The Walk along the Estuary between Barakaldo and Sestao

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The Walk along the Estuary between Barakaldo and Sestao

Not all special plans are on cliffs, historic old quarters or charming villages. Sometimes, some of the most interesting spots appear in places where urban landscape, industrial memory and the estuary are combined in a very unique way. That is what happens on the walk along the estuary between Barakaldo and Sestao, which is a perfect space for enjoying a low-key outing and discovering a less touristy side of Biscay.

This spot is remarkable precisely for that reason, because it provides a different view of the territory. Here, the estuary isn’t just the background, rather it takes centre stage on a walk where the water, pedestrian trails and urban setting create an image that’s very different from other more well-known places. It’s an area that makes you want to slow down your pace, pause a moment and enjoy a part of Biscay that has managed to transform itself without losing its identity.

One of the most appealing aspects of the walk is the contrast between past and present. For many years this part of the estuary was deeply bound to industrial activity, something that is still part of the personality of Barakaldo and Sestao. Today, however, the same setting opens up to visitors as a much more welcoming place intended for walking, breathing and taking another look at the estuary from a different point of view.

It’s a simple plan, but that’s precisely where its charm lies. There’s no need to organise a major excursion to enjoy it. All you need to do is go there, go down the walkway, look at the water, observe the landscape of the left bank and let yourself become immersed in the characteristic mix of city, history and urban transformation. It’s one of those places that works especially well when you’re in the mood to walk a bit and discover a different spot without great pretensions, but that has a lot of character.

It’s a space that a lot of people probably wouldn’t include in their plans for Biscay but that, nevertheless, can become a very nice visit if what you’re looking for is to discover different and less-obvious scenarios.

Walking along the estuary in this area lets you connect with a more contemporary Biscay that’s tightly bound to its working-class past but at the same time it’s open to new uses and new ways of enjoying the space. It’s a different way of approaching the territory, far from the most habitual plans and very close to the local identity that is still very present in every section of the landscape.