The new walkways from Bilbao to Artxanda

Bilbao City Council has recently created another incentive to spend a morning strolling around Artxanda. In addition to the tree-lined area, the traditional viewpoint, the large tree-lined track and the wide range of bars and restaurants.

Let’s go up the hill by funicular railway, El Funi, as it is popularly known, taking it from the square of the same name, a few metres from the Zubizuri, which crosses the estuary. From the viewpoint, to the south, we can see the city and the surrounding crests. To the northeast, the airport and the Txorierri valley. To the northwest, the port of Santurtzi and the sea.

If we head west along the path to the side of the antennae, we will go down to the Enekuri-Santo Domingo road. It has a well-protected path for pedestrians that offers views. Follow it, always heading west, until you come to an asphalted path on your left marked Camino de Berriz, which you will find at a crossroads.

On taking it, we pass by the old 18th century windmill and the hill on which there is another set of antennae. These occupy the same place as the signal mast with maritime flags with which the city was aware of the ships that sailed up the estuary towards the old port of El Arenal. At this point begins a cantilevered walkway that forms a ziz-zag belt around the side of the hill.

The views over the island of Zorrozaurre and the old industrial heartland allow the visitor to walk and understand the development of a whole territory.

The walkway is one and a half kilometres long, has a clear width of at least two metres and a maximum gradient of 8%. It is very pleasant to walk along.

It has two viewpoints, is supported by isolated pillars and has lighting and a fountain.

At its lowest point it connects, crossing Enekuri, with another walkway of the same characteristics that skirts Monte Cabras and offers views over Erandio.

If you have had enough of the walk, you can simply go down the Enekuri pedestrian walkway to Ibarrekolanda and take the Metro or a city bus to return to the centre.

On another note, there is another walkway that descends to Sondika and shows part of Bilbao’s Iron Belt, the defensive system of trenches and bunkers that Bilbao was equipped with during the war of 1936-1939.