Best Early One-Week Route

[QuailHiker]

I am hopeful of walking the del Norte and Primitivo in spring 2018 after walking the Frances last year. My wife has expressed interest in joining me for approximately a week on the del Norte, probably early on. I am a bit concerned about the early days out of Irun for her. I think it's practical to expect that she won't put the training in that I will, planning for only a week, and that the terrain will be very difficult. Is there a "better" stretch to plan for her to join me, say from Bilbao, that still has good scenery but is more manageable physically? Suggestions, please!

 

[Kieran Kenneally]

Alot flatter after Bilbao but would start in Portugalete about 17km beyond Bilbao as that section is very mundane and industrial

 

[trecile]

I am hopeful of walking the del Norte and Primitivo in spring 2018 after walking the Frances last year. My wife has expressed interest in joining me for approximately a week on the del Norte, probably early on. I am a bit concerned about the early days out of Irun for her. I think it's practical to expect that she won't put the training in that I will, planning for only a week, and that the terrain will be very difficult. Is there a "better" stretch to plan for her to join me, say from Bilbao, that still has good scenery but is more manageable physically? Suggestions, please!

Your question brings to mind a question that I have about the Norte, and perhaps the answer will help us both.
I understand that the first few days of the Norte are pretty difficult, so I was wondering if there is somewhere that one could start before Irun that would provide a gentler start to the Norte.

 

[Tincatinker]

@trecile You could start in Bayonne or even Bordeaux but way-finding might be a bit of a challenge. There are 'routes': the Vasco Interior was a delight this year but takes you down to the Frances rather than up to the Norte. That said there is a way-marked route from Bayonne to Irun the name of which escapes me but the Tourist Office in Bayonne had a leaflet and there may be some on-line resource.

For the OP, @QuailHiker, depending on logistics your wife might like to join you from Santander onward for a week. Spectacular but not savage walking. The only problem might be that you'll have 'camino legs' by then and she will not have. You'll have to adjust your pace to hers.

 

[arch]

My daughter(38) and I (73) did the Norte from Irun to santander and the the primitivo to Santiago September 2016. I thought the first two days were some of the best scenery. We met two women from Paris who felt they could only hike so far each day so they would take taxi or bus each day to accomodate their ability. Maybe your wife could shorten her days this way. don't miss the Albergue de Guemes another highlight of our caminos. Buen Camino

 

[Older Guy]

May I offer a suggestion. Since your post implies that your wife wants to share your Camino adventure for just a bit, does she ride a bicycle? The Norde (not the Primativo) is quite paved. Even if she doesn't train as much as you do, she might be easily able to keep up with you on the relatively flat and paved sections on a bicycle (especially if she used a luggage service). It might even allow her to keep up with you for a longer period of time or more shared memories.

Good luck and enjoy.