Cornfields stretching to the horizon, a tractor here and there, and a church tower in the distance. That’s how the day begins out of Agurain, across the open plain of Álava.
It’s flat, with almost no climbing. That sounds like a gift, but the distance counts: well over seven hours of walking, with little to break it up. You get sun or wind thrown in for free, and the landscape hardly changes. It calls for patience.
Towards the end, Vitoria-Gasteiz slowly edges closer. You walk through the outskirts to the old town, which feels suddenly busy and lively after all those fields. Your legs only realise how far you’ve walked once you stand still. Keep your pace low and this stage will pretty much take care of itself.