Walking from Santander to Gijon commencing 18 June but worried about accommodation...

[Pegstar]

Hi, I've had a good look at the posts about the accommodation options in this section and I'm travelling alone and on a budget and was hoping to stay in hostels for finance but also to meet people. It looks like there are fewer of these on the Norte and the distances between them, it might be challenging, especially as it looks like numbers are climbing. I'm a bit worried I'll get stuck/stranded.
Can anyone give me any advice? Is it possible to book any of the hostels, especially the pilgrim ones ahead of time?

I am flying into Asturias so I could switch on to the Camino Primativo if that might be safer accommodation-wise (just love that section of coast - UK is horrendous weather at the moment and it would be wonderful to have a dip after a long day walking) and weirdly don't want to finish in Santiago as I'd like to come back and do more and I want to work up to the big arrival!

Any advice would be really welcome.

 

[Tincatinker]

Hi, I've had a good look at the posts about the accommodation options in this section and I'm travelling alone and on a budget and was hoping to stay in hostels for finance but also to meet people. It looks like there are fewer of these on the Norte and the distances between them, it might be challenging, especially as it looks like numbers are climbing. I'm a bit worried I'll get stuck/stranded.
Can anyone give me any advice? Is it possible to book any of the hostels, especially the pilgrim ones ahead of time?

I am flying into Asturias so I could switch on to the Camino Primativo if that might be safer accommodation-wise (just love that section of coast - UK is horrendous weather at the moment and it would be wonderful to have a dip after a long day walking) and weirdly don't want to finish in Santiago as I'd like to come back and do more and I want to work up to the big arrival!

Any advice would be really welcome.

Hi @Pegstar, welcome to the forum. You are asking a couple of the great un-answerables but I do understand why you're asking.

https://www.gronze.com/etapa/santander/santillana-mar is probably the best resource for accommodation information and does specify which are bookable and which are not. Look for Admite reserva: Sí / No

You've not said when you're planning to start. July & August on the Norte is holiday time. Accommodations get challenging. If you're starting next week you'll probably cruise it. The forum seems to be full of "Can't book anywhere" threads each of which contains the advice that the un-bookable accommodations are half-empty. Take a deep breath and a sleeping bag. You'll do fine

 

[Pegstar]

Hi @Pegstar, welcome to the forum. You are asking a couple of the great un-answerables but I do understand why you're asking.

https://www.gronze.com/etapa/santander/santillana-mar is probably the best resource for accommodation information and does specify which are bookable and which are not. Look for Admite reserva: Sí / No

You've not said when you're planning to start. July & August on the Norte is holiday time. Accommodations get challenging. If you're starting next week you'll probably cruise it. The forum seems to be full of "Can't book anywhere" threads each of which contains the advice that the un-bookable accommodations are half-empty. Take a deep breath and a sleeping bag. You'll do fine

Hi Tincatinker, thanks so much. It's my first time and I'm more than a little nervous but half the challenge for me will be letting go of schedules, preplanning and certainty and embracing the spirit of adventure! I'm arriving in Spain on the 17th and plan to start on 18th or 19th (June) for 10-12 days so hoping that that dodges the holidays. I speak Spanish too, so I hope that will help. Yes sleeping bag already on my packing pile!
Many thanks for the link, that's fantastic.

 

[MilenaS]

I have a fresh thread here somewhere about the Norte (I am on my flight back). I had no problem booking ahead a day or not booking at all up until Arzua. Stayed mostly in hostels and albergues, and occasionally in a private room.

Buen Camino

 

[billC]

Just started from Santander today with son and daughter. Managed to reserve first couple days with short notice at low budget albergue and hostel.

 

[LTfit]

Be prepared for rain. I've been on the Norte twice in June and it was wet. I had better weather in October. The coastline is known for its fickle weather.

As far as accommodations is concerned, I've never had a problem but the last time I was on it was June 2022.

Here in The Netherlands the weather has also been horrendous for weeks on end. May went down in history as the wettest month and more rain fell during 2 days than the average for a whole month of May.

 

[Vacajoe]

Did you lose a bet? Fall and hit your head? Or maybe just into odd things like walking what I felt was the WORST part of the Norte?!?!! Seriously, Santander to Gijon? Absolutely NOT what I would choose but then again the world is a wonderful kaleidoscope of different folks and you do you! Fortunately, more public albergues just opened June 1st so that should help your situation. I walked Bilbao to SdC last month with zero reservations and found most of the spartan public albergues empty while the privates were fairly full. With the arrival of the summer tourist crowds, this will change but you are likely to do fine mid-June with the non-bookable/no-reservation public ones.

If you are up for a route change, though, perhaps Bayonne to Bilbao or Bilbao to Oviedo might be a bit more enjoyable.

 

[CObluebird]

Hi, I've had a good look at the posts about the accommodation options in this section and I'm travelling alone and on a budget and was hoping to stay in hostels for finance but also to meet people. It looks like there are fewer of these on the Norte and the distances between them, it might be challenging, especially as it looks like numbers are climbing. I'm a bit worried I'll get stuck/stranded.
Can anyone give me any advice? Is it possible to book any of the hostels, especially the pilgrim ones ahead of time?

I am flying into Asturias so I could switch on to the Camino Primativo if that might be safer accommodation-wise (just love that section of coast - UK is horrendous weather at the moment and it would be wonderful to have a dip after a long day walking) and weirdly don't want to finish in Santiago as I'd like to come back and do more and I want to work up to the big arrival!

Any advice would be really welcome.

Hi Pegstar, I'm starting in Santander on June 19th. I'm also a bit concerned about finding an affordable bed each night. I did proactively book a bed at Hostal Santander for the 18th. Am going to walk around the coast rather than the road section to Santillana del Mar. Breaking it into two days with a room booked in Liencres. I plan to call a day or two ahead for the albergues from there. Let me know if you'd like to be in contact.

 

[CObluebird]

Did you lose a bet? Fall and hit your head? Or maybe just into odd things like walking what I felt was the WORST part of the Norte?!?!! Seriously, Santander to Gijon? Absolutely NOT what I would choose but then again the world is a wonderful kaleidoscope of different folks and you do you! Fortunately, more public albergues just opened June 1st so that should help your situation. I walked Bilbao to SdC last month with zero reservations and found most of the spartan public albergues empty while the privates were fairly full. With the arrival of the summer tourist crowds, this will change but you are likely to do fine mid-June with the non-bookable/no-reservation public ones.

If you are up for a route change, though, perhaps Bayonne to Bilbao or Bilbao to Oviedo might be a bit more enjoyable.

Why is it so bad?

 

[Vacajoe]

Why is it so bad?

Both are large cities and the route into/out of them is the typical road walking through industrial and business areas. The days BEFORE Santander including the boat ride? Lovely. A day or two AFTER Gijon? Nearly empty of pilgrims. Of course there are some fabulous cities in your planned route, it’s just the two bookends (Santander/Gijon) which I found to be the least pleasant days on the Norte. Since you are only doing a segment and not through-hiking, perhaps bus a bit out of Santander when starting? Or start a few stages before it so you don’t miss that area and endcprior to Gijon? Just some thoughts

 

[Pegstar]

I have a fresh thread here somewhere about the Norte (I am on my flight back). I had no problem booking ahead a day or not booking at all up until Arzua. Stayed mostly in hostels and albergues, and occasionally in a private room.

Buen Camino

Thanks so much, that's very encouraging news! Hope you are still in the glow of your camino!

 

[CObluebird]

Both are large cities and the route into/out of them is the typical road walking through industrial and business areas. The days BEFORE Santander including the boat ride? Lovely. A day or two AFTER Gijon? Nearly empty of pilgrims. Of course there are some fabulous cities in your planned route, it’s just the two bookends (Santander/Gijon) which I found to be the least pleasant days on the Norte. Since you are only doing a segment and not through-hiking, perhaps bus a bit out of Santander when starting? Or start a few stages before it so you don’t miss that area and endcprior to Gijon? Just some thoughts

I’m taking an alternate beach route out of Santander to avoid the road walking. I hear it’s beautiful. Also, for me, I’ll avoid Gijon and skirt my way down to Oviedo. This trip is a continuation of the Norte from where I left off previously, and the next time I’ll walk from Oviedo to Santiago to complete the route . Thanks for the ideas!

 

[CObluebird]

Check out this trail from @Wikiloc! https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trai...um=app&utm_campaign=share&utm_source=15399504 (Santander - Boo de Piélagos)

 

[trecile]

I’m taking an alternate beach route out of Santander to avoid the road walking. I hear it’s beautiful

It is. I walked that way last year, staying overnight in Liencres.

 

[AlanS2222]

Check out this trail from @Wikiloc! https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trai...um=app&utm_campaign=share&utm_source=15399504 (Santander - Boo de Piélagos)View attachment 171725

I walked last September from Irun to Santander. Not like some road part like after Orio, around Bilbao and to reach Gumes. But the stages on the oceans was wonderful.

At the end of the month I'll walk the French from SJPD to avoid accomodations issue in the Norte.
Also if I can carry a light tent as plan B. So not sure yet.

Anyway I know people walk this way. They liked it.
I also wrote to the oficinadelperegrino to have info if there are any barcadero for the two riverse between
(will be amazing)

 

[Pafayac]

I also wrote to the oficinadelperegrino to have info if there are any barcadero for the two riverse between
(will be amazing)

What rivers ?

 

[AlanS2222]

What rivers ?

Rio de Mogro and Saja(La Concha beach)