another set of maps / guide

[jl]

I received a new map book for the Camino Frances the other day from Amazon UK.

It is a green Michelin guide from St Jean to Santiago and is called:-
Camino de Santiago 1 : 150 000

It is quite good as it has very basic albergue information, maps on one page and the elevation profile of the facing page.

The one disavdvantage that I can see is that it does not have the alternative paths marked on it - for example going to Sarria the path goes through Samos - it doesn't show the direct way, and another instance is leaving Leon - it only shows the path going along the road - not the lovely scenic one going through the holmwood oaks. However these could be drawn in and it would then be a very light map document to carry.

It is comparatively recent (Jan 2010) and costs 5.99 pound.

Sorry, don't know how to add a picture (I did try!) but maybe someone else knows how. Cheers, Janet

 

[ivar]

Great!!

...maybe you could add a link to the Amazon page?

Saludos,
Ivar

 

[jl]

Here is the link (I Hope!) Janet

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Camino-Santiago-1-150-000/

[Ivar: fixed the link]

 

[alipilgrim]

Hi Janet,

Have you seen Brierley's mapbook for the Frances? If so, I wonder how you think it compares to the Michelin map guide?

 

[jl]

I am trying to think what the Brierly map book is like - from memory it is just a reproduction of the maps in his guide book. The maps in the Michelin guide are what I would call "proper" maps in that they are more like ordinace survey maps, but a bigger scale (1cm - 1.5kms). It gives the days walk on one page so one page covers roughly 30 kms, and it does show the Mtns etc. I like the height profile on the facing page and the fact that each village has whether there is a an albergue in it or not and symbols for other facilities offered (I think). It is basic, but a good little guide and I would say reasonably inexpensive at 5.99 pound. I have loaned it out and only had it for a few hours and so am unable to have another look at it till the end of next week to refine my comments.

I did check it though for where the stages went, and most "days" were different to what the other guides do - for example stopping at Boadilla del Camino instead of Fromista, Molinaseca instead of Ponferrada (although Brierly stops there), and Reliegos del camino instead of Mansilla to just name a few - this would help reduce bottlenecks.

Cheers, Janet

 

[Portia1]

There were several times when I would have given anything for a map other than Brierley's--mostly because he only shows where you should be and not what is around you if you get lost. There were instances of arrows pointing in opposite directions so you had to choose which you believed--there were at least two times when I was seriously questioning where I was and no way to figure out how to get myself back on track. Leaving Samos, I apparently took a wrong turn and wandered way out of the way and no one around. There was one faded arrow and then nothing..... I ended up at Sarria but only through the grace of God. It was a cold, foggy, rainy day and there were periods of extreme anxiety as I wondered where in the heck I was. Couldn't even follow the sun!

This fall I am taking a highway map so I have at least a fair notion of where I am--2 oz of "option".