El Camino del Norte – The Northern Way, begins in San Sebastian and finishes in Santiago de Compostela. Stage 4: Gijon to Vilalba The first part of the walk continues through the Asturian countryside and coastline until you enter the beautiful rural countryside of ‘Green’ Galicia – Santiago de Compostela is the cathedral city of […]
El Camino del Norte – The Northern Way, begins in San Sebastian and finishes in Santiago de Compostela.
Stage 4: Gijon to Vilalba
The first part of the walk continues through the Asturian countryside and coastline until you enter the beautiful rural countryside of ‘Green’ Galicia – Santiago de Compostela is the cathedral city of Galicia.
Price:
£1245 per person, sharing a double/twin room
£375 supplement for a single room
Included:
10 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms
10 breakfasts
6 dinners
Luggage transport
Route notes & maps
Not Included:
Flights
Holiday Insurance – please ensure that you have adequate insurance
Drinks and picnics
Ferry boats
Transport to/from the start/end of the walk
Departure Dates:
April to October, according to accommodation availability
Stage 4 : Gijon – Vilalba – 11 days / 10 nights / 9 days walk
Day 1 : Arrival Gijon
The fouth stage of the Camino del Norte starts in the seaside city of Gijón. Take time to explore the city before you set off. You will find fantastic beaches, great gastronomy, history and heritage (including Roman baths) and also, for music fans, the local Bagpipe Museum. Overnight Hotel La Casona de Jovellanos ** B&B
Day 2: Walk to Avilés – 24.5 km 6h | +220m / -210m
Today’s trail takes you from the city of Gijón to the city of Avilés. You will walk up Monte Areo, where you can enjoy great views and see a prehistoric dolmen. This is a rural walk with no bars or cafes along the route so take a picnic. Overnight Hotel Palacio Valdés Avila *** B&B
Day 3: Walk to El Pito 27.8km 7h | +470m / -440m
There are interesting small towns along the route as you walk to El Pito with its interesting Renaissance gardens and grand palaces. Just down the hill, you can visit the picturesque fishing village of Cudillero. Dinner and overnight in Rural Hotel Casa Vittorio
Day 4: Walk to Ballota – 25.1 km 6h30 | +370 / -320
Leave El Pito and its majestic residences behind and walk along quiet roads, ancient paths and past beautiful beaches enjoying the green countryside along the way. Dinner and overnight at Rural Hotel Casa Fernando
Day 5: Walk to Luarca – 22.2 km 5h30 | +140m / -230m
The route now follows the coast until you reach Cadavedo, then the trail heads inland but as you approach Luarca you will be able to spot the sea again. Your stop for the night is the pretty, traditional fishing town of Luarca. Enjoy some of the fresh seafood and a glass of cider. Dinner and overnight at Hotel La Colmena **
Day 6: Walk to Navia – 21.5 km 5h00 | +300m / -240m
From the fishing town of Luarca walk along a lovely country trail until you reach the busy market town of Navia, on the riverbank. Make sure you explore the town, check out the medieval walls and enjoy a taste of the local cuisine. Dinner and overnight Hotel Casona Naviega **
Day 7: Walk to Ribadeo – 30 km (possible transfert to La Caridad to shorten the walk to 21km) 8.00h | +100m / -125m
Today will be your last day following the Cantabrian coast. It is also a long walking day. You will cross the bridge of the Saints over the River Eo to enter Galicia and reach Ribadeo. The town is famous for the Cathedrals Beach (a short taxi ride away), Galicia’s second most visited site after the Cathedral of Santiago. Overnight Hotel Eo *** B&B
Day 8: Walk to Lourenza- 29km. Taxi Transfer to the accommodation 6km out of the village 7h30 | +710m / -695m
Today’s walk takes you inland from Ribadeo to the country town of Lourenzá, famous for its local beans. You will follow rural paths, climbing slightly as the terrain becomes gradually mountainous. You will pass small villages and hamlets but not many shops or services so make sure you pack snacks and water. You will be picked up to stay at a superb ‘country cottage’ property, 6km outside the village. Dinner and overnight at O Cabazo Da Curuxa HB (possibility to shorten the walk with extra cost)
Day 9: Taxi Transfer to the village center and walk to Abadín – 26km 6h45 | +740m / -300m
Today, you will be climbing from Lourenzá towards Mondoñedo, which used to be one of the seven capitals of the Kingdom of Galicia. You will get amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Make sure you explore Mondoñedo before you continue towards Abadín. Dinner and overnight Rural hotel Casa Goas
Day 10: Walk to Vilalba – 20.5 km 5h | +160m /-200m
Today, the Camino del Norte meanders among the forests, farmland and green pastures of the ‘Terra Chá’ (Flat lands) leading you to the area’s capital, the market town of Vilalba. Overnight at the Parador de Vilalba **** B&B
Day 11 : End of the trip
HOTELS
Gijon Hotel La Casona de Jovellanos **
Avilés – Hotel Palacio Valdés Avila ***
El Pito – Rural Hotel Casa Vittorio
Ballota – Rural Hotel Casa Fernando
Luarca – Hotel La Colmena **
Navia – Hotel Casona Naviega **
Ribadeo – Hotel Eo ***
Lourenza- O Cabazo Da Curuxa
Abadín – Rural hotel Casa Goas
Vilalba – Parador de Vilalba ****
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
1/ Best option: Asturias airport (42km)
EasyJet serves some flights from/ to Asturias, e.g. London (Stansted) and Lisbon. Paris (Orly) is served directly by Vueling Airlines. Domestic flights from/ to Madrid or Barcelona are also available. See www.skyscanner.com.
2/ Other option: Santander airport (174km)
Carrier Ryanair operates in Santander and serves flights, e.g., from/ to London (Stansted), Dublin, Edinburgh, Brussels, Frankfurt (Hahn), Paris (Beauvais), Milan (Bergamo), Rome (Ciampino) and Dusseldorf (Weeze). See www.skyscanner.com.
How to get back from Vilalba:
1/ Best Option: Sanrtiago de Compostela (87km)
EasyJet serves some flights from/ to Asturias, e.g. London (Stansted) or Lisbon. Paris (Orly) is served directly by Vueling Airlines. Domestic flights from/ to Madrid or Barcelona are also possible. See www.skyscanner.com.
2/ Alternative Option: A Coruña airport (57km)
Vueling Airlines, Iberia, Air Europa operate from/ to A Coruña, e.g. from/ to London (Heathrow),Barcelona (El Prat), Madrid (Bajaras Adolfo Suarez). See www.skyscanner.com.
TRANSFERS TO & FROM AIRPORTS
How to get to Gijón:
1/ Best option: Asturias airport (42km)
There are buses from Asturias airport to Gijón bus station every hour (taking 45min approx). See www.movelia.es.
2/ Other option: Santander airport (174km)
There are three buses a day from Santander airport (www.alsa.es) to Gijón taking between 3h and 3h30. Alternatively, there are regular bus connections between Gijon and Santander (bus station) each day (taking from 2h to 4h). In Santander, there is a bus (every 30min), linking the bus station with the airport. See: www.movelia.es.
How to get back from Vilalba:
1/ Best Option: Santiago de Compostela (87km)
The way from/ to the airport can be taken directly in 1h45 min by bus. Arriva Spain offers buses (line 13) between Vilalba and the airport departing twice a week. See www.arriva.es.
2/ Alternative Option: A Coruña airport (57km)
There is one bus connection (line 20) between Vilalba and A Coruña airport each day (taking 1h00-1h30). See: www.arriva.es.
