Updates to the:
CSJ Pilgrim Guides to Spain # 4, Los Caminos del Norte:
This is part of a new series of pages, reflecting a decision to make the updates to our published guides available on the website. The Guides themselves can be bought through the Confraternity of Saint James on-line Bookshop.
Return to
Guidebooks 
4: Los Caminos del Norte - Introduction 2004
There are no updates to the Introduction at
the moment as the book does not give the type of precise route-finding
information which can quickly become out-of-date. It should be remembered
however that as each year goes by so the number of pilgrims using these
northern routes increases.
The infrastructure along the routes is
gradually improving and specialist Albergue-type accommodation is becoming more
readily available, especially in the Basque Country.
The most accurate information about the
situation with regard to pilgrim accommodation can be found at the excellent
Spanish Web-Site that is located at:
www.jacobeo.net/refugios/index.htm
Back to Top 
4 A: Ruta de la Costa Pt 1. Irún - Villaviciosa 2007
AMENDMENTS
With thanks to: Michael Paterson, F&S Nilsen and information provided by: http://www.jacobeo.net . .
Page 7. Irún
Line 16. Albergue de peregrinos de Irún. New Albergue now open.
About 400 , from the RENFE and Eusko Tren railway stations and near to the
place where the local and regional bus services start.
Address: Calle Lucas de Berroa Nº 18 -1st floor (district of Anzarán, near the
roundabout).
Open from 16:00 h a 22:00 h. Donations at your discretion.
Page 21
Line 14. There is now a small, private refuge run by Jose Fran and it is in
Iciar (Itziar) some 8 km from Zumaia (between Zumaia and Deva). It is a very
short detour from the route and is marked out by arrows on the road.
It is a working farm (kid goats skipping around ) and Jose is very welcoming
and genuinely friendly. I think his rates are something like 10 or 12 euros inc
a meal - anyway the same as Rosa in Orio charges.
Address is:
Urain - J Fran
Mardari, 10
20829 ITZIAR
Tel 605 76 29 99
Page 29. Guernica
Line 23. There is a Youth Hostel (Albergue Juvenil) that opens at 4 pm.
Page 42. Castro-Urdiales
Line 30. There is now a new Municipal Albergue. Report to the Police Station
for access.
Page 61
Line 8. Sello - no pilgrim information kiosk August 2007-09-04
Page 61
Line 10. Albergue de Santos Martires (Santander), Tel. 942 21 97 47. 16 places,
walkers only. . Usually opens about 4 pm. Things may be left at bar just down
the road
Page 63
Line 7. Peñacastilla - Change the sentence, 'The second, the Alternative Route
(mostly on the road), is for …' to ' The second, theAlternative Route (see page
66) mostly on the road, is for …'.
Page 64
Line 26 At the end of the line insert: 'The Boo de Pielagos FEVE station is
nearby'..
Page 64
Line 36 Alter the sentence to read: 'At the houses go straight ahead, slightly
uphill, following arrows on kerbstones past supermarket until …'.
Page 65
Line 5 Arce - Also known as Puente de Arce. There is a Posada here Tel. 942 57
50 45
Page 65
Line 10. Delete paragraph 1 'It is possible …' and replace with 'Waymarks take
you along the C-222 to roundabout then along C-232 signed to Mogro, Miengo and
then over motorway and railway'.
Lines 17 Paragraph 2 'Almost immediately …' delete reference to gravel path and replace with tarmac road
Page 65
Line 21. Delete '…only accommodation here is at Miengo …' and replace with
'Accommodation Posada Condado de la Mota (www.condadodelamota.com)
Bar/Restaurant, 6 rooms on the actual camino Tel.942 57 63 04'.
Page 66
Line 2. Correct the opening sentence to read 'The path follows the pipeline ….
intend to make use of the municipal albergue at Polanco (6 places) …
Page 66.
Line 11. El Mar (FEVE) please amend to read: 'Take the first turning on the R
by a church, follow this road as it crosses over the lines of the FEVE to reach
a crossroads with Bar Jabala (open) and Bar Quin which has now ceased trading.
Delete 'continue forward to cross a stream' Also delete details of Albergue
Arco Iris at this point.
Page 67. Barreda
Adapt the paragraph 3 to read:
'Follow the country road for some 2.8 km, passing Posada la Belita to reach a
road junction where the Guidebook route joins from the R. Continue forward for
about 0.5km to Quevada where a left arrow leads you 300 metres to the Private
Albergue Arco Iris (60 places, 8, 8 menu, 2
breakfast). Continue 1 km to Camplengo'.
Line 23.Santillana del Mar. A new Municipal Albergue, Jesús
Otero, has just been opened to welcome all pilgrims on the Camino
del Norte and the Camino de Liebana. This has been an investment of some
186.000 euros for the Año Jubilar.
Page 68. Arroyo
Add Restaurant
Page 68. Caborredondo & Novales
Some route changes here, 1st sentence is fine. 2nd & 3rd should de
redrafted to read 'The road climbs gently and shortly after it starts to
descend follow the arrows through the hamlet of Ciguenza (Church of St Martín)
(those who wish to go to Novales (shop) can take left road) over a bridge and
passed the Ermita de San Pantaleon ….
Page 68. Cobreces
Delete reference to 18th c church of San Martin de Ciguenza since that belongs
above
Ref Monasterio - 24 places now situated in the modern building by the main road and no longer in the lodge Tel.942 72 50 17. Basic, hot showers, no kitchen, 3. Mass at 0715
Page 69. Venta de Tramalon
Delete reference to track and replace with a walkers path (painted red) has
been constructed parallel to the road
Page 69. La Iglesia
They no longer offer any facilities for walkers at the campsite except use of
the café/bar
Page 70 Pando.
Delete everything after first sentence and replace with 'follow arrows into the
upper part of Comillas'.
Page 70. Comillas
Refuge - add 20 places Tel. 942 72 00 33
also add 'accommodation of all kinds but very busy in summer'.
Page 70. Rabia
Add 'restaurant'.
Final sentence, amend to read 'Continue along this road, turning left between
church and cemetery through Santana to reach the village of '
Page 71. La Revilla
Line 2 delete comment about roadworks and replace route description with:
'Keep to R and then cross main road. Then L down tarmac road, L again at
crossroads between fields. The road climbs gently ….'
Page 71. San Vicente …
Delete first two 'Ref' entries and replace with
Albergue de Peregrinos de San Vicente, Casa Parroquial Misioneras Claretianas,
C/. Alta 12, Tels. 942 71 00 26 / 942 21 97 47
Add San Vicente (a town with all facilities) has accommodation to suit all
budgets. The cheaper pensiones are to be found on the Camino as it leaves the
town.
Page 72. La Acebosa
Line 17. Cyclists' Route amend the sentence to read
'Turn L and continue by the road signed to ESTRADA and Pesues'.
Page 72. Serdio (bar)
New refuge opened May 2006. 16 places. Very well equipped. Kitchen, hot water.
Tel. 942 71 84 31.
Page 79. Nueva
Probably best to look for accomodation here. Piñeres de Pria Albergue often
closed
Page 80. Piñeres de Pria
Refuge often closed due to lack of hospitalero. Best to look for accomodation
1.5 km before in Nueva.
Page 82 Ribadesella (way out of)
Line 9. Amend the paragraph to read '…From El Arenal … towards the west, across
the roundabout which has the red boat in the middle, past the campsite (Los
Sauces Tel. 985 86 13 12) up the valley of the Arroyo San Pedro…'.
Page 82. Leces
Refuge alter Ayuntamiento phone number to 985 85 76 11.
Hospitalera lives upstairs. www.amigosderibadesella.com
Page 83. Berbes
Add Hotel, Bar
Last paragraph on that page - 3rd sentence amend to read:
'Shortly after crossing the third bridge the district boundary of Caravia is
reached and almost immediately a large wooden board indicates a right turning
into the woods'.
Delete the last sentence at the bottom of page 83.
Page 84
Delete the first three paragraphs (lines 1-16) and substitute the following:
'Follow the newly marked line of the Camino over the hill and down to the bay
of El Arenal de Moris'.
Page 84. El Arenal
Add 'bar with food in the summer season'.
Off route there is a hotel in the nearby village of Caravia Baja. Hotel Barbu Tel 985 85 32 72.
Page 85. La Isla
Refuge phone number is Tel. 985 85 20 05
Page 87. Pernus
Accommodation: La Casona del Fraile Tel.985 92 88 19
Page 88 Sebrayo
Refuge phone number - delete number given and replace with Tel. 985 89 12 94
4 A: Ruta de la Costa Pt 2. Villaviciosa-Gijón-Arzúa 2007
AMENDMENTS
With thanks to:
Mike Mannion, Joyce Culnane and information
provided by: http://www.jacobeo.net .
Page 15 Approaching Tabaza
Take great care at the roundabout, there is very heavy traffic and a barrier
has to be surmounted.
Page 54. Ribadeo
Albergue is often unmanned and lacks supervision at times.
Refuxio de Gondán.
Hospitalera lives nearby. Mobile shop with groceries often calls in the early evening.
Page 62. Gontán
Modern refuge now available with hospitalero in attendance.
Page 64. Vilalba
Roadworks have rendered some of older marker signs useless, follow road if in
doubt.
Page 66. A Torre
Pension Cafe/Bar, Casa Maragareta. Tel 982 51 04 02. Good but not cheap.
Page 68. Baamonde.
Often large youth groups at weekends.
Page 74. Sobrado de los Monjes
General air of neglect in accommodation.
23/10/07
4 F: Camino Primitivo. Villaviciosa - Oviedo - Lugo
AMENDMENTS
With thanks to:
Alan W.Joyce and information provided by:
http://www.jacobeo.net .
Page 9
Line 34. After"....where the road
levels out" insert ", at the roundabout, take the descending 3rd
exit" ( remember Spanish roundabouts are anti-clockwise).
Page 17 Grado
Line 32. Insert: "Hotel Palper, San Pelayo 44 (33829). Tel 985 75 00
39. On road approaching town nr. FEVE railway station. Restaurant closed Mondays.
Page 18
Line 2. After the first sentence insert: "Ignore the shell marker just
before a small park at the entrance to the town. It points to the left towards
a bridge over the river but is misleading. Stay straight along the N-634"
Page 19 Near Las
Casas del Puente
Line 15. It is possible to use a service road to the L of the main road. It
branches off near the Kiwi Fruit Farm notice board.
Line 18. Albergue
Tel. No. 985 83 50 22.
Page 20 Salas
Town albergue is dark, damp and often not too clean.
Page 20 Bodenaya
A small, private Albergue run by Alejandro Gonzales. Showers but no heating.
Only donations expected. No food in hamlet but a simple evening meal is provided.
Page 50 San Román de Retorta
Fantastic News !!
It has just been announced that the Xunta de
Galicia have opened a new Albergue at San Roman de Retorta on the route between
Lugo and Melide. It is 25 km from Lugo and has 12 beds. No other details as yet
and no reports from anyone who has been there.
Two people have used the high level route.
Updated 12/02/08