CSJ Pilgrim Guides to Spain#4, Los Caminos del Norte:
A:Ruta de la Costa Pt 1. Irún-Villaviciosa, 2007 ed. -
Updates 2007-2009 (Revised version)
With thanks to: Michael Paterson, F&S Nilsen, Michael McNamara, Marilyn Mack, M. MacKellar, Rob Steele and Graeme McDonald.
Page 7. If the Albergue is closed the local amigos group have an office in Calle Fueros No.2, 1st floor, Wed. and Fri. 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
Page 12. San Sebastián.
New albergue. Calle Escolta Real 12, off the Paseo de Igueldo, near Youth Hostel, 26 beds, hot showers, clothes washing and drying. Donations.
Page 20. Zumaya
Line 31. New private refuge near Ermita de Santa Clara, as camino leaves the town. Signed from road. Tel. 943 86 05 31
Page 21
Line 2. Only one taberna now open.
Line 14. In 2008 it was noted that: “There is now a small, private refuge run by Jose Fran in Iciar (Itziar) some 8 km from Zumaia (between Zumaia and Deva). It is a very short detour from the route and is marked out by arrows on the road.”
Address:
Urain - J Fran
Mardari, 10
20829 ITZIAR
Tel 605 76 29 99
Note!! Some pilgrims have been unable to find it so it may now have closed.
Page 24. Olatz
Excellent new bar opened. Does food.
Page 26. Marquina-Jemein.
New refugio, behind the church 30 beds, good reports.
Page 27. Cenaruzza. There is a private guest house on the approach road to the monastery. It has been reported as offering pilgrim accommodation.
Ziortza-Betica Tel. 946 16 52 59
Page 28.
Line 20. Mendata
The accommodation here is called Albergue Idatze Etxea, 36+ places, €7.00. Out of season open Wednesday – Sunday. Summer all week, often full July so ring before diverting Tel.946 25 72 04
Page 29. Guernica
Line 23. There is a Youth Hostel (Albergue Juvenil), Calle Cortesubi Bidea 9, Tel 946 25 84 03 that opens at 4 pm, Open Holy Week and May to 15th December.
HS* Hostal Boliña, Baren calle., 3 Tel. 946 26 03 00. Central, good food.
Line 35. As forecast the route that I list as an alternative is now the main route.
Page 32. Lezama
Line 25. The Agroturismo is called Hotel Matsa, Bd. Aretxalde 153.
Tel. 944 55 60 86
Page 36. Castrejana; end of 1st para. after ‘There is a section of ancient road on the L of the ascent..’ add: ’..follow this section upwards and you will shortly rejoin the main path’ .
Line 30. After the first sentence, which ends with the word Beteluri, ignore the rest of the instructions on that page and also those for pedestrians that are on page 37, substitute the following:
‘At the roundabout go to the L, leaving the ‘Comercial Vilar’ on your R. Go forward with a football field on your L, continuing until a red-surfaced pedestrian way is reached. Go to the R here and this brings you up to the Bilbao-Santander (N-634) main road.
Turn L along this road to reach the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Retuerto and turn to the R. Go forward under the motorway and from this point there are two alternatives:
i) The first alternative is to turn L almost immediately after emerging from under the motorway, before reaching the roundabout, and shortly follow the banks of the canalised River Galindo as far as the roundabout noted in the next paragraph.
ii) The second alternative is to go straight forward, over the roundabout, and along the Avenida Euskadi/Euskadi Etorbidea and then follow the markers (yellow arrows and wooden plaques). There then follows a number of twists and turn, heading generally in a north-westerly direction to reach a large roundabout on the Carretera a Trapagaran (BI-3745) next to a bridge over the canal mentioned in the first alternative.
Both routes come together at this roundabout and follow the canal, first in a northerly and then an easterly direction before crossing over it by a footbridge. After crossing the river turn R, go under the railway bridge and then turn L. Pass through an area of new development (2009) by the Calle de la Vega Nueva and Calle de San Ignacio to reach the Granvía de José Antonio de Aguirre y Lekybe and go up into Sestoa (on page 38).
Page 40. Ontón
Bar now closed.
Page 41.Alternative (Road) Route (from Ontón)
First line should read: From here thr N-634 road is possible all the way to Castro-Urdiales and Laredo …
Page 42. Castro-Urdiales
Line 30. There is now a new Municipal Albergue. 16 places. Situated opposite the Plaza de Toros. Open April - Sept. Report to the Police Station for access.
Page 45. Hazas. at end of 1st sentence regarding Ref: Add: Municipal Albergue situated in polideportivo....the key is available at the bar/cafe next to the polideportivo.
Page 48. Escalante.
Hotel Las Solaras de Escalante €40 including breakfast Restaurant Sarabia v. good food.
Page 51. Approaching Güemes
Line 27. Instead of leaving the road at the bottom of the hill it is more straightforward to stay on the road into the village. Continuing through the village the albergue is signed off to the L. Approximately two mile (mostly uphill) to albergue from village church
Page 61
Line 8. Sello - no pilgrim information kiosk August 2007-09-04
Line 10. Albergue de Santos Martires (Santander), Tel. 942 21 97 47. 16 places, walkers only. . Usually opens about 4 pm. Things may be left at bar just down the road
Page 63
Line 7. Peñacastilla - Change the sentence, 'The second, the Alternative Route (mostly on the road), is for …' to ' The second, theAlternative Route (see page 66) mostly on the road, is for …'.
Page 64
Line 26 At the end of the line insert: 'The Boo de Pielagos FEVE station is nearby'..
Page 64
Line 36 Alter the sentence to read: 'At the houses go straight ahead, slightly uphill, following arrows on kerbstones past supermarket until …'.
Page 65
Line 5 Arce - Also known as Puente de Arce. There is a Posada here Tel. 942 57 50 45
Line 10. Delete paragraph 1 'It is possible …' and replace with 'Waymarks take you along the C-222 to roundabout then along C-232 signed to Mogro, Miengo and then over motorway and railway'.
Lines 17 Paragraph 2 'Almost immediately …' delete reference to gravel path and replace with tarmac road
Line 21. Delete '…only accommodation here is at Miengo …' and replace with 'Accommodation Posada Condado de la Mota (www.condadodelamota.com) Bar/Restaurant, 6 rooms on the actual camino Tel. 942 57 63 04'.
Page 66
Line 2. Correct the opening sentence to read 'The path follows the pipeline …. intend to make use of the albergue (El Regato de las Anguillas) at Polanco (6 places Tel. 942 82 40 28) …
Line 11. El Mar (FEVE) please amend to read: 'Take the first turning on the R by a church, follow this road as it crosses over the lines of the FEVE to reach a crossroads with Bar Jabala (open) and Bar Quin which has now ceased trading. Delete 'continue forward to cross a stream' Also delete details of Albergue Arco Iris at this point.
Page 67. Barreda
Adapt paragraph 3 to read:
'Follow the country road for some 2.8 km, passing Posada la Belita to reach a road junction where the Guidebook route joins from the R. Continue forward for about 0.5km to Quevada where a left arrow leads you 300 metres to the Private Albergue Arco Iris (60 places, €8, €8 menu, €2 breakfast). Continue 1 km to Camplengo'.
Line 31. Santillana del Mar.There is now a municipal albergue here at:
Calle el Dorat 2 (behind Museo Jesus de Otero) Tel. 942 84 02 98. Opens 1600 hrs.
Page 68. Arroyo
Line 5. Add Restaurant.
Line 16. Caborredondo & Novales
Some route changes here, 1st sentence is fine. 2nd & 3rd should de redrafted to read 'The road climbs gently and shortly after it starts to descend follow the arrows through the hamlet of Ciguenza (Church of St Martín) (those who wish to go to Novales (shop) can take left road) over a bridge and passed the Ermita de San Pantaleon ….
Line 35. Cobreces
Delete reference to 18th c church of San Martin de Ciguenza since that belongs above
Ref. Monasterio - 24 places, opens 1530hrs, now situated in the modern, light blue, building by the main road and no longer in the lodge Tel.942 72 50 17. Basic, hot showers, no kitchen, €3. Mass at 0715
Page 69. Venta de Tramalon
Delete reference to track and replace with a walkers path (painted red) has been constructed parallel to the road. Restaurant opens 1100 hrs. Café in Camping el Helguero opens earlier.
Page 69. La Iglesia
They no longer offer any facilities for walkers at the campsite except use of the café/bar
Page 70 Pando.
Delete everything after first sentence and replace with 'follow arrows into the upper part of Comillas'.
Page 70. Comillas
Refuge - add 20 places Tel. 942 72 00 33 (Closed Dec. to March)
also add 'accommodation of all kinds but very busy in summer'.
Page 70. Rabia
Add 'restaurant'.
Final sentence, amend to read 'Continue along this road, turning left between church and cemetery through Santana to reach the village of '
Page 71. La Revilla
Line 2 delete comment about roadworks and replace route description with:
'Keep to R and then cross main road. Then L down tarmac road, L again at crossroads between fields. The road climbs gently ….'
Page 71. San Vicente …
Delete first two 'Ref' entries and replace with
Albergue de Peregrinos de San Vicente, Casa Parroquial Misioneras Claretianas, C/. Alta 12, Tels. 942 71 00 26 / 942 21 97 47
Add San Vicente (a town with all facilities) has accommodation to suit all budgets. The cheaper pensiones are to be found on the Camino as it leaves the town.
Page 72. La Acebosa
Line 17. Cyclists' Route amend the sentence to read
'Turn L and continue by the road signed to ESTRADA and PESUES'.
Page 72. Serdio (bar)
New refuge opened May 2006. 16 places. Very well equipped. Kitchen, hot water. Tel. 942 71 84 31.
Page 73. Colombres
Private albergue not to be relied upon.
Page 79. Nueva
Probably best to look for accomodation here. Piñeres de Pria Albergue often closed
Page 80. Piñeres de Pria
Refuge often closed due to lack of hospitalero. Best to look for accomodation 1.5 km before in Nueva.
Page 82 Ribadesella (way out of)
Line 9. Amend the paragraph to read '…From El Arenal … towards the west, across the roundabout which has the red boat in the middle, past the campsite (Los Sauces Tel. 985 86 13 12) up the valley of the Arroyo San Pedro…'.
Line 14. Leces
Refuge, alter Ayuntamiento phone number to 985 85 76 11.
Hospitalera lives upstairs. www.amigosderibadesella.com
Page 83. Berbes
Add Hotel, Bar
Last paragraph on that page - 3rd sentence amend to read:
'Shortly after crossing the third bridge the district boundary of Caravia is reached and almost immediately a large wooden board indicates a right turning into the woods'.
Delete the last sentence at the bottom of page 83.
Page 84
Delete the first three paragraphs (lines 1-16) and substitute the following:
'Follow the newly marked line of the Camino over the hill and down the the bay of El Arenal de Moris'.
Page 84. El Arenal
Add 'bar with food in the summer season'.
Off route there is a hotel in the nearby village of Caravia Baja. Hotel Barbu Tel 985 85 32 72.
Page 85. La Isla
Refuge phone number is Tel. 985 85 20 05
Page 87. Pernus
Accommodation: La Casona del Fraile Tel.985 92 88 19
Page 88 Sebrayo
Refuge phone number - delete number given and replace with Tel. 985 89 12 94
Eric Walker, 30/11/2009