CF - UK school summer holidays

[davejsy]

Hi all,
Just how busy is it potentially likely to be if you choose to walk the CF at this time? Realistically last two weeks of July and whole of August. I'm considering taking my godson, and logistically this is the only time we could get long enough to do it (at least until he finishes school!).

 

[Tincatinker]

How’s your godson with heat? Apart from the heat in the afternoon and early evening I can’t think of another impediment. The spring season rush of international pilgrims from St Jean will have got to Santiago or faded from the trail. The native Spanish traffic kicks off from Sarria and yet there are many ways to walk the Way in comfortable traffic.

How old is the subject? The wants and needs of pre-teens, teenagers and “can I buy you a drink God- Dad?” are much apart

 

[davejsy]

How’s your godson with heat? Apart from the heat in the afternoon and early evening I can’t think of another impediment. The spring season rush of international pilgrims from St Jean will have got to Santiago or faded from the trail. The native Spanish traffic kicks off from Sarria and yet there are many ways to walk the Way in comfortable traffic.

How old is the subject? The wants and needs of pre-teens, teenagers and “can I buy you a drink God- Dad?” are much apart

He will be nearly 15 by that time, he's been dragged up and down mountains in NW Spain with me for the past couple of years, so physically he should be fine.
The heat is one thing I'm not that keen on, but this would be our only window of opportunity in the near term.
We could potentially look at a shorter alternative such as the Primativo which would be amazing, but I think they CF for my GS would be an amazing experience at his age, something that would stay with him forever.

 

[Tincatinker]

I coped far better with the heat of central Spain as a 15/16 year old than I can possibly do now. In my late 30’s I switched to winter season walking for most routes apart from the ones with really big sticky-up bits where snow might be an issue.

IMO your godson will be fine, watch yourself - stay hydrated and don’t try to keep up

If you want a quieter route switch to the Invierno or the Konig from Ponferrada

 

[J Willhaus]

The Spanish student groups start in July and families walk in August, but these are mainly from Sarria to Santiago. He should be fine and may meet some young people.

 

[David Tallan]

Hi all,
Just how busy is it potentially likely to be if you choose to walk the CF at this time? Realistically last two weeks of July and whole of August. I'm considering taking my godson, and logistically this is the only time we could get long enough to do it (at least until he finishes school!).

I walked with my son in July/August on the CF (it was a similar situation). I booked the first couple of days before we set out and then it wasn't busy enough to cause concern until we got into Galicia. When we arrived in Triacastela there was plenty of room for us, but the first three albergues I tried has been completely booked in advance. So, at that point I started to book a day or two in advance. It wasn't hard because by that time I knew how far our bodies liked us to walk each day. For us, getting up and on the road early each morning was important - not to secure beds but to avoid as much as possible walking during the heat of the day.