- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino de Santiago, Norte (2016)
Camino Portuguese, Coastal (2018)
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I looked at the photo that showed where the pilgrim was found and saw that there was a train tunnel up the hill. Isn't this the area where before the tunnel, the trail comes to an area fenced off with a cyclone fence--with directions that say it is closed? We went ahead, as others had done, through an abandoned train tunnel. Some local people sort of led the way through a maze of concrete abutments, etc. As far as I recall, however, once through the maze and over the hill, the downhill section was easy to follow.The recent death of a pilgrim along the Norte prompted me to retrace my own walk this September from La Arena to Castro Urdiales. Initially I remember it being a beautiful walk along an old railway that had been turned into a paved walking path far above the sea. There was a fence along the cliff and many people, not just pilgrims, were walking the path that day. The path eventually ended and as we followed the Camino markers we found ourselves at a roundabout. We could find no arrows or other such markers. I believe there were a couple of different roads off of the circle, one being a dirt road. We were considering taking the dirt path as it appeared to go back towards the sea. While we were standing there, a cyclist came along and we asked him which way to pick up the Camino. He pointed us to the highway and told us that was the best way for us to go. That road, N-634, was a two lane curvy highway with many blind curves and what appeared to be a steep drop to the sea on the other side of the guardrail. We hugged the left shoulder the entire time and at least once during that long stretch had to press our bodies against the rock wall on our left to avoid being hit by a car.
On another forum, and in response to the death of a pilgrim on that route, a person posted a google map picture of the Camino near Punta de Saltacaballos where the pilgrim's body was located. It appeared that a path actually ran along beside that highway just above the sea making me think that perhaps there was another option that we missed.
Did anyone else experience confusion at that same roundabout? Did anyone walk a trail parallel to N-634?
Thank you.
Horler - this may provide a viable route into Castro Urdiales but the advice at Miono doesn't look right to me: 'As Mioño is in sight you'll see a small beach on your right. Then you see a yellow arrow which directs you to cross the road towards the right and take a path going down back which winds down to that beach. BEWARE - ignore that yellow arrow.'Attached is a shorter and interesting alternative approach to Castro from Portuagalete that was posted on the forum a while back, saves quite a few kilometres. Took this route in 2015 and it is very easy to follow.
In 2013 you could follow that yellow arrow and take the path down to the beach and then turn left at the end and climb up onto the grassy hills above the sea and walk from there all the way to CU without any roads or obstacles at all. There were some faint marks of yellow on path stones here and there. I thought this variant had been incorporated into later editions of the Cicerone guide, but I don't have it to check.
The recent death of a pilgrim along the Norte prompted me to retrace my own walk this September from La Arena to Castro Urdiales. Initially I remember it being a beautiful walk along an old railway that had been turned into a paved walking path far above the sea. There was a fence along the cliff and many people, not just pilgrims, were walking the path that day. The path eventually ended and as we followed the Camino markers we found ourselves at a roundabout. We could find no arrows or other such markers. I believe there were a couple of different roads off of the circle, one being a dirt road. We were considering taking the dirt path as it appeared to go back towards the sea. While we were standing there, a cyclist came along and we asked him which way to pick up the Camino. He pointed us to the highway and told us that was the best way for us to go. That road, N-634, was a two lane curvy highway with many blind curves and what appeared to be a steep drop to the sea on the other side of the guardrail. We hugged the left shoulder the entire time and at least once during that long stretch had to press our bodies against the rock wall on our left to avoid being hit by a car.
On another forum, and in response to the death of a pilgrim on that route, a person posted a google map picture of the Camino near Punta de Saltacaballos where the pilgrim's body was located. It appeared that a path actually ran along beside that highway just above the sea making me think that perhaps there was another option that we missed.
Did anyone else experience confusion at that same roundabout? Did anyone walk a trail parallel to N-634?
Thank you.
Going straight in Miono where you have a few cafes/ bar and straight through to tunnel. 585 metres well lit now . You save 5 km!!
I looked at the photo that showed where the pilgrim was found and saw that there was a train tunnel up the hill. Isn't this the area where before the tunnel, the trail comes to an area fenced off with a cyclone fence--with directions that say it is closed? We went ahead, as others had done, through an abandoned train tunnel. Some local people sort of led the way through a maze of concrete abutments, etc. As far as I recall, however, once through the maze and over the hill, the downhill section was easy to follow.
I am so sorry you missed the marker that takes you along the sea. It is there at the round about. Just needs a little searching but I've seen worse markers. If you ever have a chance to repeat, do so. It is a beautiful walk, yes along the dirt road. Buen camino.The recent death of a pilgrim along the Norte prompted me to retrace my own walk this September from La Arena to Castro Urdiales. Initially I remember it being a beautiful walk along an old railway that had been turned into a paved walking path far above the sea. There was a fence along the cliff and many people, not just pilgrims, were walking the path that day. The path eventually ended and as we followed the Camino markers we found ourselves at a roundabout. We could find no arrows or other such markers. I believe there were a couple of different roads off of the circle, one being a dirt road. We were considering taking the dirt path as it appeared to go back towards the sea. While we were standing there, a cyclist came along and we asked him which way to pick up the Camino. He pointed us to the highway and told us that was the best way for us to go. That road, N-634, was a two lane curvy highway with many blind curves and what appeared to be a steep drop to the sea on the other side of the guardrail. We hugged the left shoulder the entire time and at least once during that long stretch had to press our bodies against the rock wall on our left to avoid being hit by a car.
On another forum, and in response to the death of a pilgrim on that route, a person posted a google map picture of the Camino near Punta de Saltacaballos where the pilgrim's body was located. It appeared that a path actually ran along beside that highway just above the sea making me think that perhaps there was another option that we missed.
Did anyone else experience confusion at that same roundabout? Did anyone walk a trail parallel to N-634?
Thank you.
I am so sorry you missed the marker that takes you along the sea. It is there at the round about. Just needs a little searching but I've seen worse markers. If you ever have a chance to repeat, do so. It is a beautiful walk, yes along the dirt road. Buen camino.
Hi Dragon Shadow (great name!) - I'm planning to go on that route next Spring, so thank you for the warnings and tips. Much appreciated,The recent death of a pilgrim along the Norte prompted me to retrace my own walk this September from La Arena to Castro Urdiales. Initially I remember it being a beautiful walk along an old railway that had been turned into a paved walking path far above the sea. There was a fence along the cliff and many people, not just pilgrims, were walking the path that day. The path eventually ended and as we followed the Camino markers we found ourselves at a roundabout. We could find no arrows or other such markers. I believe there were a couple of different roads off of the circle, one being a dirt road. We were considering taking the dirt path as it appeared to go back towards the sea. While we were standing there, a cyclist came along and we asked him which way to pick up the Camino. He pointed us to the highway and told us that was the best way for us to go. That road, N-634, was a two lane curvy highway with many blind curves and what appeared to be a steep drop to the sea on the other side of the guardrail. We hugged the left shoulder the entire time and at least once during that long stretch had to press our bodies against the rock wall on our left to avoid being hit by a car.
On another forum, and in response to the death of a pilgrim on that route, a person posted a google map picture of the Camino near Punta de Saltacaballos where the pilgrim's body was located. It appeared that a path actually ran along beside that highway just above the sea making me think that perhaps there was another option that we missed.
Did anyone else experience confusion at that same roundabout? Did anyone walk a trail parallel to N-634?
Thank you.
Hello again. In answer to when I did this trail to Castro Urdiales it was late September 2016.
Orford Girl
Hi Dragon Shadow (great name!) - I'm planning to go on that route next Spring, so thank you for the warnings and tips. Much appreciated,
Regards, Keith
I believe that this wikiloc route shows the two alternatives that Horler and Tom are talking about.Horler - this may provide a viable route into Castro Urdiales but the advice at Miono doesn't look right to me: 'As Mioño is in sight you'll see a small beach on your right. Then you see a yellow arrow which directs you to cross the road towards the right and take a path going down back which winds down to that beach. BEWARE - ignore that yellow arrow.'
In 2013 you could follow that yellow arrow and take the path down to the beach and then turn left at the end and climb up onto the grassy hills above the sea and walk from there all the way to CU without any roads or obstacles at all. There were some faint marks of yellow on path stones here and there. I thought this variant had been incorporated into later editions of the Cicerone guide, but I don't have it to check. Apologies if this has already been clarified by someone else on an earlier thread.
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