Primitivo to Santiago in one week - where to start?

[courtneywalks]

Hello all! This forum was very helpful in preparing me for St. Jean to SDC last year, and I am very thankful to all of you for that! While I was originally not preparing to hike any part of any Camino this year, now we are talking about starting on the Primitivo, and walking seven days, ending in Santiago. (We are both sadly lacking in vacation time.) Would Grandas de Salime be a realistic starting point for this, or too ambitious? Look forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

[Davey Boyd]

Hi Courtney!

Yes I think so but it depends on you, I walked from Penefonte 10km AFTER Grandas de Selime to Santiago in 7 days, but some of the days were quite long. My stages were this:

Penefonte to Padron 18.7 km (from Grandas de Selime 28.7 km)
Padron to Castroverde 29.2km
Castroverde to Lugo 21.5km
Lugo to San Romeo de Retorta 19.1 km
San Romeo to Melide (Back on Camino Frances) 30.1km
Melide to Pedrouzo 32.8km
Pedrouzo to Santiago 19.8km

Easier would be from Padron or Castroverde in my opinion unless you are confident with these type of distances. Very doiable would be from Lugo but that is only two days walking on the actual Primitivo before it joins the Frances.

Or, for the best Primitivo walking why not start in Oviedo and walk one week? You will get the best of the Primitivo that way (The Albergue at Bodenaya, Hospitales mountain route and around Lake Embalse de Salime ending at Grandas de Selime (do the rest later)! That is what I would do if it was the Primitivo.

There is always the Camino Ingles though, a full route to Santiago!

Enjoy!
Davey

 

[micamino73]

From what every says the Oviedo to Grandes de salime is a beautiful walk. having done the camino twice I would suggest you walk the first 8 days from Oviedo and then take a bus from wherever you arrive to. The last 30km into Santiago are not particularly inspiring. all depends what you want, if its a compostela or a nice walk.