Historic way on the Norte from La Caridad

Dilbin

Active Member
Apr 19, 2019
215
274
Eire
Time of past OR future Camino
Irun to Santander del Norte
Hi. The historic way from La Caradid or Tapia de Casariego to Vegadeo is little known. However it is perfectly waymarked and offers the Pilgrim a host of the coolest Alberques I have yet experienced on the Camino. Our favourite 3 days west of Santander. Come on Pilgrims. Lets bring back a bit of history to Del Norte
 
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gollygolly

Active Member
Apr 10, 2013
304
650
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2000/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/2021/22/23
Hi. The historic way from La Caradid or Tapia de Casariego to Vegadeo is little known. However it is perfectly waymarked and offers the Pilgrim a host of the coolest Alberques I have yet experienced on the Camino. Our favourite 3 days west of Santander. Come on Pilgrims. Lets bring back a bit of history to Del Norte

Could you give a little more information - how this is a variant, which are the albergues that attracted you and any other details that you believe might be of value in planning walking on the Norte.

Many thanks and Bo Camino
 

Dilbin

Active Member
Apr 19, 2019
215
274
Eire
Time of past OR future Camino
Irun to Santander del Norte
Hi. Basically 32yrs ago the bridge to Ribadeo was built. Prior to this very few pilgrims could get across the river unless they had good finance to afford a boat.(also very dangerous) The historic way through Vegadeo was forgotten but now has been restored. We left the Camino ourselves from Tapia de casariego and travelled throughTol. Shortly after you will be given the choice and we went to Vegadeo. The alberque in Vegadeo and then in A Trapa were truly wonderful experiences. The 3 days walking before you reach Monodoneo are breathtaking and very few pilgrims choose this route. If anybody were to ask me about Del Norte those 3 days could sum up my experience.
 
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Dilbin

Active Member
Apr 19, 2019
215
274
Eire
Time of past OR future Camino
Irun to Santander del Norte
I should also point out that the historic way has fantastic waymarking. Remember also that you will enter Galica on the second day and most of the shells are in reverse. That is the same regardless of how you enter Galicia but fortunately each shell has an arrow so you wont get lost
 
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brian560

Active Member
Aug 1, 2016
156
183
Melbourne Australia
Time of past OR future Camino
CF, VdlP 2016, Port. Central, Norte , Port. Coastal (2018).San Salvador and Primitivo (2019)
Hi. Basically 32yrs ago the bridge to Ribadeo was built. Prior to this very few pilgrims could get across the river unless they had good finance to afford a boat.(also very dangerous) The historic way through Vegadeo was forgotten but now has been restored. We left the Camino ourselves from Tapia de casariego and travelled throughTol. Shortly after you will be given the choice and we went to Vegadeo. The alberque in Vegadeo and then in A Trapa were truly wonderful experiences. The 3 days walking before you reach Monodoneo are breathtaking and very few pilgrims choose this route. If anybody were to ask me about Del Norte those 3 days could sum up my experience.
How long has there been an albergue in Vegadeo. I walked through in 2017 under the impression there was no albergue. Also, do you mean the donativo at A Traba?. I walked from La Caridad to Al Traba because there were no albergues open in between. There was a private albergue but it was shut. If anyone goes this way, it might be advisable plan your accomodation beforehand. On the bright side, one of the best Menu del Dias I have ever eaten was in a gastropub leaving Vegadeo. Don't eat and drink too much though as there is a long climb out of Vegadeo.
 
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brian560

Active Member
Aug 1, 2016
156
183
Melbourne Australia
Time of past OR future Camino
CF, VdlP 2016, Port. Central, Norte , Port. Coastal (2018).San Salvador and Primitivo (2019)
How long has there been an albergue in Vegadeo. I walked through in 2017 under the impression there was no albergue. Also, do you mean the donativo at A Traba?. I walked from La Caridad to Al Traba because there were no albergues open in between. There was a private albergue but it was shut. If anyone goes this way, it might be advisable plan your accomodation beforehand. On the bright side, one of the best Menu del Dias I have ever eaten was in a gastropub leaving Vegadeo. Don't eat and drink too much though as there is a long climb out of Vegadeo.
Correction: A Trapa
 
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gollygolly

Active Member
Apr 10, 2013
304
650
Time of past OR future Camino
2000/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/2021/22/23
Hi. Basically 32yrs ago the bridge to Ribadeo was built. Prior to this very few pilgrims could get across the river unless they had good finance to afford a boat.(also very dangerous) The historic way through Vegadeo was forgotten but now has been restored. We left the Camino ourselves from Tapia de casariego and travelled throughTol. Shortly after you will be given the choice and we went to Vegadeo. The alberque in Vegadeo and then in A Trapa were truly wonderful experiences. The 3 days walking before you reach Monodoneo are breathtaking and very few pilgrims choose this route. If anybody were to ask me about Del Norte those 3 days could sum up my experience.

Thanks a lot for your response !
 

Maggie Y

Maggie
May 13, 2013
203
166
70
Sheffield
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino del Norte Sept 2013
Camino del Norte Sept 2014
Camino del Norte 2015,16,17,18
It's really good to hear about this. I was struggling to find this information last year. I was thinking of picking up my camino around there for the final stage. I thought of getting off the train at Tol and trying to pick up this route but in the end left from Ribadeo instead. Good to know it exists, there is an albergue and it's well way marked
 
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Dilbin

Active Member
Apr 19, 2019
215
274
Eire
Time of past OR future Camino
Irun to Santander del Norte
It's really good to hear about this. I was struggling to find this information last year. I was thinking of picking up my camino around there for the final stage. I thought of getting off the train at Tol and trying to pick up this route but in the end left from Ribadeo instead. Good to know it exists, there is an albergue and it's well way marked
Hello again. If you look up etapa La Caridad to Vegadeo on Gronze they give a list of hostels/ albergues(all open) on the historic route. It was so cool after 3 days to return to Del norte and meet all our friends again who had continued through Ribadeo and share our adventures.
 
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Apr 13, 2015
51
152
Time of past OR future Camino
VdlP, Portugues, Norte,primitivo,Madrid, Invierno, Ingles , Arles, Aragones, Olvidado, Salvador
Hi. The historic way from La Caradid or Tapia de Casariego to Vegadeo is little known. However it is perfectly waymarked and offers the Pilgrim a host of the coolest Alberques I have yet experienced on the Camino. Our favourite 3 days west of Santander. Come on Pilgrims. Lets bring back a bit of history to Del Norte
I completely agree . We have just walked the historic route and it was really great. Very well waymarked, bars/restaurants along the way just where you need them and spectacular scenery along the ria and into the mountains. The albergues at Vegadeo and La Trapa were fabulous with wonderful Hospitaleros and excellent food. Local people were really friendly and helpful. We didn't see any pilgrims until we joined the main route again at Mondonedo. An unforgettable 3 days.
 
Apr 13, 2015
51
152
Time of past OR future Camino
VdlP, Portugues, Norte,primitivo,Madrid, Invierno, Ingles , Arles, Aragones, Olvidado, Salvador
Hi. The historic way from La Caradid or Tapia de Casariego to Vegadeo is little known. However it is perfectly waymarked and offers the Pilgrim a host of the coolest Alberques I have yet experienced on the Camino. Our favourite 3 days west of Santander. Come on Pilgrims. Lets bring back a bit of history to Del Norte
I completely agree . We have just walked the historic route and it was really great. Very well waymarked, bars/restaurants along the way just where you need them and spectacular scenery along the ria and into the mountains. The albergues at Vegadeo and La Trapa were fabulous with wonderful Hospitaleros and excellent food. Local people were really friendly and helpful. We didn't see any pilgrims until we joined the main route again at Mondonedo. An unforgettable 3 days.
 
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