La Voie de la Nive

[Kiwi-family]

Just wondering if this route is marked in both directions.
If it is, it might be easier for us to walk from Pamplona to Saint Jean, and then follow this route to Bayonne and then do the Baztan in the right direction (instead of Pamplona, Bayonne, SJPdP, Pamplona). Every day a new thought!

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Rachel, In my limited experience, the French GRs always seem to be well marked in both directions. But I don't know about the Voie de la Nive.

But one thing I will say is that being able to walk the Baztan in the forward direction in exchange for walking the Frances "backwards" from Pamplona would be a huge gain in my opinion. The Baztan has next to no pilgrims on it, so walking forwards will likely be somewhat of a challenge, much less backwards. I know you've spent lots of time with google maps to figure it out, but walking in the direction of the arrows would undoubtedly be a lot more fun. And walking backwards on the Frances should be no problem at all, just keep walking towards the crowds coming towards you! So if I had to choose which one to walk forwards and which one to walk backwards, its a no contest decision IMO. But the missing link is the Voie de la Nive.

You will figure this out! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Canuck]

Hola Kiwimama,

According to this site, it's marked in both directions:
http://www.xacobeo.fr/ZE1.11.Aqu.Nive.htm
Now, if you look at each stage, at the end of the description there are very detailed maps of the stage. Using those maps, you could easily walk SJPDP-Bayonne.
I am in contact with the group responsible for the marking of that route and I should get a definite answer soon.
Cheers for now.
Jean-Marc

 

[Kiwi-family]

WOW Jean-Marc, those are excellent maps - I'll copy the route onto the paper map I have and I won't have any chance of getting lost! Makes the decision a no-brainer. Off to meet the crowds!

 

[Canuck]

Kiwimama,

Looking further into the referenced Internet site, at the bottom of the page, click on ''V.Nive services'' and you will get the list of accommodations. At the bottom of the accommodation page click on ''V.Nive 2'' and you will get the stages for the direction SJPD-Bayonne. On each of the direction page you click on the first two PDF references (same line) and you will have more maps with different info such as elevation, somewhat similar to the info available on Mundicamino for other caminos.
You may have done that already, but just in case the French is giving some difficulties.
Enjoy,
Jean-Marc

 

[peregrina2000]

This is a much better plan, IMO. I always thought that walking the Baztan backwards was going to be dicey. This is a great idea, Rachel, its advantages are that you start in Pamplona, which is easy to get to, you then get to walk over the Pyrenees, and then you get to walk the Baztan. Wow, I think it's something to consider. Do you have any idea what the total kms are from Pamplona to St. Jean to Bayonne to Pamplona? I'm tempted! Laurie

 

[Canuck]

...Do you have any idea what the total kms are from Pamplona to St. Jean to Bayonne to Pamplona?...

About 250 Km.

Pamplona-SJPDP 70 Km
SJPDP-Bayonne 70 Km
Bayonne-Pamplona 110 Km

 

[Kiwi-family]

Laurie,
You're going to have to do this at some stage! I've had a look on googlemaps and walking from Pamplona to SJPdP looks dead simple. Those instructions for the Voie de la Nive are crystal clear, and the maps superb. I have a surge of enthusiasm now rather than a niggling concern.

 

[Canuck]

Kiwimama,

I've received confirmation that the way is well marked in both directions.
Information sheet available at the Pilgrim Welcome Centre, 39 de la Citadelle, SJPD.
Cheers,
Jean-Marc

 

[Kiwi-family]

Thanks for all your help Jean-Marc. I'll be sure to pick up an info sheet, but am also spending today copying the route from the maps you linked to onto my paper copy. 199 days to go.

 

[Dave]

Hi there,

I realize your query is a bit old, but I just walked the Voie de la Nive and can confirm the waymarks go in both directions. In fact, the waymarks seemed much better going towards Bayonne, to the point that I often navigated by looking backward, counting on those markings to appear when the southbound ones didn't.

I should note that the route is almost exclusively on asphalt--I'd guess about 95% of the time. It's quite rural, with occasional small towns and villages, but nothing of significant size. While I didn't enjoy the walk a great deal, I thought it offered some really nice glimpses into traditional Basque culture, as the route is largely un-touristed.

Dave

 

[DowtyCamino]

How is the elevation change on the three stages listed from Bayonne to SJPdP?

 

[Felipe]

I have been looking at this way, too; it is in my agenda.
There are very detailed maps here Look at "Etapes" . Very nice pictures, too.
Don't know about elevation charts, but Bayonne is at sea level, and SJPP is around 200 m. So, it is a climb (especially, it seems, the two last stages) but doable.
Most of the way is in Google maps.