November weather

[Jim Michie]

Due to some personal commitments I am unable to start walking the Plata until October 12th. I am curious as to what the weather will be the first couple of weeks in November. Mainly what to expect north of Salamanca.
Thanks for you help
Jim Michie

 

[J Willhaus]

We had pilgrims over Christmas at Zamora in 2018. Some were traveling and others finishing.

 

[trecile]

Due to some personal commitments I am unable to start walking the Plata until October 12th. I am curious as to what the weather will be the first couple of weeks in November. Mainly what to expect north of Salamanca.
Thanks for you help
Jim Michie

I believe that @lt56ny walked the VdlP at that time. Hopefully he will weigh in here.

 

[J Willhaus]

It was cool and some days rainy in Zamora mid December to the end if the month, but not really cold.
.

 

[DeansFamily]

We walked the VdlP in 2019 and headed out of Seville on October 10th with 38°C, walked out of Salamanca with rain & wind, ended up going to Decathlon in Zamora to buy us all fleece lined cold weather walking pants as the temperature dropped. Turning onto the Sanabres the weather was crisp and dry and we found ourselves walking through shin deep snow on the Castillo/Leon- Galician border past Pueblo de Sanabres and walked into SdC hours before the heavens opened up for all the poor pilgrims still walking in early December. Plan for every type of weather and buy what you need as the weather turns. I loved walking the VdlP and Sanabres and would happily do it again in the Autumn/Winter period. Buen Camino and wish it was me.

 

[Jim Michie]

We walked the VdlP in 2019 and headed out of Seville on October 10th with 38°C, walked out of Salamanca with rain & wind, ended up going to Decathlon in Zamora to buy us all fleece lined cold weather walking pants as the temperature dropped. Turning onto the Sanabres the weather was crisp and dry and we found ourselves walking through shin deep snow on the Castillo/Leon- Galician border past Pueblo de Sanabres and walked into SdC hours before the heavens opened up for all the poor pilgrims still walking in early December. Plan for every type of weather and buy what you need as the weather turns. I loved walking the VdlP and Sanabres and would happily do it again in the Autumn/Winter period. Buen Camino and wish it was me.

Thanks for your great response. My hats off for persevering in the snow. I'd have to think about that. You response was "we" I assume you walked with you wife... I don't see that happening with my wife. My hats off especially to her.
Jim Michie

 

[DeansFamily]

You're very welcome, and there were 3 of us. My husband, myself and our 15 year old daughter (who already had the Frances, Norte & Primitivo under our belts) and the snow was one of the best parts of the long journey. Don't fret if it snows as the worst outcome is damp shoes and sections of that stage take the road. All along the VdlP/Sanabres has stunning scenery that will stay with you forever. A heads up to stay at Rionegro de Puente on the Sanabres. The municipal albergue is good and across the road is "Mi gusta Comer", a restaurant that serves the best pilgrim menu in Spain. It was a degustation and the gentleman is a master chef who delights in serving amazing food. And stay in Lubian, a delightful small village with stone wolf traps and a great little albergue just as you walk in. We did a "live from the Camino" about our VdlP experience if you are interested. Buen Camino and hope to see some posts on how its going.

 

[DeansFamily]

LIVE from the Camino @DeansFamily on the Vdlp​

Jim, here's the thread to look for. Hope it helps.

 

[Rita Flower]

Finished my slow Via last year on 20 November 2022 (in Santiago). You will need some warmer layers for the evening after Salamanca. I bought some light fleece track pants and a fleece vest at the Decathlon in Salamanca but only wore my normal layers in the day - hiking pants, 2 layers mid weight merino tops - lightweight fleece - rain gear as needed for rain/wind. And often removed layers as the day wore on back down to short sleeve merino top.
All in all totally manageable.
EDIT. I noticed the weather became decidedly colder in Santiago very shortly after I arrived. I just read some of the DeansFamily posts and realised that November on the Sanabres would be a lot colder than I experienced- for one I didn’t see any snow.

 

[trecile]

LIVE from the Camino @DeansFamily on the Vdlp​

Jim, here's the thread to look for. Hope it helps.

Here's the thread

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/deansfamily-on-the-vdlp.65037/#post-795790