Is March/April a good time of year to walk Camino Frances?

[Ingrid Elaine Eaker]

It doesn't seem like many pilgrims walk Camino Frances in March. I have also noticed that many albergues are closed in March. Is this because March is an unpopular time to walk? If so, why? Also, what is the weather like early March through late April along Camino Frances?

 

[mspath]

Ingrid Elaine,

Welcome to the Forum!

As you scan these various Forum topics and threads you will find much useful info on camino walking in every season.

Most pilgrims walk during summer and, consequently, that is when every service is thronged with the race for bunks. After the summer crowds have passed many albergues close during winter and early spring for a welcome and necessary rest. However some albergues do stay open throughout the year since there are always some pilgrims walking every day .

One never knows what the weather will be. March and April are NOT necessarily 'balmy' or mild!! This past winter/early spring the Napoleon route from SJPdP to Roncevalles was filled with several meters of snow which continued during March and in effect was closed to pilgrims thus necessitating the use of the Valcarlos alternate. You can read about this hazardous situation in this Forum topic. >> http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/el-camino-frances/topic16961.html

Bad weather, ie fog, heavy rain, and hail can occur in ANY season; many steep descents on the camino would then be treacherous and following smaller parallel roads might be necessary. D ifficult stretches after storms might be from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada or across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca as well as Monte Irago and, of course, O Cebreiro.

Sillydoll who is a Forum member has compiled encyclopedic information on Winter Walking at >> [URL='http://amawalker.blogspot.fr/...er.blogspot.fr/2009/10/walking-in-winter.html[/URL] Another good account of winter walking by a Forum member is the earlier 2013 blog http://agoodwalkunspoiled.blogspot.com/.

Whenever you choose to walk whatever the season the Camino is a very special experience; nevertheless you must BE PREPARED.

Happy planning and Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

 

[karenfromcali]

Hi Ingrid. I will be walking early March and will be preparing for cold wet weather. Depending on where you are starting may also make a difference. If you are beginning in St Jean Pied de Port (SJPP) then according to experienced members there may even be snow. The Napoleon Route may also be closed due to bad weather and an alternate route used. But as long as you plan well I am sure you will be fine. I hear that time of year can be quite beautiful. Buen Camino.

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Ingrid Elaine

I walked the Camino Frances last March from Pamplona and there are plenty of pilgrims around. Although some albergues are still closed there are loads still open, so it isn't really a problem unless there are some specific ones you want to stay in.

The weather was very mixed indeed, and it's probably the last month when you really have to be prepared for wintery weather (that said, I think last year even April was quite wintery in places). Although I didn't see any snow, those who started in SJPP did. However we also had a week or so when it was very warm indeed, and much of the time it was warm enough to walk in just a t-shirt.

I arrived in Santiago on Easter Sunday so walked the busy stretch from Sarria during Holy Week. It wasn't as busy as I thought it would be and there were no problems with accommodation, however I was staying in a mix of albergues and hostals so it's possible that some albergues did fill up.

Overall I'd say it's a good time to walk, but in a perfect world I'd probably wait an extra month just for a bit more stability with the weather.

Buen Camino!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I found March quite pleasant walking, but I don't start in France generally. There are many closed places, but there are enough open. You may have to ask to have heat turned on. There can be snow and ice, but the footing is good after the morning thaw. The number of pilgrims is fairly small, but you will have company.

Buen camino!

 

[Stellere]

We'll be starting from SJPP in mid-March. I'm planning for cold weather, rain and snow (I actually prefer snow to rain, so I'm mentally preparing myself for rain - if it snows instead, I'll be happy!) Layers, waterproof boots, maybe a coil heater for tea in the morning.

While at first I was worried that we were going early in the season and would have bad weather, after a few months of reading the forum - I'm now happy that I won't have to race for a bed or walk in crowds of people.

 

[Ingrid Elaine Eaker]

Thank you everyone for all of the advice so far!