What a fabulous route! Highly recommend

[debbie r]

My husband and I walked this route in March aided by threads on this forum and Gerald Kelly’s guide. Very beautiful and I would say a great option to St Jean and a first day climb as it starts with a lovely walk along the river to lubricate the joints!
It was very quiet and we did need to carry food at times, and were very glad of sleeping bags, but it was as a wonderful and diverse 6 days. Great detail already on this site. Personal thought is I would not want to walk it alone in case of injury (Now at half way point on Frances which is fine alone as so much busier).

 

[VNwalking]

It is a mystery why this gem of a camino is not more traveled. An added advantage being that it goes direct from Bayonne to Pamplona, thus avoiding the need to catch a train or shared taxi to SJPP.

 

[Vacajoe]

You can also walk Bayonne to SJPdP and avoid that same train/taxi route!

 

[debbie r]

It also avoids a tough first day and eases your joints and muscles into walking!

 

[laineylainey]

Hi all, really enjoying this thread and thanks to Nuala (brilliant notes, thanks!) and others for posting their stages. I have booked a flight for 14th May to Biarritz and bus to Bayonne, don't know whether to do Naula and friends 5 day trip but I have the option of an extra day on this route any suggestions? It is possible to divide any of the days, also as I am walking alone just thought it might be more sensible to add another day?
Nuala's stages - Esplette, Amiaur/Maya, Berroeta, Lantz, Pamplona.
thanks.

 

[debbie r]

Hope you enjoy as much as we did! We took 6 days - an easy first day to Ustaritz (as Albergue in Espellete was closed. Stayed with the lovely Natalia - bookable - on Airbnb and I think Gronze. Then to Urdax- stayed at Albergue (monestary) then to Elizondo - opted to go to Lekoretz to stay in youth hostel. Next day was a very short one to Berroeta. We were tempted to go on but glad we didn’t as next day was beautiful but long - finishing at Olague. Last day to Trinidad de Arre (could go on to Pamplona. Gerald Kelly’s guide was helpful particularly re warning when to carry food as some places such as Berroeta have no bars/shops... I am currently at Astorga and nothing on the Frances has been as lovely in my opinion! Good luck.

 

[laineylainey]

Thanks @debbie r . Yes I am thinking strongly about 6 days walking now, as it seems to be a little walked to be savoured form what others, including yourself, says .
Enjoy Astorga. I remember staying in a quirky little flat when I was there many years ago.
My online Spanish teacher lives in Astorga!
Buen Camino

 

[VNwalking]

@laineylainey , in spite of the hill between Berroeta and Lantz, by far the most challenging part for me was the section after Urdax. So if you stayed there and then did the rest as we did (Maya, Berroeta, Lantz, Pamplona), that would give you the big hill at the begining of the day and a short day up and down to Maya.

 

[laineylainey]

Thanks again, sounds perfect to me. Lantz to Pamplona is a long day too I think?

 

[VNwalking]

Lantz to Pamplona is a long day too I think?

Yes, it is - but it's relatively flat, compared to the others. And if you are continuing on the Farnces, you can easily stop in Arre, which takes a number of kms off the 'official' stage. Or hop over the ridge from Sorauren to stay in Zabaldika, which would be a lovely option.

 

[laineylainey]

Only have 6 days for walking unfortunately and then it's back to sunny Ireland!! So last day Pamplona and then next day bus to Bilbao airport.

 

[IngridF]

Only have 6 days for walking unfortunately and then it's back to sunny Ireland!! So last day Pamplona and then next day bus to Bilbao airport.

Sorry a bit off topic....are you flying to Ireland from Bilbao? I need to something like that in reverse. Tx

 

[laineylainey]

Hi @IngridF , yes indeed, I am flying out to Biarritz from Dublin and coming back Bilbao to Dublin, Aer Lingus.

 

[IngridF]

Hi @IngridF , yes indeed, I am flying out to Biarritz from Dublin and coming back Bilbao to Dublin, Aer Lingus.

Tx

 

[laineylainey]

Any suggestions for accommodation in Bayonne and Pamplona (assuming the route into town is different from Francés)? I need to get to Bus station the next morning but that should be easy enough.

 

[Thornley]

Zabaldika, which would be a lovely option.

A great place top stay

 

[FLEUR]

@laineylainey
The Buen Camino app gives useful (free) info for Baztan route. I will send you more info later via messaging.

 

[laineylainey]

Thanks @FLEUR , I have downloaded the Buen Camino app. It's very good.
I have also have a bed at a hostel they recommend in Bayonne called Aguirre owned by Socorro not sure if anyone knows it?

 

[laineylainey]

So thanks to all for the great information about this route. I am now thinking of having 2 possible ways to break up the route, depending on weather and my own fitness and walking when I get there. I would love your feedback. I have decided to definitely split day, just to take the strain off those hills and descends to and from Urdaz.
so version 1
day 1 Bayonne - Esplette
day 2 -Urdax (very short I know but I think Urdax will have Caves and things to explore?)
day 3 - Amiaur/Maya (again short but great for me if the weather or conditions aren't brilliant)
day 4- Berroeta
day 5 - Lantz
day 6 - Pamplona

version 2
day 1 , 2 and 3 same
day 4 Venta San Blas (lovely Casa rural there that @NualaOC mentioned passing?)
day 5 Olav
day 6 Pamplona (short walk) but gives me time to explore this fab city again.

Any thoughts??

What is lovely by the sounds of it, is because it won't be busy I have choices as I am walking and for me that could result in a much more relaxed walk as I tend to need to know where I am heading when I am walking alone - my achiles heal, I'm afraid

 

[Joodle]

You can also walk Bayonne to SJPdP and avoid that same train/taxi route!

Do you know how far that is and about how long it takes for moderate speed walkers? Please and Thank you

 

[laineylainey]

Do you know how far that is and about how long it takes for moderate speed walkers? Please and Thank you

There's a live thread by @Vacajoe that will answer your question as he and his wife and currently doing just that.

 

[laineylainey]

There's a live thread by @Vacajoe that will answer your question as he and his wife and currently doing just that.

Thread is "Walking from Biarritz to SJdPP"
and there are wonderful photos from Bayonne.