that is me. Even if albergues are closed there are some good, inexpensive pensions (who may give pilgrim discounts, and you can find good last-minute rates sometimes on booking websites or by contacting the place directly.
Buen Camino
this is my envy emoticon

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

here is an excellent resource authored by @Castilian for transportation on the Norte, and I'll try to find one on bag transport that is floating around here
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/camino-del-norte-public-transportation.516/

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

here is one thread with bag transport info
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/sending-bags-ahead.43564/

here is another
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/sending-bags-ahead.43438/

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

in case you don't mind hotels, in Bilbao I stayed in the hotel bilbao jardines, in oviedo once at the Ayre and once at the Marriott, and past Llanes, in playa del barro, in the Hotel Kaype-Quintamar and like them all. In fact I like the Kaype-Quintamar enough that I stayed there and used public transport to get to starting points and back again for the next couple of steps.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Take a look at this site, it may help you decide: http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/del-norte/

I would suggest you walk from Bilbao to Santander, and if you are able to cover more ground than that aim for Santiallana del Mar, hang around this beautiful old town, and visit Altamira. Mind you the bit between Santander and Santillana is a bit off putting, but you could jump ot and make up those extra two days by walking from Santillana to San Vicente de la Barquera which is a nice walk and interesting early Gaudi architecture plus the old university.

It's easy from any of these places to get back to Santader (intercity bus a few times a day) and from Santander to Oviedo the bus take a little bit more than 2 hours.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Take a look at this site, it may help you decide: http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/del-norte/

I would suggest you walk from Bilbao to Santander, and if you are able to cover more ground than that aim for Santiallana del Mar, hang around this beautiful old town, and visit Altamira. Mind you the bit between Santander and Santillana is a bit off putting, but you could jump ot and make up those extra two days by walking from Santillana to San Vicente de la Barquera which is a nice walk and interesting early Gaudi architecture plus the old university.

It's easy from any of these places to get back to Santader (intercity bus a few times a day) and from Santander to Oviedo the bus take a little bit more than 2 hours.

I think the Gaudi architecture and the old university are in Comillas, a bit before San Vicente de la Barquera.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

whichever sections you choose to walk (and I would use public transport to avoid the strenuous ones or areas not near water if I had fitness or time constraints), I would say spend a whole day (or day and a half) at least in Oviedo and Bilboa, and plan extra time in Comillas, Santillana del Mar, and if you like water try to walk the steps that are nearest to it, especially between Portugalete (or better yet La Arena) and Castro Urdiales, Colombres to Llanes, and Llanes to Ribadesella...and if possible visit the monastery at Valdedios enroute to Oviedo.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I said the "walk has interesting architecture", and the walk takes one throught Comillas.