The North Cycle Route
Cycled along the Cantabrian Sea in the North Way. A spectacular cycling route of 14 stages that combines cliffs, beaches and green mountains of northern Spain.
Organize your The North Cycle RouteGeneral Description of The North Cycle Route
Connections of The North Cycle Route
North Coast Path
Distance:
855.4 km
Days:
38
Difficulty:
High
The North Way is one of the longest and most beautiful Jacobean routes. It covers the entire Cantabrian coast of Spain from Irún (Basque Country) to Arzúa (Galicia), where it joins the French Way. With a distance of 855 km, it passes through the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia.
It offers an incredible combination of coastal landscapes with impressive beaches and cliffs, and mountain trails with green valleys. It is an demanding but very rewarding route that passes by cities such as San Sebastián, Bilbao and Santander. Its rich gastronomy and cultural heritage are among its greatest attractions.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Bayonne to Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Stage 2: Saint-Jean-de-Luz to San Sebastián
Stage 3: Go to San Sebastian
Stage 4: Saint Sebastian to Zarautz
Stage 5: Zarautz to Deba
Lebanon Way
Distance:
72 km
Days:
3
Difficulty:
Media
The Lebaniego Way leads to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, one of the five holy sites of Christendom with a Jubilee Year. This monastery safeguards the Holy Cross, the largest piece considered to be from the cross of Christ. The main route, approximately 72 km long, begins in San Vicente de la Barquera and traverses beautiful valleys and mountains, with the Picos de Europa as its backdrop.
Although it does not lead directly to Santiago, many pilgrims undertake it as a pilgrimage in itself or as a precursor, connecting afterwards with the French Way through the Vadiniense Route. It is a moderately difficult path with great spirituality.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: St. Vincent of the Harbour to Cades
Stage 2: Cades to Cabanes
Stage 3: Cabanes near Santo Toribio de Liébana
Elevation Profile of The North Cycle Route
Visualize the ups and downs of the route.
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Stages of The North Cycle Route
Etapa 1: Irún to Zarautz
Description:
Leaving behind the monumental Zamora, this stage enters into the Land of Bread. The route is a pleasant stroll through flat terrain, between fields of cereal. It's a day to enjoy the tranquility of th...
Etapa 2: Zarautz to Markina-Xemein
Description:
This stage continues on the Land of Bread, along a flat and monotonous route. The arrival at Granja de Moreruela is a key moment, as it is here that the Madrid Road meets the Via Plata. It is a day to...
Origen: Zarautz
Destino: Markina-Xemein
Etapa 3: Markina-Xemein to Bilbao
Description:
This stage follows the course of the Esla River on a flat and pleasant route. It's a day to enjoy the riverine landscape and the tranquility of the road. The arrival in Benavente, a city with a rich h...
Origen: Markina-Xemein
Destino: Bilbao
Etapa 4: Bilbao to Castro Urdiales
Description:
Leaving behind the monumental Benavente, this stage enters into the valley of the River Tera. The route is an enjoyable stroll through flat terrain, between fields of cultivation. It's a day to enjoy ...
Origen: Bilbao
Destino: Castro Urdiales
Etapa 5: Castro Urdiales to Laredo
Description:
This long stage enters the Carballeda region. The route is a continuous rise and fall through a landscape of forests and hills. It's a day of great beauty and physical demand. Arrival in Mombuey, a vi...
Origen: Castro Urdiales
Destino: Laredo
Featured Towns of The North Cycle Route
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
Santiago de Compostela
The Final and Spiritual Heart of the Way of St. James. Its majestic Cathedral and Plaza del Obradoiro welcome pilgrims from all over the world in a full of emotion finale.
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Irún
Entrance to the Way of St James on the Cantabrian coast. Irún, at the border with France, is the start of the North Way and the Vasco-Interior Way.
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Zarautz
Surf capital of the Basque Country. Zarautz, with its vast beach and lively atmosphere, is one of the most vibrant and spectacular stops on the North Way.
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Markina-Xemein
Birthplace of the Basque ball. Markina-Xemein is a Vizcayan village with a deep sense of tradition and Basque culture, a stop on character in an interior variant of the North Way.
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Bilbao
Vibrant start of the North Way. Bilbao offers the pilgrim a cosmopolitan beginning of the route marked by the Guggenheim Museum, its bay and exquisite pintxos cuisine.
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Castro Urdiales
Maritime villa of Cantabria with an impressive Gothic monumental ensemble. Castro Urdiales is one of the most beautiful and lively stops on the North Way along the eastern coast.
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Laredo
Important maritime town of Cantabria and key stop on the Camino del Norte. Its vast beach of La Salvé and its medieval Old Town offer a perfect balance for the pilgrim.
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Santander
The elegant capital of Cantabria, perched on one of the world's most beautiful bays. A noble stop on the Camino del Norte, with beaches like El Sardinero and the Palace of La Magdalena.
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Comillas
A stately villa and jewel of Modernism in Cantabria, Comillas surprises on the Camino del Norte with works by Gaudí and an aristocratic atmosphere unique by the sea.
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Llanes
Heart of the eastern coast of Asturias. Llanes is a seaside town full of charm, with a medieval historic center, spectacular beaches and an lively atmosphere on the Camino del Norte.
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Gijón
The largest city in Asturias and a vibrant stop on the North Way. Its San Lorenzo beach and Cimavilla neighborhood offer a marine and cider culture atmosphere.
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Cadavedo
Picturesque Asturian town on the western coast. Cadavedo, "Model Village of Asturias", is famous for its beach at La Ribeirona and its hórreos, a beautiful stop on the Camino del Norte.
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Ribadeo
Entrance to Galicia on the North Way. Ribadeo, in the Eo estuary, is famous for its Indian houses and proximity to the spectacular Cathedral Beach.
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Vilalba
Capital of Terra Chá and cradle of Galician prehistory. Vilalba, with its imposing Tower of the Andrade, is an important service centre on the North Way (Camino del Norte).
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Arzúa
Heart of cheese region of Galicia and critical junction of roads. In Arzúa the Way of St James, the North Way and the Primitive Way converge, creating an exceptional pilgrim atmosphere.
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Sobrado dos Monxes
Impressive Cistercian monastery and jewel of Galician Baroque. Sobrado dos Monxes is a monumental and spiritual stop of the first order on the North Way.
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Discover the origins and evolution of The North Cycle Route
The original North Way, one of the first and safest medieval routes, was always known for its difficulty. Its profile, a constant up and down to save rivers and valleys that plummet into the sea, made it a formidable challenge for walkers. This same characteristic kept it out of the Jacobean cycling route, which preferred the plains of the French Way. However, with improvements in mountain bikes and "touring" bicycles, and with an increasing number of cyclists seeking more authentic and scenic routes, the North Way became a coveted goal.
The adaptation of the itinerary for biking has been an organic process. The pedestrian path original, often narrow, technical and muddy, is not always suitable for two wheels. Therefore, the route for "bicigrinos" has consolidated variants that take advantage of local roads with little traffic, such as the N-634 which follows in parallel to the coast, and rural paths wider. The history of this adaptation is finding the perfect balance between cycleability, safety, and faithfulness to the historical route and the sea views.
Riding the North Way by bike is an experience of extraordinary visual intensity. The speed of the bicycle allows the pilgrim to cover in a single day the transition of landscapes, from green hills and cliffs in the Basque Country to Cantabrian beaches, coastal towns in Asturias and the entry into Galicia through the Lucense coast. It also allows for the freedom to make small detours to gaze at a spectacular viewpoint, descend into a hidden cove or visit a fishing port, greatly enriching the journey.
However, it is an error to underestimate its difficulty. It is one of the most challenging bike routes in Spain. The cyclist faces a cumulative brutal slope, with sections especially in Asturias known for their short but explosive slopes that test anyone's endurance. Requires excellent physical fitness, a robust bicycle and good logistical planning, as the distance between services can be greater than on the French Way.
The history of the North Way by bike is ultimately a story of overcoming. It is a modern tribute to the resistance of medieval pilgrims, translating their slow walking into a long-distance cycling effort of great endurance. This route has been chosen by those who not only want to reach Santiago but also immerse themselves in the full force and beauty of Green Spain, with the Cantabrian coast as an inseparable companion through fatigue and joy.