dossier

Day 1: Arrive in Haro
We meet you in Bilbao and take you to historic Haro - look out for storks nesting on chimneypots and people enjoying their evening parseo. Your hotel is a luxury **** converted convent with wonderful cloisters and fantastic courtyard.

Day 2: Haro to Brinas 15km/9mi/4hr 
Leaving Haro you walk north along the river before crossing the Ebro and taking to vineyard tracks with views back towards Haro. Looping around a meander bend you make easy headway towards Labastida, a working wine town with narrow streets and plenty of historic buildings, embossed with family crests. Above the town a much smaller church - Ermita de Santa Gines - makes a lovely picnic spot with superb views. Descending through vineyards you head down to the pretty riverside village of Brinas, former playground of the region’s nobility.

Day 3: At Brinas
Explore the pretty village - see if you can find the bodega under the church! - then perhaps head north, through the vineyards to Salanillas de Buradón. Excellent place for lunch. If you would like more bodega visits then a sandstone bridge and vineyard walk brings you to the doors of some of the largest wine merchants in the region. Your hotel owner, Angela, can also help arrange local visits as she knows everyone in the village.

Day 4: Brinas to Abalos 18km/11mi/4.5hr
Leaving Briñas, head deep into vineyards as you pass the memorable gates of Bodegas Remelluri where you can stop in for a tasting, before arriving at Rivas de Tereso – a lovely village with a popular restaurant - ideal for lunch with a fabulous view over the whole valley. Continue along trails at the very edge of the Sierra de Cantabria, with wonderful views over surrounding villages. Descend past Ermita de Santa Maria de Pecina and its ancient graveyard, and enjoy the views until the intricately carved church spire of Abalos eventually appears above the vines.

Day 5: At Abalos
Explore Abalos – José Luis, your hotelier, has his own little wine cellar, alternatively visit one of the local bodegas to sample the regional vintages. Look out for wines from 2001 and 2002 – both excellent years. Visit the village’s 16C church - oddly decorated with dragons and well worth a detour! Or take the local bus (10 mins) to walled Laguardia, a real mediaeval treasure with C12 church, enormous C14 gothic gateway and C15 government buildings - still with the original facade.

Day 6: Abalos to Haro 20km/13mi/5.5hr 
Vineyard trails towards San Vicente de la Sonsierra take up the morning. The village is famous for the Picadores – men who whip themselves as penance for their sins during Semana Santa week! There is an imposing C12 hilltop castle, two impressive palaces and a C16 gothic church. Crossing the Ebro you reach Briones, another hilltop gem well worth a wander. It’s then on along the GR99, via the hamlet of Gimileo, and back to Haro.

Day 7: Return home
Time perhaps for some final purchases before heading back to Bilbao for the flight home.

Walking Details:

The walking is easy and mainly follows quiet country lanes and pretty farm tracks over gently rolling hills.