Stages from Bilbao

[KerryW]

Hi everyone
I'm wondering which steps you have taken after Bilbao - are there 'you must stay here' stops? Portugalete or push through to Pobena? Is Castro Urdiales a must stop, or move through to Islares? thanks everyone

 

[oursonpolaire]

In my opinion the del Norte does not have the same monumentally significant places as does the Frances, and is a different sort of experience. The Frances is all about the Camino, but on the del Norte, the Camino passes through..

Portugalete is a northern suburb of Bilbao, about 10km from the city centre, useful as a starting-off point the next day. There is an albergue and a church, but nothing remarkable (the bridge is a World Heritage Site, and a fun ride). Castro Urdiales is 28km further, with an albergue by the bull ring and other facilities, but has nothing notable about it, although the plaza by the harbour is nice. Islares is a relaxed little seaside village, 9km further-- I suppose that you can push on to it if you wish.

The scenery is worth it, and some of the seaports have mediaeval quarters (Laredo) worth seeing. Some love the cities (Santander and Gijon) and others of us skate through. Church-going pilgrims will find it more difficult to locate daily evening masses, although it is possible with some looking around and asking (Spanish churches have an interesting approach to the idea of letting anyone know if there are services)-- See if you can check out the cathedral in Mondenedo in Galicia, and the Cistercian monastery in Sobrado dos Monxes. The coastal variations, if the weather is at all decent, are spectacular (as are the beaches, but swimmers must be very careful about the Biscay undertow, which regularly takes swimmers off to the coast of Kerry and justifies a huge expenditure on Guardia Civil search and rescue teams).

Everyone seems to love the albergue in Guemes, and the one in Comillas. As towns, Comillas has one of Gaudi's first buildings, and a palace which justifies a look: the albergue is located right behind a sculpture museum. Santillana del Mar has become a bit of a tourist trap, but at night or first thing in the morning, has a magic to it. Other towns, normally summer resorts for the Spanish, have a certain charm out of season-- Tapia de Casariego, Luarca, Cudillero...

But don't look for another Frances. You won't find it.

 

[LesBrass]

We're only back from the Norte for a few weeks and already I've forgotten which beach was which and what towns we loved... we only did half of the camino so it's one that we'll go back to one day.

I agree with all the above... the things we did that I would recommend...

We stopped at Portugalete ... it meant we could take our time in the morning in Bilbao and also linger at the Guggenheim. There isn't a great deal at Portugalete but we did wander around the town... rode the escalators up the hills, took the ferry across to the other side and meandered and then took the bridge/ferry/lift thing back. We stayed in a hotel right beside the bridge. I'm glad we did as it gave us longer in Bilbao.

Also, in Santandar we followed the estuary promenade all the way up to the university and beyond up to Cueto and walked along the coast... LOVED Cueto! So glad we went off the camino. We even returned to cueto at the end of the walk as we loved it so much. Also I really liked Santillana del Mar.

Castro Urdiales we found a little disappointing... it's a really lovey town but we felt a bit lost with all the tourists... I wish we'd stopped at the little town before Miono, just because the beach looks so inviting!

It was very different that the Frances... and also for us it was perhaps more of a walking holiday on the Camino rather than walking as pilgrims... but it's beautiful for sure!

Happy walking

 

[KerryW]

In my opinion the del Norte does not have the same monumentally significant places as does the Frances, and is a different sort of experience. The Frances is all about the Camino, but on the del Norte, the Camino passes through..

Portugalete is a northern suburb of Bilbao, about 10km from the city centre, useful as a starting-off point the next day. There is an albergue and a church, but nothing remarkable (the bridge is a World Heritage Site, and a fun ride). Castro Urdiales is 28km further, with an albergue by the bull ring and other facilities, but has nothing notable about it, although the plaza by the harbour is nice. Islares is a relaxed little seaside village, 9km further-- I suppose that you can push on to it if you wish.

The scenery is worth it, and some of the seaports have mediaeval quarters (Laredo) worth seeing. Some love the cities (Santander and Gijon) and others of us skate through. Church-going pilgrims will find it more difficult to locate daily evening masses, although it is possible with some looking around and asking (Spanish churches have an interesting approach to the idea of letting anyone know if there are services)-- See if you can check out the cathedral in Mondenedo in Galicia, and the Cistercian monastery in Sobrado dos Monxes. The coastal variations, if the weather is at all decent, are spectacular (as are the beaches, but swimmers must be very careful about the Biscay undertow, which regularly takes swimmers off to the coast of Kerry and justifies a huge expenditure on Guardia Civil search and rescue teams).

Everyone seems to love the albergue in Guemes, and the one in Comillas. As towns, Comillas has one of Gaudi's first buildings, and a palace which justifies a look: the albergue is located right behind a sculpture museum. Santillana del Mar has become a bit of a tourist trap, but at night or first thing in the morning, has a magic to it. Other towns, normally summer resorts for the Spanish, have a certain charm out of season-- Tapia de Casariego, Luarca, Cudillero...

But don't look for another Frances. You won't find it.

Thank you so much! This is so helpful. It's interesting doing the Frances first ... it is unique. We loved the Via Podiensis, but it is a very different experience. It's all about enjoying the uniqueness of each camino

 

[KerryW]

We're only back from the Norte for a few weeks and already I've forgotten which beach was which and what towns we loved... we only did half of the camino so it's one that we'll go back to one day.

I agree with all the above... the things we did that I would recommend...

We stopped at Portugalete ... it meant we could take our time in the morning in Bilbao and also linger at the Guggenheim. There isn't a great deal at Portugalete but we did wander around the town... rode the escalators up the hills, took the ferry across to the other side and meandered and then took the bridge/ferry/lift thing back. We stayed in a hotel right beside the bridge. I'm glad we did as it gave us longer in Bilbao.

Also, in Santandar we followed the estuary promenade all the way up to the university and beyond up to Cueto and walked along the coast... LOVED Cueto! So glad we went off the camino. We even returned to cueto at the end of the walk as we loved it so much. Also I really liked Santillana del Mar.

Castro Urdiales we found a little disappointing... it's a really lovey town but we felt a bit lost with all the tourists... I wish we'd stopped at the little town before Miono, just because the beach looks so inviting!

It was very different that the Frances... and also for us it was perhaps more of a walking holiday on the Camino rather than walking as pilgrims... but it's beautiful for sure!

Happy walking

Thank you so much ... I really value your comments .. so helpful

 

[Niels]

The Camino Frances is unique; Camino del Norte is unique - but they're very different. I love them both - and I have to say, I do remember if not every little spot on the first part of Camino del Norte, the most. Then I went to Camino Primitivo, which - if I have to choose one - is the most unique of the lot.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

I echo the Guggenheim idea and staying in Portugalete. Both are interesting places to check out.

 

[Frank1963]

Hello

I will start my camino at the end of april.
I want to go from Guernicka to Bilbao in 1 day.
Is this possible and not to hard ?

Greetings

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Yes, it can be done, depending on your level of fitness. I would also caution this time of year can be cold and wet. Taking all of this into consideration you'd be looking at a looong day on the trail. Between the two locations you'd also have a considerable gain and loss in elevation.

Good luck

 

[Frank1963]

Thank you


I plan to start early in the morning so I will be at noon at Lezama.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Good to hear. Lezama is a good place to stop for lunch

 

[Frank1963]

How is the camino to Bilbao ? difficult ?

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

I will send you a PM (Private Message)

 

[Niels]

Hello

I will start my camino at the end of april.
I want to go from Guernicka to Bilbao in 1 day.
Is this possible and not to hard ?

Greetings

Yes, it can probably can be done depending on your state of fitness. But I wouldn't. It is a pretty tough route. Very much up and down, and may be a bít muddy, too, at that time of the year. AND walking that long for your first day is really not adviseable except you've done that for some time up to the start of the Camino.

 

[Frank1963]

No I will start from Irun so It will be my 6th day.

 

[Frank1963]

On my 10th day on the camino I intend to walk from Laredo to Santander. Is this possible ? By then I should adapted to the rhythm and my fysical condition should be allright.

 

[trecile]

On my 10th day on the camino I intend to walk from Laredo to Santander. Is this possible ? By then I should adapted to the rhythm and my fysical condition should be allright.

And miss staying at the best albergue on the Norte in Güemes??!

 

[Frank1963]

I only have 31 days to complete my camino

 

[oursonpolaire]

On my 10th day on the camino I intend to walk from Laredo to Santander. Is this possible ? By then I should adapted to the rhythm and my fysical condition should be allright.

Well, that would be a 40km day (although by disagreeable road-walking from Berria along the C-141 to the church of Santa María de Bareyo you might snip off about 4km) which, to my mind, is a very long day. It also depends where you stay in Laredo; there are some hotels at the west end of the peninsula from where the ferry leaves for Santona-- that could snip off another 4km from the centre of Laredo (as would the city bus to the ferry).

 

[Camino Chrissy]

And miss staying at the best albergue on the Norte in Güemes??!

I loved the experience at Guemes with Ernesto! It's one that really stands out in my mind to this day if I reflect on the awesome albergue he has built!

 

[Frank1963]

Hello,

is there an option when starting on my 8th day from Castro Urdiales to stop in Santoña instead of Laredo ? In that case the trip to Santander will be 5 km shorter.

Greetings,
Frank

 

[trecile]

Hello,

is there an option when starting on my 8th day from Castro Urdiales to stop in Santoña instead of Laredo ? In that case the trip to Santander will be 5 km shorter.

Greetings,
Frank

Yes, there are albergues and other accommodations in Santoña

Santoña, Cantabria | Albergues y Hoteles | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com