Northern Way
The Northern Way (, , ), also called the Coastal Way (, , ), is one of the routes of the Camino de Santiago. It is an , five-week coastal route from Irún (Gipuzkoa), near the border with France, following the northern coastline of Spain into Galicia where it heads inland towards Santiago de Compostela joining the French Way at Arzúa (A Coruña). This route follows the old Roman road, the Via Agrippa –which was used in the Middle Ages by Christian pilgrims when Muslim domination had extended northwards and was making travel along the French Way dangerous – for some of its way. The Northern Way coincides with the E9 European long distance path for most of its route. Background
The route passes through San Sebastián, Guernica (Biscay), Bilbao, Santander and Gijón (Asturias). It is less populated, lesser known and generally more difficult hiking, because of its changes in elevation, than the French Way. Shelters are  apart, rather than there being hostels () or monasteries every  as on the French Way. It has also cooler summer weather. The Liébana Way links the Northern Way with the French Way passing by the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana in Cantabria. See also

 Buiza

References

Camino de Santiago routes
Hiking trails in Spain