- Time of past OR future Camino
- Yearly and Various 2014-2019
Via Monastica 2022
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
HiIs it only my imagination, or are many more people about to walk the Invierno this year?
I just read the fourth such statement here this week, and it feels like more of us than usual.
Who's going? Raise your hand high (I just cast my vote...a happy and resounding yes!).
Oh, and by the way, Annie - thank you for the heads-up about @Thomas1962 's accommodation and map resources. He has a file on the Invierno...check it out everyone....I would definitely keep to 14 or more days to walk it . Possibly 16. Nice to savour the experience in my opinion.
If that's in the first half of June @Charrito, I'll keep an eye out for you.Later in the year I need to go back with my good friend Juanjo from Salamanca to finish off what we walked together last year.
If that's in the first half of June @Charrito, I'll keep an eye out for you.
Ha! Wonderful.That's more or less the plan.
Is it only my imagination, or are many more people about to walk the Invierno this year?
I just read the fourth such statement here this week, and it feels like more of us than usual.
Who's going? Raise your hand high (I just cast my vote...a happy and resounding yes!).
When I walked it last year, I stated in the Forum that I was doing it to determine the viability as a means to avoid the last part of the Camino Frances, especially when it was crowded in summer. Well, the Invierno is certainly not crowded, ever.
I , and other Veterans in the Forum seeking to promote the Invierno seem to have succeeded. Yeah us!
We hope use of the invierno spreads and not only relieves some of the crowding form the Frances, but also increases the number of folks who do a Camino.
I'm looking at a guide right now that shows sufficient choice in places to stop, and there are places to stay, and to eat. Maybe not huge choice, but enough. I can't see needing anything more. But then I'm OK about sleeping in a polideportiveo or even under a church porch (which I've admittedly never had to do).lacks enough amenities
Shhhhhhhh....For me, the Camino de Invierno is by far the best camino of them all.
I considered it back in 2015 but I thought Peg might be too anxious (Are you SURE this is the way? Are we there yet?) Things are probably fine now but we're not planning on any new caminos yet.
I agree with others who are anxious about more amenities. However, in my view and experience, having to go off-route for lodging is not desirable, to me at least.
I'll keep it quiet!I'm looking at a guide right now that shows sufficient choice in places to stop, and there are places to stay, and to eat. Maybe not huge choice, but enough. I can't see needing anything more. But then I'm OK about sleeping in a polideportiveo or even under a church porch (which I've admittedly never had to do).
I for one hope it does not get commercialized. Right now local people are still happy to see pilgrims...how long has it been since that happened on the Frances (or even the Portugues)?
There are plenty of places to stay, but not too many albergues. As far as places to eat are concerned, there are some excellent (and cheap) restaurants, where many of us have eaten time after time and will heartil recommend.
The only real problem is with a couple of the longer stages, where there are few places to stop off for refreshments.
A Rúa to Quiroga is one such stage, but you have my suggested alternative (in the guide) of walking on from A Rúa to Montefurado the day before, then getting the train back to A Rúa, and doing the opposite journey on the following day: train from A Rúa to Montefurado, then continuing on foot. The only place open is the summer-only chiringuito by the river in Soldón.
If you walk all the way from Monforte de Lemos to Chantada there is nowhere to stop for a coffee, soft drink or beer until Belesar. The alternative, followed by others on here, is to carry on past Monforte and stay the night in one of the casas rurales or in Escairón. This cuts the next day's walking down considerably.
I'm pretty sure that I know every single watering hole, hostal, pensión and hotel between Ponferrada and Santiago! If you need any help, please drop me a line!
Shhhhhhhh....
Between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada you can split the stage and spend the night at a pension that also has a restaurant. That's what we are doing.I'll keep it quiet!
Which pensión? Are you referring to Pensión Pacita? That's between Quiroga and Monforte.Between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada you can split the stage and spend the night at a pension that also has a restaurant. That's what we are doing.
Learning all the time, doing the primitive this year, ( auto correct, wouldn't let me have an o at the end of primitive ! ) , it's now on my radar for another walk, later this year, dependent on trekking KilimanjaroIs it only my imagination, or are many more people about to walk the Invierno this year?
I just read the fourth such statement here this week, and it feels like more of us than usual.
Who's going? Raise your hand high (I just cast my vote...a happy and resounding yes!).
Between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada you can split the stage and spend the night at a pension that also has a restaurant. That's what we are doing.
Which pensión? Are you referring to Pensión Pacita? That's between Quiroga and Monforte.
My daughter-in-law and I are planning to walk from Ponferrada at that time.Planning to at the end of August. It will depend when I get to Ponferrada from SJPP though. If time is a bit tight I might end up staying on the CF. But hopefully that won’t happen as I would love to walk the CI.
Sounds like a wonderful CaminoIs it only my imagination, or are many more people about to walk the Invierno this year?
I just read the fourth such statement here this week, and it feels like more of us than usual.
Who's going? Raise your hand high (I just cast my vote...a happy and resounding yes!).
Hijack away to your heart's content, Laurie.sorry to hijack the thread, VN, but I suppose diffusion of info about the Invierno is not too far off topic.
Yeup, Torre Vilariño. Double room with private bath. Just off the trail.Charrito, I'm pretty sure Alaskadiver is staying at Torre Vilariño. I remember because I had urged her to take that short walk to the lovely viewpoint over the Miño, Cabo do Mundo -- the same one I have nagged you to go to.But Ribeirasacra has told me that it is overgrown and the views are not so great. I'm hoping to walk the Invierno this summer, and I also hope I will have time to take the detour and go check it out for myself, unless one of you guys does it first!
I've been doing a bit more snooping on this and it looks like there are nice spots nearby with great views, but I have seen several comments that no one is tending to the mirador.
about 3.5 km from Torre Vilariño -- https://www.adegasmoure.com/
sorry to hijack the thread, VN, but I suppose difusion of info about the Invierno is not too far off topic.
OK, now I understand, although it's not really a pensión!Yeup, Torre Vilariño. Double room with private bath. Just off the trail.
Keep off the Invierno!!!!!!!!!!! It's a terrible camino, and you'll hate it! I'm going to edit all my posts about this route, speak negatively about it and tell everyone to go somewhere else.Hijack away to your heart's content, Laurie.
I love it.
(And am taking notes......)
And so far 12 people have said they'll walk this year.
Definitely an up-tick in numbers - perhaps from the gradual coming together of fortuitous conditions, both in each of us individually, and the external ones of infrastructure and information. Many of us relative newbies have probably been gestating this one for a while. I've been wanting to walk this way since 2015, and finally I can; it's just taken some years for things to come together to allow it.
Yeah. Right. We'll just have to see for ourselves won't we?Keep off the Invierno!!!!!!!!!!! It's a terrible camino, and you'll hate it!
Unfortunately, yes!Yeah. Right. We'll just have to see for ourselves won't we?
I walked it for the first time last November and loved it - there was a new delight virtually every day. Other than once on the Inglés, it was the first time I'd not spent the last week or so of my Camino on the Sanabrés, and the change was another plus.I'm looking at a guide right now that shows sufficient choice in places to stop, and there are places to stay, and to eat. Maybe not huge choice, but enough. I can't see needing anything more. But then I'm OK about sleeping in a polideportiveo or even under a church porch (which I've admittedly never had to do).
I for one hope it does not get commercialized. Right now local people are still happy to see pilgrims...how long has it been since that happened on the Frances (or even the Portugues)?
Shhhhhhhh....
While the rest of us blabber away about the Invierno’s charms, here comes Alan once again with his glorious prose that sums it all up in a nutshell.I walked it for the first time last November and loved it - there was a new delight virtually every day. Other than once on the Inglés, it was the first time I'd not spent the last week or so of my Camino on the Sanabrés, and the change was another plus.
I found the infrastructure perfectly adequate - not much tarmac, a bed every night, and usually a bar or two en route: what more does one need? The only problem I had was the Torre Vilariño, a few hours from Monforte de Lemos, which advertised that it was open all year, but had a note on the door saying it was closed for the whole of November, so I had to carry on to Escairon and the very comfortable O Ruso.
Highlights included the views from (and to) Cornatel castle, the breathtaking post industrial landscape of As Médulas, the wonderful riverscapes of the Sil and the Miño, the el Grecos at Montforte de Lemos, the vacas de Diomondi (in the pic), the views over all four of Galicia's provinces from Monte Faro and many excellent meals and friendly locals. Sitting drinking a well-earned glass of their own tasty godello in the Adega do Veiga bodega looking over the vertiginous vine terraces of the Miño gorge after the lung and knee busting descent and ascent to and from Belesar was possibly my favourite half hour of the Invierno.
Highly recommended
El Grecos?! Where??el Grecos at Montforte de Lemos
Yeah, some of us are a wee bit envious about that prose, Alan. Me too.While the rest of us blabber away about the Invierno’s charms, here comes Alan once again with his glorious prose that sums it all up in a nutshell.
It's O Grelo.El Grecos?! Where??
Yeah, some of us are a wee bit envious about that prose, Alan. Me too.
Some of us can write well enough, while others actually have a gift. Thanks for sharing it.
Right, my bad!!!!!!! Having said that, O Grelo is highly recommended for a bit of a splurge!Oh, darn, @Charrito....
You burst my anticipatory bubble. I thought he was going on about paintings.
Edit: Wait wait, stop the presses...he WAS!
I'm GOING!
(Sorry about the yelling, but this is wonderful...)
Before or after the recommended visit to the Wine Museum in Monforte?Oh, darn, @Charrito....
You burst my anticipatory bubble. I thought he was going on about paintings.
Edit: Wait wait, stop the presses...he WAS!
I'm GOING!
(Sorry about the yelling, but this is wonderful...)
Monforte has everything!!!!!We might not any farther than O Grelo, right?...
(This sounds like a wonderful town.)
Received, and replied to!I'm sending you a PM because a mod would scold me.
Not everything.
Most fortunately.
Oh, wow, that would be great! But I hate to be the cause for a decision not to walk! Just send a list of all the little walkable detours that one could take to catch that glorious view from Torre Vilariño. Your reward will be a heap of praise in the Invierno 2020 forum guide.Some people don't half nag! Tranquila, Laurie: en vez de andar la semana que viene ¡pienso coger el coche para ir a todos esos sitios! ¿Quieres fotos?
¿Vale?
Besos de charrito!
Don't worry, I'll be walking!!!!!!! I still want my reward, though!Oh, wow, that would be great! But I hate to be the cause for a decision not to walk! Just send a list of all the little walkable detours that one could take to catch that glorious view from Torre Vilariño. Your reward will be a heap of praise in the Invierno 2020 forum guide.And maybe stop in at this place, which looks like a spectacular location. https://www.adegasmoure.com/
Buen camino, Laurie
Good to hear that there isn't much tarmac,I walked it for the first time last November and loved it - there was a new delight virtually every day. Other than once on the Inglés, it was the first time I'd not spent the last week or so of my Camino on the Sanabrés, and the change was another plus.
I found the infrastructure perfectly adequate - not much tarmac, a bed every night, and usually a bar or two en route: what more does one need? The only problem I had was the Torre Vilariño, a few hours from Monforte de Lemos, which advertised that it was open all year, but had a note on the door saying it was closed for the whole of November, so I had to carry on to Escairon and the very comfortable O Ruso.
Highlights included the views from (and to) Cornatel castle, the breathtaking post industrial landscape of As Médulas, the wonderful riverscapes of the Sil and the Miño, the el Grecos at Montforte de Lemos, the vacas de Diomondi (in the pic), the views over all four of Galicia's provinces from Monte Faro and many excellent meals and friendly locals. Sitting drinking a well-earned glass of their own tasty godello in the Adega do Veiga bodega looking over the vertiginous vine terraces of the Miño gorge after the lung and knee busting descent and ascent to and from Belesar was possibly my favourite half hour of the Invierno.
Highly recommended
Go soon, ranthr, 'cause it looks like the hoardes are coming.You all make me want to go there again.!
I thought it was you @Charrito, to dissuade the innocent.Who's the person who voted NO???????????????????? Booooooooooooo!!!!!!!
OK, that's a fair cop! I admit it!!!!!!!!!!!!! English humour on a sunny Saturday morning here in beautiful Salamanca, with the Via de la Plata a kilometre in front of my flat!Go soon, ranthr, 'cause it looks like the hoardes are coming.
So I'm heading off from Ponferrada in early June.
I'm actually surprised at the number of yeses - this year, let alone 'some time later...'
I thought it was you @Charrito, to dissuade the innocent.
But a fun side trip/evening amble if you were staying in TdV, right?So San martiño de Cova would require a pretty substatial detour
I walked Invierno back in 2014 and I never had to "divert" from the Camino (OK, 200 meters maybe) to find a place to sleep. I really don't know what @t2andreo is talking about here. It seems to me like we were walking completely different Camino and he walked it 4 years later!Consider yourself as in the ranks of ancient pilgrims who frequently diverted off 'the direct path', to access shelter, food, water, to avoid road tolls, etc. Wherever you need to walk, in order to get there, is the route.
You can split this stage with staying in at least three of them!Between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada you can split the stage and spend the night at a pension that also has a restaurant. That's what we are doing.
VNwalking said:
But a fun side trip/evening amble if you were staying in TdV, right?
Well, now I feel a good deal less stupid. Thanks, Laurie - if you're confused, what hope do the rest of us have?Well, I am glad I checked, because now there are THREE churches involved.
This was a beautiful church as well
Ah, yes,that’s yet another church in the neighborhood, @VNwalking. It’s Santo Estevo de Ribas de Miño, a few km off the descent on the Codos de Belesar trail. It is another romanesque jem, but likely to be too far out of your way. It is right next door to what used to be the Casa Rural de Santo Estevo, but @Ribeirasacra has asked that I remove mention of it because they are closing up shop. Such a pity, it was a really great place.Laurie, the small chuch near @Ribeirasacra house where I stayed the night between Monforte and Chantada. The best picture with the clock tower was too big to upload.
I may switch to the CI if the herds are overwhelming once I arrive in Ponferada. I walked it in September and loved it. Only saw 4 other pilgrims the entire length.Is it only my imagination, or are many more people about to walk the Invierno this year?
I just read the fourth such statement here this week, and it feels like more of us than usual.
Who's going? Raise your hand high (I just cast my vote...a happy and resounding yes!).
You get one Compostela with the original starting point.I may switch to the CI if the herds are overwhelming once I arrive in Ponferada. I walked it in September and loved it. Only saw 4 other pilgrims the entire length.
Which brings me to a question... if I take the CI from Ponferada (starting in SJPDP) would you receive a Compostella from the CF, CI or both?
Thanks
Thank youYou get one Compostela with the original starting point.
When you arrive at the pilgrim office try to specify that you walked the Invierno fromI may switch to the CI if the herds are overwhelming once I arrive in Ponferada. I walked it in September and loved it. Only saw 4 other pilgrims the entire length.
Which brings me to a question... if I take the CI from Ponferada (starting in SJPDP) would you receive a Compostella from the CF, CI or both?
Thanks
And just to make sure we don’t get even more confused,
Will do.When you arrive at the pilgrim office try to specify that you walked the Invierno from
Ponferrada. For the statistics at least.
Ha ha, I am already...so there are four - wait, five - right?
San Lorenzo de Fión, the one that’s near the Mirador Cabo do Mundo, a short walk from Torre Vilariño.
San Martiño da Cova, 3 km away from Torre Vilariño, further down towards the river than SLdF
Diomondi, the one witth the 2 minute detour from the bus stop, after Torre Vilariño.
Santo Estevo de Ribas de Miño, a few km off the the Codos de Belesar trail (I'm not clear where this is, except near riberiasacra's CR).
And then Santo Estevo de Ribas do Sil...which is the Parador...where?
(I. Want. A. Paper. Map. GPS tracks drive me nuts...)
Not to mention its drowned section on the Frances, right?So the Miño/Minho has a very good Camino pedigree.
Not to mention its drowned section on the Frances, right?
I notice from your screenshot that there's a Santo Estevo on both the Sil and the Mino near Chantada. Is there a connection?
Yes, exactly what I was thinking - not knowing about the Primativo section.By “drowned section”, I think you mean Portomarín?
Yes, there are more people walking the Invierno this year, tho' fellow pilgrims remain rare. But this was true of the Portugués 10 years ago and it certainly isn't now! I've just walked it with a friend and daily posts can be found on my blog page here from 17 to 23 May 2019 - https://colindavies.blogspot.com/2019/05/thoughts-from-leon-17519.html.Is it only my imagination, or are many more people about to walk the Invierno this year?
I just read the fourth such statement here this week, and it feels like more of us than usual.
Who's going? Raise your hand high (I just cast my vote...a happy and resounding yes!).
Not a great deal of walking, as I see it!Yes, there are more people walking the Invierno this year, tho' fellow pilgrims remain rare. But this was true of the Portugués 10 years ago and it certainly isn't now! I've just walked it with a friend and daily posts can be found on my blog page here from 17 to 23 May 2019 - https://colindavies.blogspot.com/2019/05/thoughts-from-leon-17519.html.
My friend's many great photos can be found here:-
And his own blog posts here: https://www.geoffjones.com/category/walks/camino/
I'm .missing the point of yr not-very-constructive comment. The total distance of this camino is 230-250km, depending on who you read. In 9 or 10 stages. I walked/limped 120 in 6 days and my colleague 143 in 7 days. You can work out the averages and confirm, if u want, that it was not a lot of walking for 2 guys in rheir 70s. More than enough for a Compostela, of course.Not a great deal of walking, as I see it!
Sorry, it was my feeble attempt at a humourous comment. I'm no spring chicekn myself (close to 70), but if I have problems with my feet I tend to stay an extra day somewhere and don't attempt ridiculously long stages. I did once have to stop in Pensión Pacita in Borxa do Lor and phone José, the owner of As Viñas in A Pobra do Brollón, to come and pick me up.I'm .missing the point of yr not-very-constructive comment. The total distance of this camino is 230-250km, depending on who you read. In 9 or 10 stages. I walked/limped 120 in 6 days and my colleague 143 in 7 days. You can work out the averages and confirm, if u want, that it was not a lot of walking for 2 guys in rheir 70s. More than enough for a Compostela, of course.
Sorry for the misunderstanding. I would NEVER criticise anyone who undertook to walk any of the caminos, although - to be honest - it does annoy me when I see groups of young people ambling along without any sort of backpack.Thank you for that gracious response. I did wonder if u were being humorous. So easy to misunderstand in short messages.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?