Alternative route along coast from Santander

[musicianary]

Hola Peregrinos,
I’m on day 14 since starting in Irun and love, love, love the Norte. The stop last night at the Pilgrim Albergue in Güemes was magical. Don’t miss it. Now in Santander takings two night rest and wondering how many kilometers the alternative route along the coast north from Santander will add. Here’s a shot coming into Santander and my favorite sunrise shot coming out of Santoña.
Thanks everyone,
Dave

 

[Cliff G]

Hi ...
We are finishing Norte tomorrow and have really loved it.
The Santander coastal trail is 33k compared to 14k getting to Boo de Piélagos and was probably the highlight day of our Camino even though it’s not the official route we decided that some pilgrims would have gone right when they got off the ferry boat and did it that way.
The trail is reasonably well marked and we had the Pilgrim es app whenever we were unsure.
The scenery was stunning often, the lighthouse, rock formations, bays and about half way you hit some bars at the more touristic beaches but probably at least 80% of the time you have it all to see yourself once you get out of Santander ... enjoy.

 

[donalomahony]

How busy is the Norte at the moment? Just a general idea of numbers. Hoping to start from Irun next Monday (15) July. Thanks!

 

[Cliff G]

The route seems busy enough to often see lots of pilgrims, we stayed mainly in Pensions but rarely heard stories of full albergues, we stayed in one which was lovely in Miraz, O'Abrigo and it was half full.
We avoided the Frances highway and walked the new 'official route' from Boimorto and hit Frances at Pedrouzo leaving the route to cut down the AC6001 ... that stretch to Pedrouzo is about 27K from Boimil, we stayed at the very friendly Pension O Real in Boimil and were they served a great breakfast and were very obliging.

 

[musicianary]

How busy is the Norte at the moment? Just a general idea of numbers. Hoping to start from Irun next Monday (15) July. Thanks!

Not busy from Irun to Bilbao. MUCH busier after Bilbao as many fly in and start here. Many albergues full after Bilbao especially if you land in one that has a festival that week as we did in Castro Urdiales.