GR® 38 Wine & Fish Route

Walk the GR® 38 Wine & Fish Route

The GR® 38 Wine & Fish Route crosses the Basque Country from Oyón-Oion in Rioja Alavesa to the fishing port of Bermeo on the Bay of Biscay. Following historic trading routes once used to carry wine north and fish inland from the coast, the trail connects vineyards, mountain landscapes, rural valleys and coastal settlements.

From Oyón-Oion, the route crosses the vineyard landscapes of Rioja Alavesa towards Laguardia, beneath the limestone ridges of the Sierra de Toloño. Vineyards, agricultural tracks and historic settlements characterise the southern stages before the route leaves the wine-growing landscapes and continues north into increasingly mountainous country.

Further north, the GR® 38 passes through the landscapes around Urkiola Natural Park, where limestone mountains, woodland and valleys mark a significant change from the open vineyards of Rioja Alavesa. Mountain paths and forest tracks carry the route across the interior of the Basque Country towards Bizkaia.

Approaching the Atlantic, the landscape changes again around Gernika-Lumo and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Estuaries, wetlands, woodland and coastal landscapes replace the inland mountains as the trail approaches the Bay of Biscay.

The final stages continue through Urdaibai towards Bermeo, a historic fishing port on the Basque coast. The route's finish reflects the trading relationship from which the Wine & Fish Route takes its name, connecting the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa with the fishing communities of the Atlantic.

Oyón-Oion, Laguardia, Gernika-Lumo and Bermeo provide useful bases along the route, with places to stay in the wine country, inland towns and settlements close to the coast.

Overview

Distance: 103 miles / 166 km
Typical duration: 7–9 walking days
Difficulty: Moderate
Start: Oyón-Oion, Rioja Alavesa
Finish: Bermeo, Bizkaia
Terrain: Vineyard tracks, rural lanes, foothill paths, mountain trails, forest tracks, valley roads, estuary paths and coastal routes