Arles route in summer

[gml]

Hello,
I am thinking of starting the Arles route sometime between mid to late June and walking through July, but am concerned that it might be very hot at that time. I have looked at historical weather statistics, but I would love to hear from anyone with real-life experience! Also, any comments on the number of pilgrims and the availability of accommodation during those months would be most welcome. I don't see any threads that pertain specifically to conditions in the summer on this route. Thanks very much.

 

[JFB]

Hi gml,

i've been there a few years ago, but in march/april. Even then it was really hot. But there is also the "Mistral", a strong wind that is really helpful because it cools you down. If you don't like walking when it's hot or aren't used to it, it might be too hard to go there in june/july.

I walked from Arlés to the Spanish border. You can find "Gites" (Albergues) in nearly every bigger village. But I haven't met a lot of other pilgrims on the way. When I was in France it wasn't as cheap as on the caminos in Spain.

That's all i can tell you, hope it was helpful!

 

[frida1]

I can't tell you about summer, but two of us have been walking since April 29 from Montpellier and are now a couple days east of Toulouse. We've met 10 other pilgrims. There are gites and chambre d'hote but you need to be prepared to walk 24k per day and ascend 800 to 1000 meters per day through the Haute Langedoc. It's beautiful but you won't find cafes and services between destinations. We've had a couple days of driving rain and a few hours of very strong wind, but mostly good weather for walking, i.e. Not too hot. Buen camino!

 

[Sixwheeler]

Yes, it will be hot.
Ultreïa

 

[tifferr robinson]

I have been doing this route over the last two Augusts, just 4 days each time (Toulous to Morlaas first time with a bike! and then Morlaas to Sarrance walking). It is hot! I have a 3litre water lung thing and I get through the lot between each town. I am big and make my own heat - so the 35 degree heat doesn't add that much

I have found the number of pilgrims varies greatly, from 0 to 10 at each gite (Oloron had lots but it's a crossover point from a couple of routes). It's not as cheap as spain but I think the gites are nicer too from what I have heard, and it's still much cheaper than some of the other french routes early on.

 

[Zoula]

Hi gml,

i've been there a few years ago, but in march/april. Even then it was really hot. But there is also the "Mistral", a strong wind that is really helpful because it cools you down. If you don't like walking when it's hot or aren't used to it, it might be too hard to go there in june/july.

I walked from Arlés to the Spanish border. You can find "Gites" (Albergues) in nearly every bigger village. But I haven't met a lot of other pilgrims on the way. When I was in France it wasn't as cheap as on the caminos in Spain.

That's all i can tell you, hope it was helpful!

Hi JFB can you tell me where I could find a guide or map of this route?? How many stages is there?? Thanks!

 

[JabbaPapa]

The weather can be quite variable on that route, and yes it can get quite hot in the South of France, but it wasn't as hot when I was there (in summer) as it can get on the Francès in Spain.

There can also be summer storms, rains from the Pyrenees or the Atlantic, and so on.

 

[Doogman]

Hi JFB can you tell me where I could find a guide or map of this route?? How many stages is there?? Thanks!

If you Google it, there are a number of guides in French (Miam Miam DoDo, FFRP, Lepere). The Confraternity of St. James publishes a two-part guide in English. Here are a few websites:

https://boutique.ffrandonnee.fr/topoguides?gr=255

http://www.levieuxcrayon.com/la-bou...3-arles-puente-reina-via-tolosona-compostelle

https://www.csj.org.uk/product/pilg...-to-puente-la-reina-part-1-arles-to-toulouse/

 

[gml]

Thank you all for your replies. I'm coming to the conclusion that the summer weather in southern France sort of depends... on the weather! Probably quite hot, but maybe not worse than the 30-35C heat wave on the Le Puy route in October 2014. Still, the prospect of 5-6 weeks of it is a bit daunting.

 

[JabbaPapa]

the 30-35C heat wave on the Le Puy route in October 2014

That's very unusually hot

 

[Zoula]

The weather can be quite variable on that route, and yes it can get quite hot in the South of France, but it wasn't as hot when I was there (in summer) as it can get on the Francès in Spain.

There can also be summer storms, rains from the Pyrenees or the Atlantic, and so on.

Thanks JabbaPapa, good info!