Ruta del Flysch — so close to the Camino!

peregrina2000 · Sep 4, 2023

The Ruta del Flysch (in between Zumaia and Deba) is a well-known and well-loved walking path that hugs the coast while the Camino del Norte takes the inland route.

A recent article describes it as one of the three Spanish places that has been placed on a list of the 100 most important geological sites in the world.

Tres sitios de España, entre los 100 más importantes del patrimonio geológico mundial

Han sido elegidos en la primera lista de los 100 lugares más importantes del patrimonio geológico mundial, elaborada por la Unión Internacional de Ciencias Geológicas

viajar.elperiodico.com

Former member 104756 · Sep 4, 2023

I loved that path. Our first time on the Norte was after the Arles / Aragones when we had a week or so to spare, so we walked back to Pamplona and took a a bus to Irun. We just followed our noses, and some signs, and ended up on the Ruta del Flysch by accident. We didn’t realise until we arrived in Deba, remarking to some other pilgrims how extraordinary it was, that we had turned off the usual path.

Dave · Sep 4, 2023

And if you catch it at low tide, you can just follow the flysch around the bend, marvel at the scenery, avoid one of the sharp up-and-downs on this variant, and then use the rope to climb back up further on...

Former member 104756 · Sep 4, 2023

Wow @Dave incredible photos. Though maybe I was spared something by the higher tide. I don’t know how I’d have gone climbing up with that rope.

Dave · Sep 4, 2023

Pelerina said:
Wow @Dave incredible photos. Though maybe I was spared something by the higher tide. I don’t know how I’d have gone climbing up with that rope.

It's not quite as steep as it appears--definitely more of a walking situation than a climbing situation, and I doubt the stakes are life or death if one were to slip. I think it would be ok walking up without the rope, though it certainly provides plenty of comfort and stability.

All of that said, my heartbeat accelerated as I stared up at that rope!

tjz · Sep 4, 2023

Thanks to @Dave suggestion, we took the route around at low tide in 2022 and loved every minute of it, even and especially the climb out at the end. I'm sure if I somehow got my (very) old bouldering mindset back on I could have "friction" climbed it, but at my state in life right now, I was thankful for the rope. It is a fascinating geological wonder.

Former member 104756 · Sep 4, 2023

Dave said:
It's not quite as steep as it appears--definitely more of a walking situation than a climbing situation, and I doubt the stakes are life or death if one were to slip. I think it would be ok walking up without the rope, though it certainly provides plenty of comfort and stability.

That’s good to know. It definitely looks steep

peregrina2000 · Sep 4, 2023

At the suggestion of a forum member, I’m linking this recent news article to the old thread that has some details about how to walk the Ruta del Flysch when you are on the Camino del Norte.

Adding a more recent wikiloc track. This person walked ”in reverse” (at least for those walking the Norte), and I saw that she noted that the steep descent into Deba (for her it was an ascent, so probably easier) is still subject to rockslides and can be terribly slippery. So on the way into Deba, be careful!

trecile · Sep 4, 2023

The section is definitely one of the most spectacular days on the Norte!

Mananath · Sep 5, 2023

This was both my favorite section and most tiring section out of the entire Camino. It's a shame it isn't part of the "official" route.

VNwalking · Sep 5, 2023

peregrina2000 said:
At the suggestion of a forum member, I’m linking this recent news article to the old thread that has some details about how to walk the Ruta del Flysch when you are on the Camino del Norte.

Some time ago @Peregrinopaul posted a thread giving a wonderful link to online Geological maps of Spain:

MapasIGME - Portal de cartografía del IGME: MAGNA 50 - Mapa Geológico de España a escala 1:50.000 (2ª Serie)

El Mapa Geológico Nacional (MAGNA), realizado entre 1972 y 2003 por el Instituto Geológico y Minero de España se distribuye en hojas 1:50.000 (1:25.000 en los casos particulares de Canarias, Ibiza-Formentera, Menorca, Ceuta y Melilla). En el Mapa Geológico se representa la naturaleza de los...

info.igme.es

Anyone walking the Ruta del Flysch should have a look to see just how amazing it is. The area is world-famous in geological circles for a very good reason.

I posted another couple of contextual links here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/do-you-like-rocks.64204/

It's gorgeous as well as interesting, and similar (though not as extensive) deposits are visible up the French coat North if Irun as well, from the Voie Littoral.