Best time to walk

[sharon w]

Might have already covered this topic, however, does anyone have info on the best time to walk the Le Puy route? We are going next year and wish to walk Le Puy to SJPDP, maybe have a break, then through to Santiago. If in spring, is April too early? Or, is it better to start in August?
Thanks,
Sharon

 

[Kitsambler]

There are tradeoffs. For walking in France, it helps to know when the French turn out in droves to hike. There are popular walking times at Holy Week (week before Easter, which is a moveable feast), four long weekends in May (May Day, V-E Day, Ascencion and Pentecost -- which are also moveable feasts). June is fairly quiet. Holidays start with July and continue through August. In September, the schools are back in session and so the retirees celebrate their freedom by walking. There is another long holiday at the end of October for All Saints.

The early section after Le Puy has considerable elevation and was already quite cool at night in early September; I imagine in April you might still be glimpsing snow after a winter as hard as this has been. August temperatures in the flatlands past Moissac can be quite hot.

So, being prepared for the weather takes a little more gear and weight (cold wet weather) or a little more water (hot dry weather). You can always ship gear on ahead if it's the wrong kit for your immediate needs.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I started walking from Le Puy mid-April and that timing suited me well. Quite cold across the Aubrac Plateau, and a couple of days with snow, but not too bad. Quite wet in patches. There are a lot of public holidays in May, but so long as you are aware of them and book ahead a little, you should be fine. (Any public holiday in France has a way of turning into a long weekend!) The south of France can be very hot in summer: I hit a few hot days in April-May, but never for too long.
Margaret

 

[ranthr]

In 2009 I started from Le Puy 15.08 and went to Santiago. It was hot in the beginning, 25-35C which is hot for a Norwegian living in the north.
But the paths were dry and many places I was glad it was hot because in wet weather it might have been more difficult to walk the ups and downs.
Did not have much rain until the last two days in France and the last days before Santiago.
There were berries and fruit along the road, but cornacres and sunfloweracres were faded and boring.
Guess the spring with all its flowers is beautiful. Therefore I am thinking of going back next spring and walk the French part in June.
Randi

 

[bjorgts]

I have been walking the Le-Puy-route two weeks each year for three years now, always in the second half of June. I have found that a very good time; not too many walkers, good weather but not too hot, green nature. Bjørg

 

[sharon w]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The last two caminos we walked were in autumn and the weather was fantastic. However, we were thinking it would be good to see the spring flowers, especially in France. The trade off will probably be more rain at this time.
Sharon

 

[julie]

I set off from Le Puy in the last week of May 2007. Most days required only t-shirt and shorts but the weather varied from cold to hot with a bit of rain thrown in for good measure - not surprising when you are walking for a month. The wildflowers were absolutely glorious at that time of year.

It would be my preferred time to walk in France but if you intend to continue to Santiago, I would probably start end of April/beginning of May to avoid walking in Spain in the heat of July.