Reverse route

[Lisnashannagh]

Hi there

Help needed! We are planning to walk the route from Santander to Bilbao in April 2020. Has anyone any advice for walking the reverse route? What about luggage transfers, does anyone know of a company that will do this?

 

[lovingkindness]

Hello @Lisnashannagh
Correos does rucksack transfers along El Camino del Norte. I don't know if they transfer in the reverse direction, though. Here's a link with contact details:

Cheers!

https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/camino/camino-del-norte-the-northern-way

 

[trecile]

Is there a reason why you want to do it in reverse?

 

[Tincatinker]

Hi there
Help needed! We are planning to walk the route from Santander to Bilbao in April 2020. Has anyone any advice for walking the reverse route? What about luggage transfers, does anyone know of a company that will do this?

@Lisnashannagh, welcome to the forum. The usual advice on walking Camino routes in reverse is make sure you have a good navigation App or can read a guide book backwards, reversing every line of direction. Trail marks are set to inform walkers heading to Santiago. Every Yellow Arrow will be behind you, telling you where you have come from not where to go next.

As @trecile asks: do you have a particular reason for your proposed adventure? You'll find Bilbao to Santander an easier proposition for navigation if nought else. You would also avoid some interesting discussions with Albergue Hospitalero/as who expect Pilgrims to be walking toward Santiago or at least have walked to Santiago and being on their way back home. If you are just after a good hike in interesting landscapes you don't need the Camino just a navigation app.

There are several companies offering baggage transfers on the Norte, including Correos, but you would have to contact them directly to establish whether they can move luggage in reverse.

 

[Lisnashannagh]

Is there a reason why you want to do it in reverse?

We booked it that way and only afterwards thought it might cause logistical issues. So now we either go with it or re plan the whole trip. Any advice?

 

[Lisnashannagh]

Thanks for the responses. We’ve checked with Correos and they don’t transfer luggage in reverse. I’m thinking that maybe private taxis might?

 

[Tincatinker]

We booked it that way and only afterwards thought it might cause logistical issues. So now we either go with it or re plan the whole trip. Any advice?

By booked it that way do you mean you have pre-booked accommodation or you have booked flights into Santander and out of Bilbao? There are easy train & bus connections between those two cities so re-reversing your route would not be difficult though it would be time consuming.

There are several companies apart from Correos that provide luggage transfer and it may be worth your while approaching them. Search "luggage transfer" on the forum for suggestions. I do not hold much hope that they will be able to assist you.

Private taxis will charge €1 per Km to transport luggage and will charge for the outward and return journey in most cases.

My advice? Start again.

 

[Lisnashannagh]

Yes we booked flights into Santander and out of Bilbao. Thanks for the tips. We’ve some thinking to do!

 

[wayfarer]

Yes we booked flights into Santander and out of Bilbao. Thanks for the tips. We’ve some thinking to do!

Welcome Lisnashannagh, How long have you booked for, 1 week or 2. You could always walk part of the Northe for the time you have and then bus back to Bilboa for your flight home.

 

[Tincatinker]

As always https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Seve-B...erto-s-n-39600-Maliaño-Cantabria-Spain/Bilbao is your friend. Depending on flights times re-reversing your walk should be fairly simple. Happy planning

 

[Reklaw]

I might be inclined to walk in westerly direction and get a train back to the start point. Cheaper than getting taxis to transfer luggage ''backwards''. I had to get myself back to Bilbao unexpectedly a few years ago from Santiago and it was a lovely train ride

 

[Lisnashannagh]

Lots of really good suggestions here, thanks everyone.

 

[jimmyc]

Last year I tried walking one legs of the Sanabres in reverse. I found it impossible to find the way-markers. I ended up walking down the highway for the entire route.

 

[Lisnashannagh]

You’re the first person we have heard from that has actually tried to do it so think we need to take heed. Did you carry your bags?

 

[jimmyc]

Yes I carried my bag but only 5 kls. I always travel light.

 

[kaiel]

I did one day backwards, went from Santiago to Oliveroa (sp) with my friends but then the next day went back to Santiago to catch my train. The navigation was hard and I backtracked a fair bit. However I have to say that the most annoying thing was that people kept saying and or gesturing to me (pilgrims, passing cars, people in their driveways, etc) "you're going the wrong way" and I kept having to say, "Yes, I know. Thank you."

 

[Lisnashannagh]

Yes I carried my bag but only 5 kls. I always travel light.

We ladies don’t travel that light unfortunately!

 

[trecile]

We ladies don’t travel that light unfortunately!

Some of us do!

 

[Lisnashannagh]

Some of us do!

Well we might have to start too if we don’t get this trip organised! At least we have lots of good suggestions to work on.

 

[Lisnashannagh]

Welcome Lisnashannagh, How long have you booked for, 1 week or 2. You could always walk part of the Northe for the time you have and then bus back to Bilboa for your flight home.

Wonderful suggestion and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. That way we only need to re-arrange some accommodation & can work with the flights we have. So we’re westward bound, thanks for all the advice.

 

[wayfarer]

That's great. Wishing you happy planning and Buen Camino. Enjoy every step.

 

[trecile]

Wonderful suggestion and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. That way we only need to re-arrange some accommodation & can work with the flights we have. So we’re westward bound, thanks for all the advice.

Sounds good. I think that you will find it more enjoyable.