Which route to take?

[Mavitut]

Oddly I can't find a forum for what would seem to be the most important question for pilgrims: which route to take? In our case we want to walk 7-10 days. We are in our 60s and fit. We want to walk in Spain but would consider Portugal.

But which of the many many routes would be best? We'd like decent facilities, but not crowds (yeah, right). Nice countryside, decent weather etc.. We'll meet friends in Santiago and then travel around Spain, but the first part of our trip (the Camino) is the key.

Please, I would be grateful for advice on which route(s) to look at, given our interests. Thanks very much for advice. And thanks too for the Forum.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Oddly I can't find a forum for what would seem to be the most important question for pilgrims: which route to take?

Hi and welcome...the reason you can't find a forum for it is because it varies too much. for instance, even with your fairly specific list, it depends on what you consider decent, crowds, and nice. And nice weather can vary with time of year.
the closer you get to SdC on any route, the more people. I think many enjoy the Portugues, of course by sheer numbers most prefer the Frances, a nice alternative to the roads more traveled are the Norte (but depending on time of year can be wet) and I like the Primitivo...but as a road is less traveled there is less infrastructure...and of course less people to socialize with during stops. Another way to walk would be the Ingles, or even SdC-Finisterre-Muxia-SdC.

at this site http://www.gronze.com/#todos you can click on each of the routes and get an idea of how many days long they are (but you can start at any point to suit your 7-10 window), the elevations, the things along the way, etc. You could also start, then skip some sections via train/bus/taxi to fit your time frame. Happy planning and Buen Camino!

edit: while I prefer the Primitivo, you couldn't probably get from Oviedo to SdC in 7-10 days without walking really long steps. I did it in 10 but it meant two 25+ mile days and a third pretty long one. You could start in Lugo, but in my opinion you miss the best parts of the Primitivo.

 

[Mavitut]

Hi and welcome...the reason you can't find a forum for it is because it varies too much. for instance, even with your fairly specific list, it depends on what you consider decent, crowds, and nice. And nice weather can vary with time of year.
the closer you get to SdC on any route, the more people. I think many enjoy the Portugues, of course by sheer numbers most prefer the Frances, a nice alternative to the roads more traveled are the Norte (but depending on time of year can be wet) and I like the Primitivo...but as a road is less traveled there is less infrastructure...and of course less people to socialize with during stops. Another way to walk would be the Ingles, or even SdC-Finisterre-Muxia-SdC.

at this site http://www.gronze.com/#todos you can click on each of the routes and get an idea of how many days long they are (but you can start at any point to suit your 7-10 window), the elevations, the things along the way, etc. You could also start, then skip some sections via train/bus/taxi to fit your time frame. Happy planning and Buen Camino!

edit: while I prefer the Primitivo, you couldn't probably get from Oviedo to SdC in 7-10 days without walking really long steps. I did it in 10 but it meant two 25+ mile days and a third pretty long one. You could start in Lugo, but in my opinion you miss the best parts of the Primitivo.

 

[Mavitut]

SO helpful! Thank you! Vague terms are of course subjective, but other pilgrims may help me define what is "decent weather" for instance, or "not too crowded." I should have mentioned, though that we are constrained to walk in late June, perhaps the first week of July. That "having a job thing" is such a pain. Thanks!

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Jobs...if only we had money without them. I only walked the Norte until it reached the turn-off to the Primitivo, but looking at the route description it sound/looks pretty for the last 8 days of the Norte (then you join the Frances)...I liked the part I walked, beaches, good seafood, fewer walkers...maybe look on the Norte forum to find someone who walked the entire way.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

PS if you don't easily read Spanish google translate will turn gronze to english

 

[whariwharangi]

Robert Frost did this:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

 

[SYates]

The Camino Portuguese http://www.gronze.com/camino-portugues either from Porto or from Tui comes to my mind.
Or the Camino Ingles plus Finisterre/Muxia ...
Buen Camino, SY

 

[Dancing Rain]

What about doing the traditional walk from Sarria to Santiago and follow it with one to Finisterre if you have time?

 

[Tulle]

Or Camino Ingles?

 

[Mavitut]

The Camino Portuguese http://www.gronze.com/camino-portugues either from Porto or from Tui comes to my mind.
Or the Camino Ingles plus Finisterre/Muxia ...
Buen Camino, SY

Thank you!