Itsaslur Greenway, Pobeña Kobaron route.

It runs along the Itsaslur greenway, a beautiful route between cliffs that connects the Pobeña and Kobaron neighborhoods of Muskiz.

The Itsaslur greenway, popularly known as the Itsaslur walk, links the towns of Pobeña and Kobaron, creating one of the most beautiful walks in Bizkaia. A familiar route, which, due to its beauty attracts thousands of people every year. Undoubtedly, one of the most demanded routes in the surroundings of Bilbao. This path runs along the rugged cliffs of the Bay of Biscay for just over 2 kilometers inviting all visitors to know this small strip of the western coast of Bizkaia. The proximity to Bilbao, the views, the Cantabrian Sea and its simplicity, have turned this old railway line into one of the favorite walks of the people of Bizkaia. The route, linear, round trip, leads us to enjoy the route that connects the beach of La Arena and the neighborhood of Kobaron. The same space that once traveled the mining railroad that transported the mineral of the Mac Lennan company from Kobaron to the washhouse and loading dock of Campomar. The route, perfectly signposted, has panels that inform us about the fauna and flora that surrounds us at the same time that puts in value the industrial past of the route that we cross. This area was once essential for the extraction of seaweed and mining exports. Two industries that gave great joy to the local economy. The smell of saltpeter splashes this route. We are in front of one of those stretches of the Basque coast that enchants. The entire space where the tracks were located has been recovered and conditioned for leisure. A fact that, in addition to allowing us to explore this environment on foot or by bicycle, also invites us to enjoy it through the various tables, chairs, fountains and viewpoints that we find on our way. The presence of pilgrims reveals that this route is part of the Camino de Santiago de la Costa. A traditional and historical route that has been joined by new protagonists, the Basques who enjoy their land. Although this route has little length, when the green tones of the mountains are mixed with the blue of the sea, we realize that it is not necessary to extend more to enjoy a nice and healthy morning getaway. By the way, not everything is walking, it is worth making several stops along the way, the views and the various remains of industrial heritage that we find in the area, so claim it.

The walk that we present today, is located a few meters from the sea, next to the cliffs, an aspect that embellishes more if possible this route bizkaina. Of course, the cliffs we walk along are home to different plant and animal species, so let’s respect them. Do not leave any garbage, do not leave the course of the path. Let’s leave no trace of our passage, let’s travel responsibly.

Although today the mining complex in this coastal area is practically inappreciable, we must mention that until 1963, the year in which its activity ceased, it was one of the most unique complexes in the Basque Country. And the fact of loading the mineral in the middle of the sea, without the protection of a port or an estuary, was not usual in Bizkaia. As you can see, the Itsaslur walk is a box of surprises, a perfect excuse to stretch your legs.

The route of which we speak today is known by many names, Itsaslur greenway, Itsaslur walk, route between Pobeña and Kobaron … yes, all of them defend and confirm the beauty of this place. The fact that it is located about 15 minutes from the center of the capital of Bizkaia, on the Basque coast, makes it a perfect place for a family walk. A walk of little effort and much reward. Simple and beautiful, what more could you ask for?

Greenways: The former railroad tracks have been converted into leisure spaces where nature and history can be enjoyed in equal parts. The reuse of these tracks has served to create places where citizens can enjoy their environment, outdoors, thus promoting sustainable mobility. The characteristics of the old railroad tracks, with no steep slopes and no access for motorized vehicles, provide tranquility and peace to all those who seek to enjoy these now obsolete tracks. It is not the first time that we talk about a greenway, we already did it when we visited the greenway of Arrazola. A route that we highly recommend. Although Arrazola equals or surpasses the beauty of the Itsaslur greenway, its route is totally different, as it runs inland, between mountains.

Mining: Muskiz and many of the towns surrounding this municipality were some of the most important areas of the mining sector years ago. During the golden age of the industry in Bizkaia, few were the villages that were not splashed by this industry. Today, Muskiz gives us a beautiful fusion of nature and history. A mixture that we can appreciate next to the marshes of Pobeña, on the mouth of the Barbadun estuary, where, today, we find the remains of the fastenings of the aerial tramway of mineral that came from La Arboleda, one of the epicenters of this activity. Although that industry has completely disappeared, today we find one of the largest companies in Euskadi in the vicinity, the company Petróleos del Norte, better known as Petronor, the largest refinery in the entire peninsula.

History: The Itsaslur Greenway has a great history behind it. This area of Muskiz was home to one of the most important mining complexes in Bizkaia. The walk that we walk along today was once the route taken by the freight train, the train that transported the ore to the only open sea loading dock in the province. The company Jose Mac Lennan de Minas S.A. created this ore loading system in the 1870s in order to export the ore produced in the Amalia Vizcaína and San Francisco mines to Europe. But it is not the only activity that was carried out in this area, the pulleys that literally hang over the cliffs remind us of the importance that the collection of seaweed had in another era. Therefore, where many see a simple road, we find minerals and algae, curious isn’t it? This industrial complex was one of the first to be built in Bizkaia and one of the few that loaded the mineral in the open sea. A very astute as well as dangerous strategy. And the fact is that, although thanks to this movement, they managed to avoid the levies and the waits that took place in the Bilbao estuary, where the more than 23 existing loading bays were located, the swell of the Cantabrian Sea and the shallow draft of the coast caused more than one scare to those responsible for this ore loading bay. In addition to all this, it should be added that the ore could only be loaded in ideal conditions, that is, between the months of April and October. Of all the complex that existed before, there are still some elements that are catalogued as cultural and historical heritage. Among all of them, we highlight the Punta del Castillo loading dock.

Nature: Nature is another of the main protagonists of the Itsaslur Greenway. The cliffs, fields, dunes, rivers and beaches that surround this walk make up the so-called “Itsaslur Park”, a very varied natural environment, a very complete ecosystem that is trying to recover. During the tour it is common to find different animals from the livestock farms that are found in the vicinity.

Route: This family route, of low difficulty, encourages people of all ages to walk along these cliffs. An old mining area, which we enjoyed walking through each of the corners that separate Pobeña and Kobaron. After leaving the car in the parking lot of Pobeña, we headed towards the end of it, towards the coast, where a huge sign indicates the beginning of the route. The access to Itsaslur leads us directly to climb the famous 120 steps, which, located on a steep slope help us to save the existing gap between the beach of La Arena and the greenway of which we spoke. Relax, the rest of the way has no slope, the stairs are the only point of difficulty. Once up, the vegetation welcomes us creating a kind of plant cave, which, in summer, offers us a cool place to shelter from the intense sun. Once out in the open, the views are simply idyllic, the beach of La Arena and Punta Lucero give us a panoramic view worthy of admiring and photographing.By the way, although you can’t see it, on the opposite slope of Punta Lucero hides the Bilbao merchant port, in front of the Bilbao cruise ship dock.

After approximately 800 meters we find a crossroads, left and right, we must choose. The left path goes around the loading dock while the right path leads directly to it. We must emphasize that the loading dock has suffered lately different damages due to the waves and the constant wear and tear, if you decide to approach it, be very careful. Respect the signs. Remember that you are in front of the first loading dock of these characteristics built in Bizkaia. A unique space. In any case, both roads lead to the same place, we return to the main road. We moved away a little from the coast to find one of the most salient points of this road. Here, some ancient ruins indicate the presence of a defensive building as well as the existence of buildings typical of mining. A little further on, to our right, next to the cliff, we find elements that constituted the pulleys that were used to raise the seaweed from the sea. We continue our way enjoying the views offered by the sea, on sunny days, it is common to see huge cargo ships entering the port of Bilbao. After a few minutes we arrive at the recreational area of La Juncosa, a space in which in addition to finding a leisure area where you can eat, we also find the parking of the same name. This is where the Itsaslur greenway ends. Once we have finished our way, we have 3 options: return on our own steps, continue to the neighborhood of Kobaron to discover some of the elements of mining or continue the way to link with the Piquillo Greenway that leads us to travel 3 kilometers more through Cantabrian lands. You choose.

How to get there: To get to the Itsaslur greenway we have several options, but all of them depend on the type of transport we use to get there: public or private. If we want to use public transport, we can opt for the bus or the train. In this case, our recommendation is to use the bus because from the Muskiz train station we have just over 4 kilometers on foot along the bidegorri (road equipped for bicycles) to reach our destination. Whatever your choice, you can opt for any of these lines of Bizkaibus (public bus of Bizkaia): A-3321, A-3335, A-3338, A-3336, A-3337 or the suburban line C-2 of Bilbao with stop in Muskiz. If on the contrary you decide to arrive by private transport to Itsaslur, we advise you to take the A-8 highway towards Santander and take the exit Muskiz – Playa de la Arena or Kobaron, it all depends on where you want to start the route.

La Arena Beach: Like many of the beaches of Bizkaia, La Arena beach is one of those beaches that due to its proximity to Bilbao has become one of the favorite beaches for locals. Surfing is the sport that leads the active tourism activities in the area. A sport that has become a way of life for many Basques. Beaches such as Sopela, Bakio or Mundaka are paradises for people who travel looking to surf some of the most exciting waves in the world.

Where to park: The Itsaslur greenway has 2 parking lots, Pobeña and La Juncosa, near Kobaron. Both are as valid as practical. Of course, we must bear in mind that the proximity of the beach of La Arena with respect to the parking of Pobeña makes that in the sunny days of summer this practically full. A fact, that together with the more than 100 stairs that we find at this end of the route, make most of the people who make this route opt for the parking of Kobaron. By the way, both parking lots are totally free.

Where to eat: There are many options to eat in the surroundings of the Itsaslur greenway but the one we like the most is the Maloka bar and restaurant. It is an informal place for snacking and overlooking the sea where we stopped to eat some fries and a sandwich or hamburger. Of course, if you are looking for something more formal, something more quality, in the port of Zierbena awaits the restaurant Gloria or Taberna Eloy, both specialists in fish and seafood, both very good options.

Accessibility: Although the greenways are usually fully accessible to all types of people, we must say that the Itsaslur walk is not at all. And the fact is that the more than 100 steps that we find at the beginning of our way prevent people with reduced mobility can complete this magnificent walk along the Basque coast. But don’t be afraid, there is another option. And is that if we start the tour in kobaron, at the other end, from the parking lot of La Juncosa, we can make almost the entire route without any problem. To get here, to the parking lot of La Juncosa, we must go to the neighborhood of Kobaron, take the main street and walk it to the end, where we will find a fork, at this point, we must opt for the road on the right.

Location: Muskiz is one of the 16 villages that make up the Enkarterri region of Bizkaia. A region full of surprises that we recommend you to visit to know in first person some of its most striking attractions. Here are some museums and experiences that may interest you:

Frequently asked questions: There are many people who ask us repeatedly about the same issues of the Itsaslur greenway, that is why, we have decided to create this small section with the frequently asked questions that you ask us concerning the Pobeña – Kobaron route.

• Is it possible to go with dogs? Yes, as long as the regulations in force in this regard are respected.
• Is it accessible for people with reduced mobility? Yes and no. We explain. The route itself is accessible for all kinds of people. The problem is found at the beginning of the route from Pobeña, where, more than 100 stairs impede the walk of people with reduced mobility or strollers. However, this problem is solved by starting the route from Kobaron. The only problem is that you will not be able to go down to the beach of La Arena and enjoy a small snack in the locals of the area.
• Is it possible to go with children’s strollers? Following the same line of the previous question, we repeat, the route has no inconvenience, but we do not recommend starting the route in Pobeña. Otherwise, you will have to carry the chair up some stairs.
• Are there dining tables? Yes, at the ends of the Itsaslur greenway there are different recreational areas where you can eat.
• Are there fountains along the route? Yes. Although there are not many, the fountains that we find in the Itsaslur promenade exist and are appreciated.
• Are there any coves or areas where you can swim during the tour? Although the Itsaslur promenade runs along the coast, we recommend not to leave the path under any circumstances. In case you want to swim, the beach of La Arena is the best option.
• Are there any bars between Pobeña and Kobaron? Although there are numerous establishments in Pobeña, there is no bar on the route.

Recommendations: The Itsaslur greenway invites you to travel the route comprising the coastal strip between Pobeña and Kobaron in the most comfortable way possible. So it is inevitable to mention the following recommendations:

Other routes: In Euskal Herria there are many routes such as the one offered by the greenway of Itsaslur. Familiar routes, which, without demanding a great effort, reward us with spaces of incredible natural and historical value. Among all of them, we would like to highlight these 14 routes:

Videos: We can already say that the Itsaslur Greenway is present in our YouTube channel, and, after enjoying this beautiful route along the coast of Bizkaia, we have decided to get down to work to create a small video to show the beauty of this stunning place. We recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow our adventures throughout the Basque Country.

In our humble opinion, the Itsaslur greenway is one of the most beautiful routes that can be found in the vicinity of Bilbao. A simple and familiar route, with which to know a small part of the coast of Bizkaia. Spectacular. We look forward to your comments.