Northern Way

The Camino del Norte follows the Cantabrian coast to Santiago de Compostela, running about 825 km from Irún on the French border through the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. Quieter than the inland Camino Francés, it takes most pilgrims around five weeks and blends seaside walking with steep green hill country.

The coast is the draw: fishing harbours, cliff-top paths, the beaches of San Sebastián and Santander, and the dramatic estuaries of Asturias, backed by the distant Picos de Europa. Elegant seafood towns and Cantabrian cider country give the route a distinct flavour, and it links to the mountainous Camino Primitivo near Oviedo.

It is more strenuous than the Francés, with constant short climbs as the path crosses headland after headland, and a few long stages between services. Albergues, pensions and small hotels support the route, though beds can be scarcer than on the classic way, so early stops help in summer. A pilgrim credential provides hostel access and the Compostela on arrival.

This is one of the oldest pilgrimage roads, favoured in the early medieval period when the interior was contested, and it now holds UNESCO World Heritage listing alongside the other Caminos. The best months are May, June and September, when the northern coast is warm but not crowded; the region's Atlantic climate can bring rain in any season, so waterproofs are wise.