Del Norte End of May

[Bob-S]

Having walked the Frances last Autumn I am planning to do the Del Norte at the end of May/Early June probably to Oviedo (3 weeks?) .

There doesnt appear to be a Brierley guide so would welcome feedback re other guides available for accommodation etc - I see there is a Cicerone guide is that any good - I loved the Brierley guide on the Frances each morning over my Cafe con Leche and Neopolitana Desayuno reading his practical, mystical and Personal reflections each day.

Also where does the Del Norte start Irun or Hendaye? and is it better to go to Bilbao and get bus / train or Via Biarritz? On Google maps it is about 25km to Henday is there a path straight from Biarritz/Bayonne?

Looking forward receiving some experienced pilgrim feedback.

Bob

 

[Kanga]

Hi @Bob-S. We are walking the Norte and Primitivo starting in Irun about the 10th of May, so a bit before you. We've got the Cicerone guide "The Northern Caminos" - available from Amazon and similar places, but are also using information from this forum. There's a link (somewhere) to a couple of brochures by the Basque (Euskadi ) tourist office.
Also worth looking at is the Gronze website. - http://www.gronze.com/camino-de-santiago/caminos/guia-del-camino-del-norte

 

[Kiko]

Watching this....I leave Irun around the 15th june....very little planning so far

 

[MKalcolm M]

I started the Norte in Irun, and flew in to Biaritz with Ryanair. There was a bus from the airport which then dropped us three stops on the Feve from the centre of town and 5 mins from the alberge. There is a walking route from Biaritz which is apparently very beautiful, but I haven't done it myself. The Ciccerone guide "The Northern Caminos" mentioned by Kanga in the post above is probably the best guide, I walked just using a basic guide and accommodation list which is published by the tourist board and which I found online. The hospitaleros are usually very well informed about the choices ahead for the next days walking and can tell you what your options are, and so are the tourist information offices. I pretty much winged it every day and liked the spontaneity which this allowed. The Norte is very different from the Frances, but is a fantastic walk. Buen Camino!

 

[Bob-S]

Hi @Bob-S. We are walking the Norte and Primitivo starting in Irun about the 10th of May, so a bit before you. We've got the Cicerone guide "The Northern Caminos" - available from Amazon and similar places, but are also using information from this forum. There's a link (somewhere) to a couple of brochures by the Basque (Euskadi ) tourist office.
Also worth looking at is the Gronze website. - http://www.gronze.com/camino-de-santiago/caminos/guia-del-camino-del-norte

Hi Kanga

Thanks for the information

Buen Camino

 

[Bob-S]

I started the Norte in Irun, and flew in to Biaritz with Ryanair. There was a bus from the airport which then dropped us three stops on the Feve from the centre of town and 5 mins from the alberge. There is a walking route from Biaritz which is apparently very beautiful, but I haven't done it myself. The Ciccerone guide "The Northern Caminos" mentioned by Kanga in the post above is probably the best guide, I walked just using a basic guide and accommodation list which is published by the tourist board and which I found online. The hospitaleros are usually very well informed about the choices ahead for the next days walking and can tell you what your options are, and so are the tourist information offices. I pretty much winged it every day and liked the spontaneity which this allowed. The Norte is very different from the Frances, but is a fantastic walk. Buen Camino!

Thanks for the information - Ive ordered Cicerone guide today.

I'd like more information on walking from Biarritz to Irun - perhaps ill start a new thread on that to see if anyone has more info.

I found this link http://www.caminomyway.com/starting-camino-del-norte-hendaye-irun-albergue which might be useful to anyone else starting in Irun

Yes I winged it along the Frances last year and liked not having any plan infact I like the phrase "the best plan is no plan"!!

I would welcome details of any "special" places you stayed so i can work them into the schedule if possible.

Thanks

Bob

 

[MKalcolm M]

Special Places?

Off the top of my head, the alberge run by nuns at Portugalete was basic but plesant, I really liked the monastery at zenarruza, which was very cold, but very atmospheric, Guemes is very popular, and there is a fantastic little private alberge 10 klms past Santander at Bezanes de Santa Cruz. Sobrado monastery is a must.

 

[Bob-S]

Special Places?

Off the top of my head, the alberge run by nuns at Portugalete was basic but plesant, I really liked the monastery at zenarruza, which was very cold, but very atmospheric, Guemes is very popular, and there is a fantastic little private alberge 10 klms past Santander at Bezanes de Santa Cruz. Sobrado monastery is a must.

Great just what I wanted thanks -

If anyone else has any "special places" they visited along the Del Norte (Albergues, Pensions Churches restaurants or places) it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Bob

 

[Castilian]

I'd like more information on walking from Biarritz to Irun

You can follow the Sentier du Littoral out of Bidart (Bidart is next to Biarritz). Take a look at this link for info about it in English:

http://randonnee.tourisme64.com/grands-itineraires/sentier-du-littoral/coastal-trail

 

[Bob-S]

You can follow the Sentier du Littoral out of Bidart (Bidart is next to Biarritz). Take a look at this link for info about it in English:

http://randonnee.tourisme64.com/grands-itineraires/sentier-du-littoral/coastal-trail

That looks stunning - Thanks Castilian

 

[Rajy62]

Thanks for the information - Ive ordered Cicerone guide today.

would welcome details of any "special" places you stayed so i can work them into the schedule if possible.

Thanks

Bob

Cicerone guide is all you need. It discusses special places as well. I chose most of my stays based on that book.
I preferred private alberques. You can look at my stages through primitivo here if you are interested: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...mitivo-may-25-june-27-2014.27811/#post-226937

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Great just what I wanted thanks -

If anyone else has any "special places" they visited along the Del Norte (Albergues, Pensions Churches restaurants or places) it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Bob

If you are looking for a bed that is made, with duvet, private bathroom, with towels, in a private home with lovely children, then there is the Albergue de Pilar, 50 meters from the train station where you have to get on unless you want to illegally walk over the bridge - your next night after Santander.

Guemes ... I hate to say this, but is it really "authentic"? It's what is being marketed, but the sales pitch is really heavy handed.

In Santiallana, as you walk up the 'street' that takes you to the Colegiata, there's an old manor that is both B&B and albergue. Feels like walking in a museum. Ladies' dorm has a HUGE bathroom, with tub and massage shower ;0) and a lovely courtyard.

Let me tell you where NOT to stay: the muni in San Vicente de la Barquera. The place is ordinary, perhaps even not very clean, but the hospitalero really seems to go out of his way to be unpleasant. Little Sgt-Mjr! ;0)

 

[Kanga]

I'm hoping to use the new app Camino Places by @ivar - the more people post reviews the better it will be - would love it if previous posters made entries.

 

[Rajy62]

I'm hoping to use the new app Camino Places by @ivar - the more people post reviews the better it will be - would love it if previous posters made entries.

Kanga,
I would like to do that. But, does it work with android?

 

[Kanga]

@Rajy62 not yet but I understand @ivar is working on it