Route from Norte to Loyola

[Vacajoe]

Seeing if anyone has a recommended route from the Camino Norte to Loyola? I’m thinking from Deba or Zarautz, but open to your wisdom. Walking late September 2021

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

I haven’t done it but my two cents from looking at Google Maps: whether you walk from deba or zarautz it will take about 6 hr on highways, roadways and city streets. It’s 3 hr from Zumia but 2-3 hr between zarautz and Zumaia. So to me the question is if you’re trying to save time head south from zarautz or Zumaia. Otherwise how much do you want to see the Norte between zarautz and deba? I liked that stage, I walked the boardwalk to getaria, wandered around there, detoured to see the Andra Mari at San prundentzio

edit: but then, when I changed between caminos I took a train or bus.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

I haven’t done it but my two cents from looking at Google Maps: whether you walk from deba or zarautz it will take about 6 hr on highways, roadways and city streets. It’s 3 hr from Zumia but 2-3 hr between zarautz and Zumaia. So to me the question is if you’re trying to save time head south from zarautz or Zumaia. Otherwise how much do you want to see the Norte between zarautz and deba? I liked that stage, I walked the boardwalk to getaria, wandered around there, detoured to see the Andra Mari at San prundentzio

edit: but then, when I changed between caminos I took a train or bus.

My rationale about trains or buses: when you’re trying to link separate caminos you inevitably end up on uninteresting and potentially dangerous roadways, unless there happens to be a beach or hiking trail nearby. There may or may not be pilgrim infrastructure (like bathrooms), and to me it wasted time I could spend on the Camino I was headed toward. That said, since it’s just a six hour walk I can see your interest in trying it and look forward to hearing what you thought of the walk between them.

 

[Vacajoe]

Excellent responses - thank you! My intent is to visit Loyola (I’m Catholic and walked the final stage of the Camino Ignacio in 2018). So the goal is to visit there and then continue on the Norte.

In 2019, I connected the Frances with the Aragones, walking from Pamplona to Lumbier on roads and hiking trails. Turns out it was my favorite two days of the entire walk (Biarritz-SJPdP-Pamplona-Jaca-Lourdes).

The longer I can stay on a Pilgrim trail, the better, so I’ll take a look at Zumia as by detour point.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Excellent responses - thank you! My intent is to visit Loyola (I’m Catholic and walked the final stage of the Camino Ignacio in 2018). So the goal is to visit there and then continue on the Norte.

In 2019, I connected the Frances with the Aragones, walking from Pamplona to Lumbier on roads and hiking trails. Turns out it was my favorite two days of the entire walk (Biarritz-SJPdP-Pamplona-Jaca-Lourdes).

The longer I can stay on a Pilgrim trail, the better, so I’ll take a look at Zumia as by detour point.

That sounds like fun please come back to say how it went.
Edit: sorry I misunderstood, I thought you were walking part of the Norte then switching to the Ignacio.

 

[crackmrmac]

Here's one option.

Scroll down to GR 286.

Walking around Zumaia

zumaia.eus

Buen Camino.