The absence of transit roads along the shore for the entire length of this route allows you to enjoy rare, though in places still preserved, pockets of natural landscapes. Wild-camping enthusiasts can plan an almost self-sufficient trip, although finding a secluded spot to stop will not be that easy. With an average load, the route will take 3 days. Along the way you will encounter the settlements Armintza, Bakio, where you can interrupt your journey or replenish food supplies. As for water sources, there are some along the route, though not many. For up-to-date information on water sources, see the resource www.rodnik.today More details about this route (map, points, more photos) can be viewed on the page I can’t access web pages—please paste the text from that link that you want translated.
Route sections
The route naturally divides into three approximately equal sections:
Plentzia - Armintza: 12km, 500m; Photo album №1
Armintza - Bakio: 14km, 700m; Photo album №2
Bakio - Bermeo: 16km, 700m; Photo album №3
Overnights
On the first section Plentzia - Armintza, somewhere halfway along the route, there are the ruins of a shelter-chapel where you can spend the night. If necessary, there will be space for a bivouac, and near this point, simply among the trees, there is no dense, aggressive undergrowth or steep slopes. One can't say the overnight stay will be secluded, but in a pinch - it'll do. Whether it's easy to find civilized lodging in the village of Armintza itself - we don't know. The village itself is fairly small and, since we were aiming for overnight stays in the field, this question remained unexplored.
On the second section Armintza - Bakio you can camp overnight in two places - closer to its beginning and closer to its end. During our trip we stopped for our first night closer to the start of this section. We managed to find an excellent, quiet, secluded spot. However, there was no water there. We were prepared for that and filled containers in Armintza. The potential place for an overnight stay closer to the end of this section is less secluded (right next to the trail), but there is a clean and, it seems, permanent stream. You can count on it and not have to carry water. The town Bakio is larger than Armintza, and finding accommodation there, if necessary, will be a bit easier. On our trip we did not investigate this matter in detail either, the assumption is made purely based on impressions. There is also a bus service to Bilbao (approximately once an hour).
On the third section Bakio - Bermeo a spot suitable for an overnight camp is located in the middle of the section, near its highest point. There is no water here either, but the views are magnificent. On the descent to Bermeo we noticed a couple more places where you can settle in a sheltered spot, but the best of them - the one near the summit.
Brief description
The route starts in the town of Plentzia, which can be easily reached from the very center of Bilbao by metro (which smoothly transitions into a suburban train). The trip takes about an hour.
In the town of Plentzia it's worth taking a stroll through the picturesque historic center, to see an interesting tidal mill not far from the pedestrian bridge next to the railway station.
After Plentzia, the first 3km of the route runs along the beach promenade of the neighboring town of Gorliz, and only then does the trail characteristic of this stretch of coastline begin, winding above the coastal cliffs. The landscape becomes increasingly wild; urbanization gives way sharply first to traditional agricultural plots, and then to pockets of wild and semi-wild nature. Ascents follow descents, oak forests are replaced by eucalyptus and, in places - pine... After the bunkers of Cape Billano and the Gorliz lighthouse, the number of people on the trail drops sharply. On the descent into Armintza we enjoy a mature eucalyptus forest.
In the small picturesque village of Armintza there is a supermarket, a restaurant, and you can refill your water supplies.
After Armintza, an intense climb begins along logging roads through overgrown eucalyptus clearings. The going is easy. After gaining about 300m in elevation, the road becomes a traverse, ascents follow descents. On this section the route runs inland, skirting the area of the defunct (unfinished and never operational) Lemoniz nuclear power plant. Picturesque, secluded places... Perhaps this stretch of the route is the wildest and most untouched along the entire route. After another significant climb to 430m the descent to Bakio begins.
The town of Bakio is clearly larger than Armintza and the joys of life are more accessible there. We managed to have a wonderful lunch there. Of course, we also replenished our water supplies.
After Bakio we enter the third, final section of our journey. Here the landscapes are noticeably more developed and civilized. At first the climb follows a narrow paved coastal road. There are no cars, it's pleasant to walk, the agricultural landscapes and ocean panoramas please the eye.
After 3km we pass the parking lot of the famous landmark - the islet Gaztelugatxe and immediately cross the access road. From this point the landscapes become wilder. Then we climb along the narrow service road of the radio relay station. At the summit of Axnabarra 434m it ends - further on by trails.... A convenient secluded spot to spend the night was found below the summit of Burgoa 450m. There is no water there, but the views in almost all directions - magnificent!!! Then - down to Bermeo, to the final point of our route. On the descent we encountered two spots suitable for an overnight in the field and two springs.
Bermeo is very picturesque and colorful. In your travel plans you should reserve time for a walk through the historic part of the town, the port.... You should also visit the fisherman's museum.
A commuter train runs from Bermeo to Bilbao. The journey takes about an hour. It's worth getting off at Gernika and walking around the central area, going into the park...
Route details (maps, points, links to photo albums) see on the page I can’t access external websites. Please paste the Russian text you want translated.