Full Description
Walk two of northern Spain's most iconic pilgrimage routes, the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo, popular variants of the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela. The Camino del Norte stretches 820km (510 miles) along the scenic northern coastline, visiting historic cities such as Irun, San Sebastián, Bilbao, and Santander. The inland Camino Primitivo (221 miles) follows 355km from Villaviciosa through Oviedo and Lugo, offering a quieter, more mountainous route steeped in cultural and religious history.
Suitable for walkers of most abilities, the Camino del Norte typically takes around five weeks, while the Camino Primitivo can be completed in about two weeks. The Camino del Norte is described in 32 stages and the Camino Primitivo in 12 stages, each between 15 and 39km (9-24 miles) in length. Extensions to Finisterre and link routes connecting the Norte and Primitivo are also included, giving pilgrims the flexibility to plan a longer or customised journey.
32 stage-by-stage descriptions of the Camino del Norte and 12 stages of the Camino Primitivo, each between 15 and 39km (9-24 miles) in length, with distances, terrain summaries, and daily walking times
1:100,000 mapping for both routes, plus larger-scale town maps for key locations such as San Sebastián, Bilbao, Oviedo, and Lugo for precise navigation
GPX files for the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo compatible with GPS devices and smartphone apps, supporting digital navigation
Detailed accommodation and pilgrim lodging listings along both routes, including hostels, albergues, and hotels for planning overnight stays
Handy route summary tables, refreshment stops, and facilities along each stage to assist with daily planning on your pilgrimage
Practical advice on preparation, packing, seasonal considerations, and optional extensions, including the Finisterre route and link paths between the Norte and Primitivo
Plan your pilgrimage along northern Spain's Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo with confidence, experiencing coastal landscapes, historic towns, and mountain scenery with this comprehensive guidebook.
Contents
Map key
Overview map
Route summary tables
INTRODUCTION
The story of Saint James
The Northern Caminos: yesterday and today
Along the routes: different cultures
Choosing your camino
When to go
Preparation and planning
Being a pilgrim
Getting there and back
Equipment
Accommodation
Food
Postal services
Telephones and internet
Other local facilities
Waymarking, route-planning, and maps
Using this guide
THE CAMINO DEL NORTE
Prologue: The Voie Littorale Bayonne to Irún/Hondarribia
Stage 1 Irún to San Sebasti&##xe1;n
Stage 2 San Sebasti&##xe1;n to Zarautz
Stage 3 Zarautz to Deba
Stage 4 Deba to Markina-Xemein
Stage 5 Markina-Xemein to Gernika-Lumo
Stage 6 Gernika-Lumo to Bilbao
Stage 7 Bilbao to Pobeña
Stage 8 Pobeña to Castro-Urdiales
Stage 9 Castro-Urdiales to Laredo
Stage 10 Laredo to Güemes
Stage 11 Güemes to Santander
Stage 12 Santander to Santillana del Mar
Stage 13 Santillana del Mar to Comillas
Stage 14 Comillas to Colombres
Detour: The Camino Lebaniego Muñorrodero to Santo Toribio de Li&##xe9;bana
Stage 15 Colombres to Llanes
Stage 16 Llanes to Piñeres de Pría
Stage 17 Piñeres de Pría to La Isla
Stage 18 La Isla to Villaviciosa
Detour: The Camino Covadonga Amandi (Villaviciosa) to Covadonga
Stage 19 Villaviciosa to Gijón
Stage 20 Gijón to Avil&##xe9;s
Stage 21 Avil&##xe9;s to Muros de Nalón
Stage 22 Muros de Nalón to Cadavedo
Stage 23 Cadavedo to Luarca
Stage 24 Luarca to La Caridad
Stage 25 La Caridad to Ribadeo
Stage 26 Ribadeo to Lourenz&##xe1;
Stage 27 Lourenz&##xe1; to Gont&##xe1;n/Abadín
Stage 28 Gont&##xe1;n/Abadín to Vilalba
Stage 29 Vilalba to Miraz
Stage 30 Miraz to Sobrado dos Monxes
Stage 31 Sobrado dos Monxes to Arzúa
Stage 32 Arzúa to Santiago de Compostela
THE CAMINO PRIMITIVO
Stage 1 Villaviciosa to Pola de Siero
Stage 2 Pola de Siero to Oviedo
Stage 3 Oviedo to Grado
Stage 4 Grado to Salas
Stage 5 Salas to Campiello
Stage 6 Campiello to Berducedo
Stage 7 Berducedo to Grandas de Salime
Stage 8 Grandas de Salime to A Fonsagrada
Stage 9 A Fonsagrada to Castroverde
Stage 10 Castroverde to Lugo
Stage 11 Lugo to As Seixas
Stage 12 As Seixas to Arzúa
Primitivo-Norte Link via Oviedo: Oviedo to Avil&##xe9;s
Primitivo-Norte Link via Friol: Lugo to Sobrado dos Monxes
THE CAMINO FINISTERRE
Stage 1 Santiago de Compostela to Negreira
Stage 2 Negreira to Olveiroa
Stage 3 Olveiroa to Finisterre
Appendix A Useful sources of information
Appendix B English-Spanish-Euskera glossary
Appendix C Suggestions for further reading
