Via de la Plata in REVERSE!? Camino Portuguese in REVERSE!?

[American Road Junky]

In September of this year (2015 for our readers of the future), I will be hiking the Camino Frances with my lovely girlfriend and future mother-in-law. Mother-in-law jokes aside, I'm quite looking forward to it. At the end of the month they will both be returning to working life - I will continue to hike for the remainder of the year.

For the sake of continuity I was considering departing Santiago along the VdlP in reverse and connecting it to the GR 10 just south of Valdelacasa. From here I could connect to the GR 7 into Andorra and so on.

Is the signage good enough to move in reverse? What is the scenery like? Any thoughts on my timing (moving south in October)?

A second option would be to leave Santiago and follow the Camino Portuguese in reverse to Lisbon. From here connecting to the GR 12, GR 10, GR 7, and so on.

Which route would you recommend (Portuguese or Via de la Plata)?

Open to ideas - and many many thanks.

-Scott

 

[lovingkindness]

For the sake of continuity I was considering departing Santiago along the VdlP in reverse and connecting it to the GR 10 just south of Valdelacasa. From here I could connect to the GR 7 into Andorra and so on.

Hello Scott, following signed trails in reverse is an excellent challenge. In October, 2011 I followed The Via Sanabres from Santiago de Compostela as far as Ourense. It was a beautiful time of year. The Via Sanabres is superb. In April 2010 I followed the VdlP from Astorga to Fuenterroble de salvatierra without incident. I had difficulty leaving Astorga, that's all. The seasons change in October and rains may come. Also it gets colder. There will be other peregrinos following the VdlP to SdC in October/November. I'll hunt through my notes and see what else I can find.

Cheers,
Lovingkindness

 

[mspath]

Lovingkindness is so right it is indeed a challenge! December 2011 after finishing the CF I continued to Finisterre, per usual, and then walked down to the Portuguese border at Tui. This involved going " backward " along the Camino Portuguese from Santiago. To go backward is more complicated than you might think; since this path is hardly well marked, searching for the famous yellow arrows pointing opposite my direction wasn't easy. Viewed backwards the arrows resembled anchors. Thus it all was a bit of a treasure hunt! Be prepared and Bom Caminho!

Margaret Meredith

 

[AJ]

The Portuguese is waymarked in reverse as far as Fatima. The arrows are blue.

 

[Castilian]

Be aware that in some areas of the Camino Sanabrés they are working on a high-speed train line what affects the camino, its signage... Variants due to works may be signalized towards Santiago de Compostela but (probably) not the other way around.

 

[nalod]

Hello Scott, I have meet numerous people doing the Via d la Plata in reverse, they had actually walked the Camino Frances. Considering that you are going south you should have little weather problems. You mention the GR 10 and then Andora, I am confused. I have walked the complete gr10 Pyrénées (a route in southern France), if this is what you are talking about forget about it. It would be foolish to do any of the gr10 in mid October onwards because of snow, also all the places to stay in would be closed.
Dermot

 

[Daphne24]

In September of this year (2015 for our readers of the future), I will be hiking the Camino Frances with my lovely girlfriend and future mother-in-law. Mother-in-law jokes aside, I'm quite looking forward to it. At the end of the month they will both be returning to working life - I will continue to hike for the remainder of the year.

For the sake of continuity I was considering departing Santiago along the VdlP in reverse and connecting it to the GR 10 just south of Valdelacasa. From here I could connect to the GR 7 into Andorra and so on.

Is the signage good enough to move in reverse? What is the scenery like? Any thoughts on my timing (moving south in October)?

A second option would be to leave Santiago and follow the Camino Portuguese in reverse to Lisbon. From here connecting to the GR 12, GR 10, GR 7, and so on.

Which route would you recommend (Portuguese or Via de la Plata)?

Open to ideas - and many many thanks.

-Scott

Hi Scott.
Did you do the via de la plats or camino portuges in reverse in the end?
I'm considering it this year in November. What would you recommend?! Thank you
Daphne

 

[SYates]

@Daphne24

According to his forum profile page "American Road Junky was last seen: Mar 19, 2015"
You might be better off to post your questions in a new thread that you start.

Buen Camino, SY