CSJ Pilgrim Guides to Spain
#4, Los Caminos del Norte:
B, The Tunnel Route, 2009 ed. - Supplementary material and updates
Our Tunnel Route Guide has been fully updated, with all previous updating material incorporated, for 2009. It is now available on-line.
This page contains supplementary information which could not be included in the Guide, and will be used for updates to the 2009 edition as they reach us.
Passage through / around Vitoria.
The following photographs and plan of the redevelopment area after Arcaya, south-east of Vitoria are provided to help navigation (they are not included in the 2009 edition of the guidebook): -
Photographic aid to the route via the City Centre:
Photographic aid to route via suburbs:
Rob Steele’s (edited) comments on selected accommodation and other matters – June 2007.
Accommodation in Irun
Excellent New Refugio de Peregrino at Calle Lucas de Berroa 18, Irun.
This refugio is run by a very helpful chap who is happy to provide good information on how to get to the starting point of the route and where to get good inexpensive food in Irun. There are 21 beds and a kitchen. Breakfast is provided. Donations.
Accommodation in Hernani
Pension Txoko – 943557557 / 608770602
If you want to stay here then I would suggest, as it is an un-staffed pension, that you ring from the railway station and arrange for the manager to meet you there. Pension Txoko is on the left hand side of the road as you walk towards the town centre; it is unmarked but next to a building called Servicios Municipales/Udal Zebitzuak.
Single rooms, two rooms sharing one bathroom are €15 per night.
Accommodation in Legorreta
In Legorreta there was only one option of accommodation listed, and this was actually closed for fiesta. However we rang the bell and the lady of the house answered and did not hesitate to accommodate the two of us.
The restaurant was closed however so we had to again make do with pinchos at the local bar but there was plenty of them and we were made to feel very welcome in this town.
While Hostal Eizmendi is on a National Highway as it passes through Legorreta, it is not on the busier by-pass, so the location is good. The rooms are slightly old-fashioned but the beds are comfortable and the water was hot and, at €30 a night for an en-suite room, the price was fair.
(I think Rob means Hostal Izarra. Hostal Eizmendi was in Alegia and Rob’s information was that it had ceased operating as a hostal. - T.R.)
Accommodation in Segura
By far the nicest accommodation we had on the whole trip was in Segura.
The tourist office recommended us “Ondarre Nekazal Turismoa”, (the “Ondarre Baserria” mentioned in the Guide Book - TR). The lady at the ‘Agroturismo’ said that as we were Peregrinos, she would offer us an en-suite room at a discount.
The “Ondarre Nekazal Turismoa” is an old style Spanish farmhouse. The farm is still a working one, the rooms are of an exceptionally high quality and ours overlooked Segura. We had a massive en-suite bathroom and there was a kitchen upstairs which we could use if necessary. In the event, we decided to go into Segura where we were able to get a delightful meal.
The lady of the house was very friendly and I can give “Ondarre Nekazal Torismoa/ Ondarre Baserria” the very best of recommendations
Phone: 943 801664 / 943 800326
email - ondarre@hispavista.com
Bar in Zalduondo
When we walked through, mid afternoon, there were people in this bar but when I went inside they said it was closed. Definitely not a peregrino friendly place.
Accommodation in Salvatierra
When we walked into Salvatierra we found the only pension on Calle Mayor to be closed. The tourist office was also closed. However, we were told that there were habitaciones available above a local restaurant (CH José Mari in the guide book - TR). This is the first restaurant on the right hand side of Calle Mayor as you approach the town centre.
The room was fairly basic with outside bathroom but was clean and we didn’t even have to leave the building for dinner. The food in the restaurant underneath was excellent.
Accommodation in Estibaliz
The most interesting place that we stayed during this Camino was “Santuario de Ntra Señora de Estibaliz”.
This is a monastery administered by “The Order of San Benito” and it offers peregrino’s free accommodation and food.
You will be made welcomed by the monks here. The accommodation is in the small guest wing of the monastery, the rooms are simple and the beds comfortable. There is an evening meal provided after Mass and an early simple breakfast before you set off in the morning.
There isn’t a facility to leave a donation but there is a small gift shop attached to the monastery, so you can either buy a small gift here or leave a donation in the donations box in the attached church.
Accommodation in Briñas
“El Portal de la Rioja” in Briñas was the most peregrino friendly overnight stop that we had throughout the trip.
The people running this place are amazing. They allowed us a ‘pilgrim’s’ discount and we had a large comfortable twin bedded en-suite room at a very reasonable cost.
The food served in the restaurant downstairs was the best of the trip; 3 courses with an excellent bottle of Rioja came to €8.40 per person.
When I went to settle the bill in the morning a lens came out of my glasses. The lens was held in by a tiny screw, and although the place was very busy they still found time to repair them for me.