The Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo

A guidebook to walking the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo through northern Spain, popular variants of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage or Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela. Suitable for most abilities, the 820km (510 mile) Camino del Norte takes around 5 weeks to complete, whereas the shorter 355km (221 mile) Camino Primitivo requires about a fortnight.

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. The Camino del Norte roughly follows the coast from Irun visiting San Sebastian, Bilbao and Santander, whilst the Camino Primitivo takes an inland route from Villaviciosa via Oviedo and Lugo. An extension to Finisterre and link routes to connect the Norte and Primitivo are also described.

• GPX files available to download
• 1:100,000 mapping plus larger-scale town maps for key locations
• Handy route summary tables and pilgrim lodging listings help you plan your itinerary
• Detailed information about refreshments and facilities along the route
• Advice on planning and preparation

Autorentext

Dave Whitson is a high school History teacher in Portland, Oregon and a graduate of the University of Washington. He made his first pilgrimage in 2002 on the Camino Francés and was inspired to return with a group of his high school students, which he did in 2004. He has led a total of seven student pilgrimage trips, including five on the Camino de Santiago (four on the Francés and one on the Norte) and two on the Via Francigena. In addition, he has made long distance treks in Norway on the Pilgrim Road to Nidaros, in England on the North Downs Way to Canterbury, and in Turkey on the Lycian Way. All told, he has walked roughly 10,000 kilometers on pilgrim roads in Europe. Dave first walked the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo in 2008, returned with a student group in 2009, and then re-walked it in 2011 to ensure up-to-date route information for this guidebook.

Klappentext

This guidebook describes the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The 820km Camino del Norte follows the coast from Irún, on the French border, through Bilbao and takes about 5 weeks to complete. The 355km Camino Primitivo splits off from the Camino del Norte near Villaviciosa and passes through Oviedo and Lugo en route to Compostela. It takes roughly 2 weeks to walk. This book also includes an overview of a continuation route from Santiago to Finisterre on the coast. Physically demanding, but not difficult, the caminos are best walked from late spring to autumn. The guidebook is broken into stages of between 15 and 35km, most of which end in a town or village with a pilgrim albergue. There is indispensable information on facilities, food and lodging, 1:100,000 scale maps of the route and town maps for key locations. With notes on preparation and planning, travel and equipment, a list of useful sources of information, and a glossary, the book provides all you need to know to walk the camino. Santiago de Compostela, whose cathedral houses the relics of St James, was one of three major centres of Catholic pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. In modern times the Caminos de Santiago have seen a resurgence in popularity, drawing walkers for all sorts of reasons. Passing through the Spanish regions of the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia, the northern caminos are popular enough to offer sufficient facilities, clear routes, and a community of pilgrims, without suffering the overcrowding of the Camino Frances.

Inhalt

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 Irn/Hondarribia Stage 1 Irn to San Sebastián Stage 2 San Sebastián 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 Pobea Stage 8 Pobea to Castro-Urdiales Stage 9 Castro-Urdiales to Laredo Stage 10 Laredo to Gemes Stage 11 Gemes 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 Muorrodero to Santo Toribio de Liébana Stage 15 Colombres to Llanes Stage 16 Llanes to Pieres de Pra Stage 17 Pieres de Pra to La Isla Stage 18 La Isla to Villaviciosa Detour: The Camino Covadonga Amandi (Villaviciosa) to Covadonga Stage 19 Villaviciosa to Gijn Stage 20 Gijn to Avilés Stage 21 Avilés to Muros de Naln Stage 22 Muros de Naln to Cadavedo Stage 23 Cadavedo to Luarca Stage 24 Luarca to La Caridad Stage 25 La Caridad to Ribadeo Stage 26 Ribadeo to Lourenzá Stage 27 Lourenzá to Gontán/Abadn Stage 28 Gontán/Abadn to Vilalba Stage 29 Vilalba to Miraz Stage 30 Miraz to Sobrado dos Monxes Stage 31 Sobrado dos Monxes to Arza Stage 32 Arza 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 Arza Primitivo-Norte Link via Oviedo: Oviedo to Avilés 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