bike > Bike: San Sebastian > Easy Sample Route
Length: Options from 2 hours to full day.
Height Gain: Options from 100m to as much as you want.
Height Loss: As above.
Average Technical Difficulty: Easy
Maximum Technical Difficulty: Moderate
In 3 Words: Sea Views Fun
And In More: Not so much a set route as an area with so many options that we can tailor the day to suit everyone. Beautiful riding by the sea on quiet paths which undulate along the coast. There are several traditional places to eat along the coast and we normally have a healthy lunch stop at one of these places.
Between Hondarribia and San Sebastian lies Jaizkibel, a ridge shaped hill rising 550m from the sea. Jaizkibel is part of the coastal mountains that range along the Atlantic coast of Spain and the biking is totally different to both the Pyrenees and Basque mountains; with its hugely grippy sandstone and gentle gradients it is littered with tracks and paths to suit all abilities. We start off by using the van to climb a few hundred meters to a view-point beside the breathtaking Guadalupe chapel above Hondarribia.
Leaving the van we normally run through a few key skills on the grass to get used to our bikes before setting off on a section very gentle singletrack which runs around some old fortified ruins and give us an interesting start to the day. Leaving the history behind for a bit, we set off on the first loop of the day and we pick up some quiet trails that take us around the the back of the ridge, away from the sea. The trails undulate, however they are never steep and reward us with great views over Hondarribia across to the Basque mountains toward the south and west.
After our first loop we return to the car park where we left the van where there is a fantastic traditional restaurant where we can get a 3 course meal, with wine and coffee for €10. Not too much wine though! Leaving the restaurant we drop down an wide path to the sea, the terrain is challenging enough to be interesting with lots of bed rock and sand and the views as we get closer to the sea are spectacular. We reach a junction where we have a choice to make. We can take left and wind along the coast on easier trails making our way round to a lighthouse above Hondarribia before dropping back into the center of the town where all the bars and restaurants wait for us.
If you opt for the left turn we follow the path right down to the sea where we pick up some singletrack which runs along the coast for miles. It’s a special place to ride bikes, with the sound and smells of the sea and the views are beyond description. Following this path we are tested physically and technically, although the sea views provide such an amazing backdrop it never feels too difficult. Eventually though, like all good things, this has to end and we climb back up to the ridge and drop down the other side to reach Hondarribia, the accommodation and a cold drink, although not necessarily in that order.
