april , good date ?

[colly2000]

thinking of finishing my Camino in April from Leon to Santiago , has anyone walked in April ? just wondering what the weather will be like and if many people will be walking as well ?
any advice would be greatly appreciated
Paul

 

[sillydoll]

Paul, April next year could be great! If its anything like this April it could be clear, lots of sunshine and no snow or blizzards like in previous years!
I gave advice to a pilgrim not to walk in early April because there are usually late snows and she could have trouble in the high places (like the Irago Mountains outside of Leon or at O Cebreiro.) But, it was a really hot April and there was no snow.
I also recommend pilgrims walk in September. We had days over over 31oC in September. Go figure! Who can predict the weather these days? England and Wales have just had the hottest 1 October on record.
From the Met Office:
Provisionally, the highest temperature of the day was 29.9 °C, recorded at Gravesend in Kent. This beats the previous record of 29.4 °C recorded at March in Cambridgeshire, which has stood since 1 October 1985. Wales also has a new national record, 28.2 °C was recorded at Hawarden, Flintshire. The previous record was 26.4 °C recorded at Ruthin, Denbighshire, again on 1 October 1985. These new records come at the end of an increasingly hot week across many parts of the UK and we may well see record breaking temperatures in some areas again on Sunday.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I have walked several times in April, and liked the weather. It may rain a lot, so be prepared for that, and temperatures will drop at night and in the higher altitudes, so take an appropriate sleeping bag. You will be ahead of bed bug season, but you still might want to treat your sleeping bag and pack to keep them away.

Leon to Santiago takes approximately 14 days, and you will start with a few days that are not too strenuous. After Astorga, the terrain heads up to the highest point on the Camino at the Iron Cross.

 

[SabsP]

Loved walking in April this year. Started on the 12th of April from Roncesvalles and took an easy pace , reached SdC on the 17th of May. Never had a problem with finding an albergue. My sleepingbag came in handy because most nights temperatures seriously dropped. Only had two days of rain. : etapa into Burgos and the one to El Burgo Ranero. Otherwise perfect weather. Highest it got was 28 degrees ( the walk to O' Cebreiro ).

 

[duncan pm]

Absolutely beautiful time to travel. Weather extremely variable but do take care with school holiday times and above all Easter, Semana Santa, to avoid the crowds - do not know when it falls next year, earlie I think.
I remember this well in Pamplona with the night time processions - wonderous and deeply moving and so different from the external exhibitions of the south - Feria de Abril in Sevilla being the nadir for me personally.
I'm most probably looking for March, quieter times and I do like the contemplative aspect of the leaden skies.
All the best.

 

[nellpilgrim]

April is a great time to walk-if you get some snow on the high ground well that can be fun to and makes you appreciate the 'gentle rain' of Galicia!
Next year Easter Sunday falls on April the 8th but don't worry too much about the crowds, in fact walking during Holy week provided some of the highlights of my Camino Frances.
Have a wonderful journey.
Nell

 

[jpflavin1]

Paul:

Walked March/April this year, weather was great (some snow first day March 23rd out of SJPdP and 4 days of rain the whole hike) looking forward to walking again this Spring. That said, I am sure weather can very greatly year to year.

Ultreya,
Joe