Walking from Logroño to Bilbao (GR38)?

[wjowc]

I'm in the early stages of planning my second Camino. By planning I mean that it might start in April, it might start next year, who knows.

I'm thinking of starting somewhere in Catalonia, most likely around Barcelona), taking the Ebro valley up to Logroño and possibly connecting to the Camino Del Norte somehow. Probably 50ish days to complete the whole deal. Has anyone walked from Logroño to Bilbao? I know that there is technically a GR trail that crosses that stretch, but I have no idea what to expect from those trails. Will there be some lodging? I'm not expecting albergue prices, but anything?

Are there any other routes that connect the Frances to the Del Norte? My first Camino included the Salvador between Leon and Oviedo, so I know there is that one, but is there anything else that doesn't skew too far toward the east?

 

[Tincatinker]

You could reverse the Camino Vasco, or Tunnel route, to Irun if you were that way inclined but you would be walking north-east, there are accommodations on that route. There are probably bridge routes up to the Olvidado which would take you to the Salvador up to Oviedo but you'd have to improvise.

Happy planning

 

[wjowc]

You could reverse the Camino Vasco, or Tunnel route, to Irun if you were that way inclined but you would be walking north-east, there are accommodations on that route. There are probably bridge routes up to the Olvidado which would take you to the Salvador up to Oviedo but you'd have to improvise.

Happy planning

Thanks!

Just curious, what's the popularity of, and infrastructure on the Olvidado? Now that I look on a map, doing that and finishing on the Invierno looks interesting.

 

[Vacajoe]

Look into the Camino Ignacio - it stretches from Manresa (near Barcelona) to Loyola (Loiola) just off the Norte. From there it’s a few days walk to Bilbao. It’s not well-marked or heavily traveled, but he is incredibly important in the Catholic Church and they are working to publicize the route more in anticipation of a major anniversary soon

 

[Tincatinker]

Thanks!

Just curious, what's the popularity of, and infrastructure on the Olvidado? Now that I look on a map, doing that and finishing on the Invierno looks interesting.

Information here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-olvidado.104/

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks!

Just curious, what's the popularity of, and infrastructure on the Olvidado? Now that I look on a map, doing that and finishing on the Invierno looks interesting.

There is a LOT of information here on the Olvidado/Invierno combination. IMO, it doesn’t get more perfect than that. In fact, the topic just came up a day or so ago, so look at what has been posted here.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/olvidado-and-invierno.65720/#post-830428

There are two good forum resources, guides in English for each camino to get you started. Bjuen camino, Laurie

 

[wjowc]

Camino Ignacio - it stretches from Manresa (near Barcelona) to Loyola (Loiola) just off the Norte.

You got me looking and now I kind of want to do Irun -> Loiola -> Logrono -> Zaragoza -> Monserrat -> Sant Pere De Rodes

 

[Vacajoe]

Do NOT miss Montserrat - spectacular! And their pilgrim accommodation is just a year old

 

[peregrina2000]

You got me looking and now I kind of want to do Irun -> Loiola -> Logrono -> Zaragoza -> Monserrat -> Sant Pere De Rodes

Montserrat to Sant Pere de Rodes (well, actually, you will probably end further on, down the hill, to end in either Llançà or Port de la Selva) is a beautiful walk, mostly off-road, no pilgrim albergues, but decent and reasonably priced accommodation. I walked it in 2015 and posted on my stages. I believe @lindam has also walked this route and a couple of forum members whose names now escape me.

The route has been marked by the Generalitat, the Catalán regional government, and as a result it picks and chooses the path to make sure peregrinos walk both through Girona and Vic. The Girona association has long disapproved of this, because it does blend pieces of two different historically recognized caminos from France, but for me it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy several really nice cities, visit a TON of beautiful Romanesque architecture, and enjoy a lot of very pleasant (not mountainous, some hills) terrain.

Walking it backwards may be a challenge, but there are good GPS tracks on wikiloc and I would highly recommend them.