The Northern Way walking holiday in Spain
Gentle forest trails and seaside strolls take in average daily distances of 20km over the course of a week. Comfy B&B's and self-guided route notes invite a relaxed and cultural walking experience.
Santillana Del Mar Comillas San Vicente de Barquera Llanes Ribadesella Penultimate day is free to relax in Ribadesella
Price
825To925 excluding flights
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More info
Mid Season -
Apr, May, June and October 825p.p based on two people sharing.
Single Room Supplement of 280. High Season - Easter, July, August and September 925p.p based on two people sharing.
Single Room Supplement of 350.
Single Room Supplement of 280. High Season - Easter, July, August and September 925p.p based on two people sharing.
Single Room Supplement of 350.
Description of The Northern Way walking holiday in Spain
Running from the French border town of Irϊn to the Santiago de Compostela, the Northern Way is a cracking alternative to the busier Camino de Santiago route which can be found adjacent, yet, further inland.
This eight day walking experience takes in just over 80km of 'El Camino del Norte' (its entire length is 825km) and allows for a relaxed pace with average daily distances of around 15km.
Coastal scenery takes in some splendid images of fishing villages and flourishing foliage as well as providing a cool sea breeze from where beaches, mountains and medieval heritage merge into one.
To ensure walkers get to experience the very best of the northern Spanish coastline without getting completely worn out, weve created a wonderful walking route that is easily accessible for all levels of experience. From the pretty village of Santillana del Mar to San Vicente de la Barquera, Llanes and Ribadesella, our 8 day Northern Way walk allows for chances to pause and sup a sidra overlooking the sea rather than slogging it out from morn till night.
Flat gradients, sandy forest paths and seaside trails allow you to become completely absorbed in the beachside ambience blending from Cantabria to Asturias as well as providing comfy, homely, 2 or 3 star B&B accommodation.
Having self guided notes, hand-picked hotels and 24hr telephone assistance allows confidence to grow as you stroll and lessens the stress of attempting a trip with complete independence.
Trip Includes:
- 7 nights in 2 or 3 star Hotels
- 7 Breakfasts
- Day 5 - Taxi transfer from San Vicente to Colombres
- Day 6 - Taxi transfer from Nueva to Ribadesella
- Pilgrim's Passport
- Camino Information Pack
- Detailed Walking Notes
- 24 hour phone assistance
- Transfer in case of emergencies
Price information
825To925 excluding flights
Convert currency:
Mid Season -
Apr, May, June and October 825p.p based on two people sharing.
Single Room Supplement of 280. High Season - Easter, July, August and September 925p.p based on two people sharing.
Single Room Supplement of 350.
Single Room Supplement of 280. High Season - Easter, July, August and September 925p.p based on two people sharing.
Single Room Supplement of 350.
Departure information
This trip can be tailor made throughout March and October
Travel guides
Boots, poles, 'n' maps - our comprehensive guide to the most enjoyable walking holidays in Spain.
As our travel guide explains, modern pilgrims now have many ways to choose from.
Holiday information
Low Carbon:
We are able to advise UK and mainland European clients on how to get to the start of their chosen Camino via train travel. We are able to detail the routes, approximate the travel duration and prices. We also provide the appropriate train websites in order to book tickets in advance. If travelling from London customers can take the eurostar to Paris and then catch two more trains stopping at Bayonne and San Sebastian. On this trip the train does not take you to the start point, therefore we advise on further bus transport to reach the beginning of this trip.
Reviews
2 Reviews of The Northern Way walking holiday in Spain
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 30 Sep 2025 by Beth Allen
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day was so special, it would be hard to pick out a particular monent! I was so pleased with the service provided by the operator! Even though we just hired
them to transport luggage and book lodging, they were more than available when questions came up and providing tips throughout the pilgrimage. Because I
had booked through Responsible Travel before, I had great trust in the guide companies you recommended and I wasn't disappointed! Their services took all
the stress out of our travels so that we could just focus on thoroughly immersing ourselves in the walks, the landscapes and the culture. The flowers still in
bloom and the grapes hanging off the vines were such a welcome surprise!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you like to be independent on your journey (don't want every day structured and guided) but don't want to be stressed out worrying about where to stay,
arranging for luggage to be transferred, etc, a guide company like Magic Hill takes care of all that. If time allowed, I think I might suggest that breaking up the
trip a bit more with shorter hiking days and more than one night in lodges would allow more time to relax and soak up the surroundings. Magic Hill is glad to
accommodate those modifications. Definitely think that training for the trip by gradually increasing walking miles prior to the trip made the higher mileage
days very doable. Proper, comfortable and well broken in foot gear is the most important thing to do in preparation. I suggest having an extra pair of walking
shoes would be wise in case your primary pair get soaked in a rain storm or unexpected pressure points or blisters develop. Our group did fine with just a
couple of little blisters that did not impede our walking. Attending to pressure points, hot spots before they become blisters is critical to your enjoyment!
The daily walking mileages with most all of the companies offering pilgrimages tend to be underestimated we found. We dealt with it admirably, but 2 or 3
extra miles unanticipated when you've already hiked 15 can be a bit disheartening on days when you are tired! We realize it is hard to be precise, since
mileages vary depending on where your lodging is, but maybe more emphasis on the variability would be helpful.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, because we were on our own except for breakfast, we tried to frequent tiny local restaurants for meals, etc. Because we were just a group of 4, we had no
problem finding places to eat, shop for souvenirs and support the local merchants.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Perfect!
Reviewed on 14 May 2023 by Alex Foulger-Fort
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The walk itself
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
There are not many options for vegetarians along this route
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Everything went very well - we had a great time
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
We focus on selecting local suppliers who are committed to preserve the environment. The transport companies we hire use modern vehicles with low CO2 emissions. We also rationalise transport so we minimise the number of vehicles in use.We primarily use electronic format for trip documentation. Our paper use is restricted to the Pilgrim's credential as this is necessary for them to collect their stamps in the different towns where they are staying.
Travellers are briefed on local environmental considerations including appropriate waste disposal. They are asked to be considerate not only with the local customs but with the environment they visit. For example, they protect their environment by not wasting their running water, disposing of rubbish in the appropriate bins provided by our hotels and to re-use materials when possible. Also, as they are walking trails in Northern Spain, they are encouraged to pick any litter they encounter in the forest areas and National parks to help keep these beautiful environments clean.
We encourage clients not to use plastic bags in supermarkets and either use ecological re-usable bags or to put items directly inside their rucksack when possible, re-use plastic water bottles, respect all animals that they may encounter as well as trees, plants and flowers. We also encourage our clients to stick to the sign posted path.
To reduce international travel:
- We encourage clients to consider taking the train to get to the start of their Camino, when possible.
- We provide details of public transport options to clients for all our trips.
- We use family run accommodation providers and hire local guides.
People
Our business model supports suppliers at a local level so the majority of your money goes directly towards helping local businesses and their families in the Asturias and Cantabria region. We believe this is the best way to benefit the local economy. For example, we work primarily with family run/own hotels in these regions instead of large hotel chains.For transport we work with local taxis/drivers who are self employed and receive a fair price as regulated by the regional Government instead of large transport companies which tend to pay low wages to their drivers.
In each town where they spend the night, we recommend three local restaurants so that clients can enjoy the regional cuisine as well as benefiting the local community, avoiding large franchise restaurants. For example, in this package clients can dine in local seafood restaurants in the fishing town of San Vicente de la Barquera or the unique cider-restaurants of Llanes.
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