Basque Loop Ride – May 2025

In May 2025, I rode 430km (on and off road) around the Spanish side of the Basque country, with my friends Manu and Duncan. It took us six days, starting and ending in Bilbao. Comments possible right at the foot of the page!

Tour of the Basque country Day 1

Bilbao to Zarautz, 100km. Started in early morning fog, soon to burn off. We followed the path of the Camino del Norte out of Bilbao and into Guernica, passing numerous pilgrims heading the other way through heavily wooded and often deeply muddy paths. From there the coast road and gravel tracks took us through lots of fishing towns, seemingly all having their own little festivals. Some severe climbs followed, too steep and tricky to even think about riding. But we made it to Zarautz by late afternoon, ready for a shower and a cold beverage.

Cycle tour of the Basque country – Day two.

Mud, sweat, and gears.

Climbing steeply out of the surf resort of Zarautz on quiet country roads, we were rewarded by stunning ocean views to the left and the mist lifting off the mountains to the right.

After a very rapid descent into San Sebastian we got caught between hundreds of pro cyclists on one side of the road as the town marathon kicked off on the other road – still, we got to see other people putting in the physical effort.

The route took us around the harbour head and back through town. Befitting of a gastronomic capital we had an incredible second breakfast – the barrista coffee art was a seahorse! – before heading up a MASSIVE monster mountain via a track so rocky and steep that it was unrideable. A constant stream of sweat stung my eyes and the legs were burning.

After only getting partially lost in the woods and having to push through brambles on (almost unbelievably) even steeper paths, the third part of the ride was on the route of an old mountain railway, uphill (but gently) for two hours on gravel paths. It was so so hot.

Basque country tour day three

Type two fun.

Leaving Leitza we knew we were on a tight schedule to reach our destination of Arbizu before the forecasted rain hit. Did we manage it…?

The day started beautifully, rolling over the greenway track that used to be a mountain railway. The highlight was a 3km tunnel. We managed to ride it with only one front light between the three of us through the pitch darkness.

After a now traditional second breakfast at Lekunberri we got the climb of the day 17km/90 minutes of pure uphill, at first through forest and then as we ascended further into the national park, over rocky mountain tracks.

The highest point of the day was also ominous as we could see the storm clouds gathering. Sure enough on the descent a biblical storm of hail and rain hit. Our track became a river and we had to dismount to walk sections.

Part of the path had us cycling narrow single-track with a ravine to our right and sheer rock face to our left. Take it easy on those sections.

But eventually we made it down to Arbizu, soaked, but in a hotel that at least has a radiator each to dry out drenched kit on

Basque loop day four

The ridge line.

Towns are generally built near to a river. A river is always at the lowest point. Therefore whenever we start the day it’s with a climb. It was no different today.

After an hour going up we hit the ridge line that we would follow for most of the day, passing over gravel and rocky trails. Sometimes we were in open mountains, others passing through mature beech forests. At one corner we encountered a massive rocky escarpment.

There were single track sections near a river, and the day ended with a flying greenway section into Vitoria, the Basque capital.

Basque loop day five

100% grind – conquering Mount Gorbea

Looking back, thinking that the start to the day was difficult was a total under-estimation of what was to come.

The difficulty on leaving Vitoria was a brake failure on my bike that necessitated a trip to a mechanic, who thankfully fixed it quickly and cheaply.

What was to come was Mount Gorbea. We started the epic climb in sunshine through forest trails that quickly became too steep and rocky to ride

We climbed further into the clouds and after a couple of hours of hike a bike the thick fog dropped visibility to 5m. The path was unclear, GPS our absolute saviour. We had to stick closely together, often with our bikes on our shoulders, hopping over rocks and mud.

The top was an opportunity for a disappointing photo underneath some kind of tower and having to get going before hypothermia set in.

Going down was no easier, impossible to ride, until the blessed tarmac arrived and a final flying section down to the hotel. I am having fun, honest!

Basque loop day 6

The final push

Nothing more than a 50km tarmac ride over busy roads to reach Bilbao and finish our ride!