Bicycle route from Irún to Santiago

The Northern Way by bike from Irún is one of the oldest routes that pilgrims have traveled and continue to travel today. At its inception, upon the discovery of the remains of Apostle James around the year 830 in Santiago de Compostela, there was a significant influx of pilgrims from all over Europe. Many of them traveled by boat to ports along the Cantabrian Sea to continue their pilgrimage on foot from there. The route runs along the entire Cantabrian coast, very close to it, and even in some areas, right next to the sea. In the Galician town of Ribadeo, it heads inland to join the French Way in the town of Arzúa, creating a single path to Santiago de Compostela. It starts in Spain, in the city of Irún, and covers a route of about 817 kilometers, passing through the regions of the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia. A journey of great scenic, cultural, architectural, gastronomic, and historical beauty, where the northern breeze will accompany us on our Way. Throughout such a long journey, the pilgrim will traverse areas of hilly terrain with constant ups and downs, as in the Basque section, with fertile and green valleys as in the Asturian and Cantabrian sections, and we will come across numerous fishing ports with a distinct maritime flavor. Some of the main towns we will encounter on this Jacobean itinerary include: San Sebastián – Bilbao – Santander – Gijón.