Uribe Routes

Routes

Leisure

SPORTS ROUTES

On bicycle

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Walking routes

A FEW HINTS

The routes are suitable for anyone who enjoys walking. They do not require exceptional levels of fitness nor do people have to be of a certain age. The only requirements are a pair of comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing should it rain.

All the routes follow tracks and paths used for agricultural, livestock or forestry activities. Respect the paths and the properties of local inhabitants and do not give them cause for complaint.

A photograph is always better than taking the photographed object home with you. Do not pick flowers or twigs, and do not disturb the wildlife. This way we will all get a chance to see them. Try to be even more careful in the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe area, which has been declared a Protected Biotope.

Keep your dog under control so that it does not bother or frighten livestock or other animals.

Do not light a fire or leave rubbish anywhere other than the designated collection points.

BAKIO ROUTES

Despite the development that has taken place over the last century, Bakio has an extensive array of historical and cultural treasures preserved in a natural environment. The routes we propose will enable you to discover the history of the municipality and include many interesting places that are well worth a visit due to the beauty of the landscape or because of their architectural, cultural and social interest.

The three routes that start next to the Tourist Office are of different lengths and are signposted. They can be followed in one direction or the other and you can take all the time you want as there are a number of connections between them. Walkers can choose any combination of routes according to their preferences.

Signposts have been placed all along the routes to help you find your way around. These include panels with maps and signs indicating the most important historical and cultural sights (farmhouses, chapels, watermills, stately mansions and villages). The information panels provide additional details about a number of different aspects of the route, allowing you to learn more about the local environment.

Route 1: CHAPELS ROUTE (YELLOW)
Distance: 11 km.
Approximate duration: 3 hours.

Starting from the Tourist Office, walk towards the coast past the chapels of Santa Catalina, San Cristóbal, and San Esteban. Fine examples of popular architecture, visitors can get some idea of their importance as meeting places and of the spirituality of the original inhabitants of Bakio, scattered in a number of different districts.

The track takes you towards San Pelaio. This is a 12th-century chapel and is the building of greatest artistic and historical value in Bakio. Following a visit to the chapel, you can visit San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or continue along the coast, to enjoy the splendid views of the cliffs, as far as Bakio´s beach, one of the longest and best-known beaches in Bizkaia. A walk along the beach and through the village will take you back via the main road, to the starting point.

Route 2: STATELY MANSIONS AND VILLAGES ROUTE (PINK)
Distance: 4.5 km. Approximate duration: 1.30 hours.

Our route weaves through meadows and market gardens towards the chapel of Santa Ursula, in the district of Urkizaur. From there, follow the track that continues along the hillside towards the coast, descending to the beach next to Casa Lafita, an example of the innovative architecture of the 60s. Return through the village, which offers an exceptional array of stately mansions, fine examples of the architecture of different styles (2nd French Empire, Neo-Basque, Neo-Cantabrian), built at the beginning of the 20th-century when Bakio became the preferred location for the holiday homes of wealthy families in Bilbao.

Route 3: INLAND BAKIO (GREEN)
Distance: 9 km. Approximate duration: 2.5 hours.

From the tourist office, the route takes you to the district of Basigo, the original nucleus of the "anteiglesia" or hamlet of Bakio, site of the parish church of Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción, and the magnificent Baroque mansions of Elexpuru and Hormaza. These are surrounded by the meadows and vineyards, through which the route descends to the bottom of the valley. Here, the route climbs up through woods via the district of Arzalde to the Romanesque chapel of San Miguel.

The last part of the route crosses the river Estepona towards the district of Zubiaur, a beautiful ensemble of popular architecture that includes Tabernazar, the oldest farmhouse in Bakio. Finally, the path takes you back to your starting point via the chapels of San Martín and Santa Catalina and the old watermill-forge of Bekoerrota-Bengolea.

ZAMUDIO ROUTES

OXINAGA TRACK (PR BI – 250)

The best way to get to know the rural environment of Zamudio is on foot. For example you can follow the OXINAGA TRACK (PR BI – 250) that runs along the section of the Old Bilbao-Gernika Road, considered by many historians to be part of the St Jaques Route and the “Ruta Juradera” (the routes along which the Lords of Bizkaia travelled to swear their allegiance to the special laws of the territory) towards Gernika. This surfaced and signposted route passes through places of great beauty such as the Arikondo Bridge (17th-18th centuries) on the border with Lezama, the Baroque Mansion of Larragoiti (18th century) and one of the few oak woods still standing in the area.

SOPELANA ROUTES

SOPELANA CIRCULAR ROUTE

Until just a few decades ago, Sopelana was a rural town with a farm-based economy. In recent times, the urban centre and coastal area have seen considerable residential and tourist development but the typical rural landscapes of the Atlantic coastline can still be seen in Sopelana, including the rocky outcrop of Santa Marina and remnants of natural woodlands of gall oak and common oak. This circular route features a number of the rural areas of the municipality.

The route starts at the Town Hall of Sopelana and passes through Sipiri and Ripa along the Lemotza road to the chapel of San Andrés, the most interesting church in this municipality. Gothic in design, it has a beautiful pointed arch and facade. From here, the route leads to the Sopelana campsite and follows the Zientoetxe-Aldekortze-Goikoetxebide road, to the Landaluze area. A track leads to the Eroski-Berango shopping centre and from there, to the Urko sports complex, and the Urgitxieta farmhouse.

From Urgitxieta, the first part of this section through Gatzarriñe is flat, as far as the turnoff that climbs up to the rocky crags of Santa Marina. The Gothic chapel of the same name is built on naked rock, which forms part of its structure. From here, you can get a splendid view of the coastline all the way from Punta Lucero to Cabo Billano. Walk down towards the metropolitan railway depot and return through the Parque de Iturrieta and the town centre to the Town Hall.

SOPELANA-AIXERROTA ROUTE.

On this occasion, the route follows the western coastal section of the municipality from Barinatxe to the cliffs of Punta Galea, which make up the right bank of the Bilbao river estuary. This area features a part of the important archaeological site of Kurtzio, where the remains of the men and women who lived in this region more than 35,000 years ago have been excavated. This scenic route offers a number of beautiful panoramic views, and is ideal for a gentle stroll.

From Sopelana Town Hall, walk down to the petrol station and take the “bidegorri” or cycle path that takes you directly to the Barinatxe beach car park. From the viewpoint a track runs parallel to the cliffs from which you can enjoy the panoramic view of the coastline and beaches of this municipality. Continue climbing until you reach the old military bunker, which offers some indication of the strategic importance of this location during the Civil War. Further along the route you will come to a pinewood, which you must walk across to reach the Aizkorri beach car park (Getxo). The track continues along the cliff tops to the Punta Galea Lighthouse, from which you can see El Abra and the Port of Bilbao. Further on, the route reaches Aixerrota, one of the few windmills in Bizkaia. From here, the return route passes through Kurtxes via a track that descends along the edge of the Azkorri pine forest, which leads directly to Larrabasterra.

SOPELANA-PLENTZIA ROUTE (can be done by bicycle too)

The Sopelana coastline offers a magnificent landscape in which spectacular rocky cliffs are interspersed with beaches. During this walk, which follows a route to the east, you will visit the three beaches of this municipality. In addition to its wonderful landscapes, this area is of great interest to naturalists as this narrow coastal strip with its mixture of marine and terrestrial environments is the habitat of a large number of unique plant and animal species that have adapted to this difficult ecosystem.

Our route starts at the broad beach of Barinatxe, and continues towards the beach called Arrietara-Atxabiribil, a huge, windswept beach that offers perfect conditions for surfing. There, take the track that runs along the cliff top. By keeping the cliffs to the left at all times you can use them to guide you.

Walking along the edge of the Sopelmar housing estate you will reach Meñakoz, a pebbled beach open to the sea, although a barrier of rocks offers some protection against the waves. The route climbs once again along a track that brings you to the road. Now you can choose between continuing along this road and taking the track that runs through gorse to the small beach of Muriola (Barrika). The track leads to the Txipio wetlands, the final section of the river Butrón in Barrika and Plentzia. With large areas covered with native vegetation, this is an important stopping place for migrating aquatic birds.

MUNARRIKOLANDA ROUTE (HISTORIC SEPULCHRES ROUTE)

(3 km, 1 hour. Can be done by bicycle too)

In spite of the fact that Munarrikolanda is only 257 m high, when you reach the summit and look at the magnificent views, it comes as no surprise that this should have been the place chosen by the first settlers in this area, a pastoral community that buried its dead under stone structures in prominent locations in order to be visible from afar and, very probably, as an indicator of the territory controlled by the living.

The Mugarrikolanda dolmen includes seven well-marked and signposted megalithic monuments, discovered during excavations made during the period 1964-1981.

Its excellent strategic location also led to this area being chosen as a military emplacement during the Civil War, forming part of the so-called Iron Belt. One can still find several concrete constructions in the area (bunker, tunnels, machine-gun nests, canon positions, and so on), remains of the fortified defence that was established in the mountains that surround Bilbao.

To start the route, take the track that ascends from behind the Urko football grounds, and after 200 m, turn to the left and continue climbing through a wood of eucalyptus until you come across the trail that runs to the left, up to the summit of Munarrikolanda. From there, you can enjoy the splendid views that extend from Unbe, El Abra and Getxo to Sopelana and Cape Billano.

Now, the path continues along the hill to the south. Along this route, you will discover a total of seven megalithic monuments: In order of appearance: the Saierri burial mound, the Saierri Muinoa burial mound, the Saierriko Landa dolmen and burial mounds I and II, the Munarrikolanda dolmens I and II and the Goikogana dolmen. The track continues as far as Eguskiza, where you can continue climbing to Unbe or turn right and descend to Berango.

MARURI–JATABE ROUTES

ROUTE ALONG THE SIDE OF MOUNT JATA

DISTANCE: 6214 m GRADIENT: Less than 1 in 8 SURFACE: Rolled gravel.
WIDTH: 4 - 5 m

This easy walk invites you to discover the slopes of mount Jata. The route starts from the town centre, next to the Church of San Lorenzo. The route continues to the municipal water tank. From there, a well-kept path of rolled gravel takes you as far as the road BI- 3116, in the municipality of Lemoiz.

Although the route follows the same path for the outward and homeward journeys, you can continue your walk by taking one of these several paths that lead to the other districts of Maruri-Jatabe all the track that leads to the top of mount Jata to enjoy the magnificent views.

LOIU ROUTES

A WALK AROUND LOIU

Distance: 9.9 km. Climb: 250 m. Estimated time: 2 h 40 min

DESCRIPTION: This walk allows you to discover many of the features of the municipality of Loiu. An easy cycle path takes you from Zabaloetxe (0 Km) to the Larrakoetxe crossroads, from where the route ascends towards Lauroeta. Some of the features include a pleasant viewpoint, the Goirengo Errota Watermill (still in operation) and the Nature Studies Centre (4 Km). Behind the fronton in Lauroeta (4.6 Km.) take the road to the left, following the signposts for Fanarraga and after 200 m take the forestry track towards Unbe, which offers magnificent views of the valley. The track continues as far as the BI-3704 road (7 Km), which passes next to the park of Akarlanda (Erandio) (8.2Km). From here the cycle path takes you around the village of Zabaloetxe (9.9 Km).