Camino del Norte Walking Stage 1 - Irun or San Sebastian to Bilbao (self-guided)

Enjoy this colourful fishing village rich in architecture and gastronomy, this is a lovely place to start your journey.

Getting there - nearest airports are - San Sebastian (2.6km), Bilbao (121km), Biarritz (33km)

Today is a tough walk but don´t be put off – it is doable and worth it! The Camino del Norte´s first day is the most spectacular with stunning views of both land and sea. After leaving Irun you will follow the riverside for a short while before hiking up to the Guadalupe Sanctuary.  The route will involve trekking up Mount Jaizkibel (547m above sea level), along the side of the mountain to its summit with amazing sea and mountain views. You could take a taxi from your hotel to the Santuario de Guadalupe and skip the first 4km and halve the killer 550m ascent. Jaizkibel is the first summit of the Pyrenees when you head eastwards from the Atlantic shore. You will then be descending to the beautiful fishing village of Pasai Donibane where you will take a small pedestrian ferry across the estuary. You will then head up again to the second mountain of the day Ulia (nothing compared to the first!) before descending again to the beautiful city of San Sebastian. Known as Donostia by the Basques and famous for its annual international film festival, San Sebastian is arguably the most beautiful city in Spain. With its urban beach (La Concha/The Shell), a charismatic old town, Belle Epoque architecture and Basque cuisine it really does have it all! As if that wasn´t enough, it also has the second highest number of Michelin stars per capita in the world. If the Michelin starred restaurants are out of your budget range – no worries, San Sebastian is home to the pintxo a small snack of bread piled high with out of this world toppings. After the strenuous trek yesterday, you might want to stay an extra night in San Sebastian and really savour this fabulous city. If you want to break this day into two you could overnight in Pasaia Donibane (10.6km).

We will walk with the sea to our right and the mountains to our left for about 6 hours before arriving at the popular beach and surf town of Zarautz. A lovely walk with lots of rolling green hills today, a few ascents out of San Sebastian (lovely views though) and Orio but compared to yesterday this is gentle. If you want to take it easier you can break the journey and overnight in Orio (11.6km).

Today you have that perfect mix of beach towns, sea views and rolling hills. After Zarautz you can take the higher inland route or the lower coast option both of which meet just after Getaria. If you want to break the journey you can overnight in Zumaia (10km). Zumaia´s beaches are set on the longest continuous rock strata in the world – over 100 million years old. You will overnight in Deba which like it´s neighbouring villages was originally devoted to the whaling trade. Its´ Santa Maria Church with its´ Gothic entrance is definitely worth a visit.

Today you are heading inland hiking over the Collado de Arno. You will pass through densely forested hills and country footpaths. You will overnight in Markinz-Xemein a pretty town steeped in history thanks to its strategic value as a border post. Napoleon, the Carlist Wars and the Spanish Civil War have all left their mark on the town. Today though it is better known as the University of Pelota thanks to the ball game Jai Alai/fronton.  

The route today meanders alongside a small creek before heading towards the village of Ziortza-Bolibar and the medieval monastery of Zenarruza. You will overnight in Gernika-Lumo the most historically symbolic town on the Camino. For centuries the Lords of Vizcaya gathered under Gernika´s oak tree to swear allegiance to the nations charter. When the Basques joined Spain, Spanish kings travelled here to reiterate their commitment to Basque liberties. What Gernika is really known for though is the horrendous damage Hitler and Mussolini’s air forces under the order of Franco inflicted on the city and its people in 1937 which Picasso subsequently immortalised in his most famous piece of work - Gernika. A visit to the Museo de la Paz is where you can reflect on 20^th Century efforts at peace and justice.

Today you will enjoy a beautiful forest walk from Gernica to Goiko Elexalde before overnighting in Lezama. If you want to you can push on to Bilbao (33km).

Today your hike up to Monte Avril promises impressive views of Bilbao and a long paved downhill walk to the city itself. Today Bilbao is a thriving centre of Spanish industry, insurance and banking. Thanks to its strategic position on the River Nervion it has been of significant economic importance since the 14^th century. It particularly thrived during the industrial revolution when its natural abundance of iron mines, forests and water power made Bilbao´s shipbuilding and steel mills boom. It´s a lovely city architecturally with the Guggenheim Museum majestically gleaming by the banks of the river. Tuck into the local pinxto´s – slices of bread piled high with just about anything savoury you can imagine.

Today your journey ends unless you want to carry on to Stage 2 of the Camino del Norte (Bilbao to Santander). Or save that for next time…