leaving for Camino del norte on Sunday June 28, few last minute questions...

[jesben1]

Hello, I'm starting the journey to Spain this Sunday and plan to start walking from Irun next Wednesday. I have a few last minute thoughts/questions

First me and my travel partners are on a budget and plan on cooking meals, staying in hostels etc. What are some things you would suggest splurging on? Like food or drink special in a region, your favorite restaurant or albergue etc. Think of something's that were really worth splurging on...

Next I've read from several sources that we should come across the occasional beach, this is what I've been dreaming of! ... Can you think of a beach or two that were off the trail, worth walking to, your favorite etc.. I would hate to miss one because I didn't know to take that turn... I would be more into a more secluded beach vs touristy area.

Third, if we find we are running behind and need to take a bus to skip ahead (worst case scenario) we would rather skip an ugly highway section than rush through the end, can you think of a day that the walking was pretty dull that would be worth skipping if you had to?

Fourth, trekking poles or no? I feel pike I've read mixed reviews, we never used them before until the last year or so on some more difficult hikes and LOVE them, however do you think they are needed/helpful? Just looking for anything to decrease weight...

Alright thanks for any suggestions! I'm so excited!!

Jessica

 

[Deleted member 3000]

however do you think they are needed/helpful?

Yes, both. Buen camino.

 

[Introibo]

Regional specialities ? Ask yourself "Am I in Galicia ?" If the answer is yes, drink Estrella.
If the answer is no, pick up your pace !

Buen Camino

 

[Introibo]

To give a serious reply on the food / drink front, look at what the locals are drinking eating.
My Camino was in the company of a Spaniard called Cristobal. A mountain of a man. When
I walked into the bar at O'Cebreiro he had a small glass of white wine in his hand. A speciality
of the region he said. I ordered us both one and ..... it was excellent. Wouldn't be seen dead
drinking white wine in a bar at home but, when in Rome.

You've got Galician soup and pulpo to look forward to.

 

[MKalcolm M]

You will come across plenty of beaches in the first couple of weeks, when you walk to Santander from Guemes be sure to take the coastal option, it has several kilometers on the beach.

If you have to hop a bus, then take one from Santander to Santilla del Mar, this was a long day of road hiking, also from Gijon to Aviles.

If you love using trekking poles, then take them with you, the argument is that they take the pressure of your knees when going downhill. I acquired a bamboo staff at the start in Irun and loved it, my companion used trekking poles which she found very helpful.

Food and drink? Just enjoy the local specialties, particularly wine and cider and be sure to try some orojo con herbas, the local after dinner drink.

The Norte is a great hike, you will have a wonderful time. Buen Camino!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Drink Txacoli is Basque country, their sparkling wine. Splurge on pinxos in San Sebastian at Fuego negro or La cuchara de San Telmo. In Llanes you must have carbayones, a gorgeous pastry. Cider of course, fabada asturiana.

 

[Kaiplentz]

Cabrales cheese and Cidre in Asturias. It's delicious with a crusty piece of bread. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. The cheese may not be to everyone's taste due to how strong it is, but I think its the best blue cheese I have ever tasted.

 

[Tia Valeria]

The industrial stretch between Santander and Barreda is worth missing, take a FEVE cercania (very cheap). It also avoids the long walk round or (prohibited) railway bridge crossing at Mogro.
Terry likes Mahou (Cantabria and Asturias) more than Estrella.
If you eat menu del día you get to try local food and it is better than menu del peregrino. 'Platos combinados' can be shared so if you want less buy one between two, or 3 between 4 etc. Raciones are served at almost any time so eating at mid-day and then raciones or self catering at night can work well.

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Hello, I'm starting the journey to Spain this Sunday and plan to start walking from Irun next Wednesday. I have a few last minute thoughts/questions

First me and my travel partners are on a budget and plan on cooking meals, staying in hostels etc. What are some things you would suggest splurging on? Like food or drink special in a region, your favorite restaurant or albergue etc. Think of something's that were really worth splurging on...

Next I've read from several sources that we should come across the occasional beach, this is what I've been dreaming of! ... Can you think of a beach or two that were off the trail, worth walking to, your favorite etc.. I would hate to miss one because I didn't know to take that turn... I would be more into a more secluded beach vs touristy area.

Third, if we find we are running behind and need to take a bus to skip ahead (worst case scenario) we would rather skip an ugly highway section than rush through the end, can you think of a day that the walking was pretty dull that would be worth skipping if you had to?

Fourth, trekking poles or no? I feel pike I've read mixed reviews, we never used them before until the last year or so on some more difficult hikes and LOVE them, however do you think they are needed/helpful? Just looking for anything to decrease weight...

Alright thanks for any suggestions! I'm so excited!!

Jessica

You are in for treat swimming wise. Irun to San Sebastián . San Sebastián has best beach of any camino and you walk it, swim it and sleep on it. Playa de la Arena you walk on beach to foot bridge to pobena. That's first day out of Bilbao. You walk on 3 km of beach as you enter Noja. You also use ferries 3 or 4 times. As you approach San Sebastián. Santo a and Santander. Take coastal paths and lovely small beaches but you need to scramble down to beach sometimes. Local wines and real cider to die for. Buen camino

 

[Ricka]

To give a serious reply on the food / drink front, look at what the locals are drinking eating.
My Camino was in the company of a Spaniard called Cristobal. A mountain of a man. When
I walked into the bar at O'Cebreiro he had a small glass of white wine in his hand. A speciality
of the region he said. I ordered us both one and ..... it was excellent. Wouldn't be seen dead
drinking white wine in a bar at home but, when in Rome.

You've got Galician soup and pulpo to look forward to.

Yes, Pulpo also you might try that Arujo. A potent drink made from the fermented remains of the wine press.
It's killer and the yellow stuff is smooth.
RicksRicks

 

[jesben1]

Wow thanks everyone, these are great tips!

 

[angulero]

Fourth, trekking poles or no? I feel pike I've read mixed reviews, we never used them before until the last year or so on some more difficult hikes and LOVE them, however do you think they are needed/helpful? Just looking for anything to decrease weight...
Jessica

Los días que cojas un autobús o tren, no duermas en albergues. No dejes a peregrinos que hayan caminado ese día sin cama.

The days you take a bus or train, or sleep in albergues. Do not let pilgrims who have walked that day without bed.

 

[jesben1]

Los días que cojas un autobús o tren, no duermas en albergues. No dejes a peregrinos que hayan caminado ese día sin cama.

The days you take a bus or train, or sleep in albergues. Do not let pilgrims who have walked that day without bed.

We hope to not have to skip walking any day! But if we do that sounds fair

 

[Tia Valeria]

Taking the FEVE out from Santander to Barreda means that you do walk that day - to Santillana del Mar where there is plenty of accomodation for pilgrims, just before the village, on the way into and also out of the village, plus hotels so there should not be a problem there. We spent 3 nights in Santillana (hotel) so as to visit the museum and Altamira.

 

[oursonpolaire]

(just back last night) Gijon to Avilés is industrial park and highway and entirely busable or FEVE-able. Angulero's prescription should be followed if you do so. West of Avilés, there are beaches every day. Take the detour from Muros de Nalon to the Playa de Anguilar which is spectacular. The Asturian tourism folks have a costal walk map which will outline beaches and their access points from the Camino. I took a very indulgent Club Med Camino 11-k day from Tapia de Casiarego to Ribadeo with three swims. For food in Asturias, chipirones and, for drink, sidra natural. And when you get into Galicia, pulpo every day, of course.

 

[angulero]

(just back last night) Gijon to Avilés is industrial park and highway and entirely busable or FEVE-able. Angulero's prescription should be followed if you do so. West of Avilés, there are beaches every day. Take the detour from Muros de Nalon to the Playa de Anguilar (Aguilar ) which is spectacular. The Asturian tourism folks have a costal walk map which will outline beaches and their access points from the Camino. I took a very indulgent Club Med Camino 11-k day from Tapia de Casiarego to Ribadeo with three swims. For food in Asturias, chipirones and, for drink, sidra natural. And when you get into Galicia, pulpo every day, of course.

Supongo que hables de la senda costera que va desde San Esteban de Pravia hasta la playa de Aguilar, en Muros de Nalón. Para hacerla, yo os recomiendo que dividáis la etapa que va desde Avilés hasta Soto de Luiña en dos etapas y durmaís en el albergue de San Esteban. En el vídeo que pongo, hacen la ruta a la inversa de como lo haría un peregrino.


También os recomiendo que los que bajéis a conocer Cudillero, lo hagáis por una ruta que baja desde un un pueblo de la parte alta que se llama La Atalaya. Os evitaréis bajar por la carretera, y las vistas son mucho mejores.

I guess talk about the coastal path that runs from San Estebande Pravia to Aguilar Beach in Muros de Nalón. To make it, I recommend doing the stage that goes from Aviles to Soto de Luiña in two stages and sleep in the hostel San Esteban. In the video that I put, do the route in reverse of how you would a pilgrim.

I also recommend that you go down to meet Cudillero, rather to do a route that descends from a village in the high part called La Atalaya. Will you escape down the road, and the views are much better.