Michaelcamino
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances (30%) or Norte (70%) in 2024?
Hi Everyone,
As a follow up of my post https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-stages-baggage-transport.85025/#post-1225909, here is the feedback from my first try on the Camino Del Norte between Bilbao and Santander.
I used correos https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/fr/camino-del-norte-the-northern-way/hebergements to pickup my luggage before 8 AM the morning and receive it at the next hotel after 2PM. 40 Euros for that piece of Camino
Day 0.
Reached Bilbao. Visited the old city and the Guggenheim Museum. External parts of the Museum and the building itself were great. The art inside de museum did not touch my soul. We are all different.
Pintxos in the old town bar were not so great either. No luck with my choices. . But anyway the adventure is there
Day1.
Bilbao -> Santurzi ( next to Portugalete) via the right side of the Nervion. 17,5 km. Bilbao and industrial neighborhood. Not so great but as i was my first day i needed to warm up. took the Gutxo Bridge. Intersting structure Perhaps the official road is more interesting.
I saw that a lot of people are bypassing the exitof Bilbao, and the entrance either.
Day2.
Santurzi -> Castro Urdiales. 22,5 km + bus
Took the bus A3335 from Santurzi to the beach La Arena ( a bit before Pobena). Finally reaching a bit of nature. It was great. Country side, pastures, and sea
In Onton, as i had saved my legs 10 km by taking the bus i did not go via the dangerous national road but i took the old official road. Up and downs but wonderful nature and no one. Just the birds singing and the bells of the goats. I recommand it!
In Castro Urdiales in the first seaside there is a bar called Bitacora. Greatest pintxos of all my trip. Not too fat and really tasty. Their beer was good too.
Day3.
Castro Urdiales -> Laredo 37 km.
That was intense.
I did not take any shortcuts via the national road and so i do the loooong way. with 800meters up and 800 meters down.
The view and the nature were great too but a bit too much damaged by the A8 highway (view and/or noise). After a break in Hazas i was clearly exhausted and the final part along the sea was clearly difficult and dangerous so take care of the stones in those little paths and scratchy bushes. Nearly cry when i reached my accommodation in Laredo. But delighted about my performance and my journey.
Beautifull historic center in Castro Urdiales and Laredo. Talked with some Pilgrims but mainly local spanish guys. Practiced my spanish as i could.
Day4
Laredo -> Guemes.
walked like John Wayne along the long seaside path road of Laredo, suffering from the day before but finally the body reacted.
Took the little boat to Santona. There, i decided to walk on the beach instead of the pedestrian/bicycle path. Then as the weather was great i climbed the risky little moutain to reach fantastic view and went down to the huge Noja beach.
Caribbean Sensation.
Noja is a great village, not too much damaged by too big buildings.
Then from Noja to Guemes, i took the official road to reduce my trip. There were little villages and then boring roads so i was happy to reach my Posada for the night and the great little restaurant next to it.
Day5.
Guemes -> Santander. 17,5km
4km to a little village and then the road switched to coastal paths giving the feeling of the Normandy in France.
little chat with pilgrims and walking in the huge Somo beach ( even bigger than the Noja one).
Then took the boat to Santander.
Visit a bit Santander by night : Pintxos and Spanish wine.....Too much....
The next day i took the bus back to Bilbao to grab my car and go back in France for one more week of holiday with my family before back in Belgium.
Thanks to this forum for the support and answering the questions. Quite more efficient than Facebook groups by the way.
This experience was great and i hope either continue my walk from Santander to Gijon next year or perhaps do Irun-Bilbao as i have bypassed this for my first try as i was not confident on my physical ability. And it was a good idea.
Sorry for my bad English and Buen camino to everyone.
Michael
As a follow up of my post https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-stages-baggage-transport.85025/#post-1225909, here is the feedback from my first try on the Camino Del Norte between Bilbao and Santander.
I used correos https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/fr/camino-del-norte-the-northern-way/hebergements to pickup my luggage before 8 AM the morning and receive it at the next hotel after 2PM. 40 Euros for that piece of Camino
Day 0.
Reached Bilbao. Visited the old city and the Guggenheim Museum. External parts of the Museum and the building itself were great. The art inside de museum did not touch my soul. We are all different.
Pintxos in the old town bar were not so great either. No luck with my choices. . But anyway the adventure is thereDay1.
Bilbao -> Santurzi ( next to Portugalete) via the right side of the Nervion. 17,5 km. Bilbao and industrial neighborhood. Not so great but as i was my first day i needed to warm up. took the Gutxo Bridge. Intersting structure Perhaps the official road is more interesting.
I saw that a lot of people are bypassing the exitof Bilbao, and the entrance either.
Day2.
Santurzi -> Castro Urdiales. 22,5 km + bus
Took the bus A3335 from Santurzi to the beach La Arena ( a bit before Pobena). Finally reaching a bit of nature. It was great. Country side, pastures, and sea
In Onton, as i had saved my legs 10 km by taking the bus i did not go via the dangerous national road but i took the old official road. Up and downs but wonderful nature and no one. Just the birds singing and the bells of the goats. I recommand it!
In Castro Urdiales in the first seaside there is a bar called Bitacora. Greatest pintxos of all my trip. Not too fat and really tasty. Their beer was good too.
Day3.
Castro Urdiales -> Laredo 37 km.
That was intense.
I did not take any shortcuts via the national road and so i do the loooong way. with 800meters up and 800 meters down.
The view and the nature were great too but a bit too much damaged by the A8 highway (view and/or noise). After a break in Hazas i was clearly exhausted and the final part along the sea was clearly difficult and dangerous so take care of the stones in those little paths and scratchy bushes. Nearly cry when i reached my accommodation in Laredo. But delighted about my performance and my journey.
Beautifull historic center in Castro Urdiales and Laredo. Talked with some Pilgrims but mainly local spanish guys. Practiced my spanish as i could.
Day4
Laredo -> Guemes.
walked like John Wayne along the long seaside path road of Laredo, suffering from the day before but finally the body reacted.
Took the little boat to Santona. There, i decided to walk on the beach instead of the pedestrian/bicycle path. Then as the weather was great i climbed the risky little moutain to reach fantastic view and went down to the huge Noja beach.
Caribbean Sensation.
Noja is a great village, not too much damaged by too big buildings.
Then from Noja to Guemes, i took the official road to reduce my trip. There were little villages and then boring roads so i was happy to reach my Posada for the night and the great little restaurant next to it.
Day5.
Guemes -> Santander. 17,5km
4km to a little village and then the road switched to coastal paths giving the feeling of the Normandy in France.
little chat with pilgrims and walking in the huge Somo beach ( even bigger than the Noja one).
Then took the boat to Santander.
Visit a bit Santander by night : Pintxos and Spanish wine.....Too much....
The next day i took the bus back to Bilbao to grab my car and go back in France for one more week of holiday with my family before back in Belgium.
Thanks to this forum for the support and answering the questions. Quite more efficient than Facebook groups by the way.
This experience was great and i hope either continue my walk from Santander to Gijon next year or perhaps do Irun-Bilbao as i have bypassed this for my first try as i was not confident on my physical ability. And it was a good idea.
Sorry for my bad English and Buen camino to everyone.
Michael
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