Via de la Plata contrario

[Tamsin Grainger]

Has anyone else walked the Via de la Plata from Santiago towards Seville? I finished the Francés at Santiago and wanted to keep going. it seemed silly to spend money going by bus and walking back and anyway I am on my way to Madrid. but... it is really hard finding the way and the info on line (I don't have a book) is tricky to plan backwards as it were. I have managed as far as Xunqueira de ambia and am planning to go to vilar de barrio tomorrow. any help gratefully received.

 

[Kiwi-family]

I'm surprised you've managed that far with no guide! How long do you have?
If you make it to Zamora I would recommend then skipping on to the Levante route....as far as
San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and from there GPS yourself in a pretty straight line along the M501/522/513 to Madrid!

 

[Kiwi-family]

Or when you get to Benavente go northwards on the Via de la Plata to Astorga (following arrows the right way!), then back along the Frances to Sahagun (easy coz you just look for pilgrims coming towards you), then backwards down the Camino de Madrid.

 

[KinkyOne]

Has anyone else walked the Via de la Plata from Santiago towards Seville? I finished the Francés at Santiago and wanted to keep going. it seemed silly to spend money going by bus and walking back and anyway I am on my way to Madrid. but... it is really hard finding the way and the info on line (I don't have a book) is tricky to plan backwards as it were. I have managed as far as Xunqueira de ambia and am planning to go to vilar de barrio tomorrow. any help gratefully received.

Hi, Tamsin,

How fluent are you in Spanish? I'm not really but can understand simple descriptions in these on-line guides:
- for VdlP:
http://www.gronze.com/via-plata
http://www.mundicamino.com/los-caminos/38/camino-de-la-plata/
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/via-de-la-plata/
- if you decide to switch over to Camino de Levante (depends on the time you have you can go from Zamora as far as Avila or even Toledo - both well worth a visit and have good transport connections to Madrid) or Camino de Madrid as suggested I can search for those guides also. I've walked both and it's easier to find it for me from my home computer than for you on your smartphone I'd say

Anyway have a nice backward Camino!

 

[Tamsin Grainger]

I'm surprised you've managed that far with no guide! How long do you have?
If you make it to Zamora I would recommend then skipping on to the Levante route....as far as
San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and from there GPS yourself in a pretty straight line along the M501/522/513 to Madrid!

Hi, Tamsin,

How fluent are you in Spanish? I'm not really but can understand simple descriptions in these on-line guides:
- for VdlP:
http://www.gronze.com/via-plata
http://www.mundicamino.com/los-caminos/38/camino-de-la-plata/
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/via-de-la-plata/
- if you decide to switch over to Camino de Levante (depends on the time you have you can go from Zamora as far as Avila or even Toledo - both well worth a visit and have good transport connections to Madrid) or Camino de Madrid as suggested I can search for those guides also. I've walked both and it's easier to find it for me from my home computer than for you on your smartphone I'd say

Anyway have a nice backward Camino!

Thanks for all your helpful comments. I walked alone and got lost the first day though made it eventually! then Iatched onto someone who was also doing it and has done it 4 times the 'right' way. then 2 more days alone with the help of an online site and a helpful man with GPS (which I don't have) and then I turned round at vilar de barrio and walked to Xinzon and took the bus back to Ourense, lay in the wonderful hot baths and am about to get on an overnight bus to Madrid. I was the only person at most hostels and after walking The Francés from Pamplona to Santiago I am tired. one day I will return to do Seville to Vilar de Barrio and 'finish' the right way! ta