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Day 4 | 29 July 2025 | Walking the Camino Francés
From Zubiri to Pamplona | 20.9 km – 13 miles
The walk from Zubiri to Pamplona was a gentle and welcome change after the challenge of the Pyrenees. The path meandered mostly along flat terrain, following the tree-lined banks of the River Arga. With the temperature hovering around a pleasant 20°C, it was one of those near-perfect days that remind you why walking the Camino is such a joy.
Like most people setting off on a long Camino, I did my fair share of online research first. The universal topic of obsession? Backpack weight. Everyone warns you about it and, naturally, I got it wrong. I packed only lightweight clothes and what I was sure was the bare minimum. Turns out bare minimum still adds up. In Pamplona, I went to the local post office and sent a 5.3kg box back to England. Amazing how quickly you learn what you actually need when you have to carry it every step of the way.
Pamplona proved to be every bit as marvellous as expected: vibrant, historic, and full of life.
It also introduced us to one of northern Spain’s culinary delights – Pintxos, the Basque region’s refined take on tapas. These small, artful creations, perched delicately on slices of bread and held together by cocktail sticks, are as delightful to look at as they are to eat. Best enjoyed with a glass of wine or a cold beer. A very nice rest day.
