Breaking down the 1st Stage

[Livinha]

Is worth a breakdown in the 1 stage of primitivo stopping in Escampero before San Juan de Villapañada? I'm afraid of the 30 km in my ever first day of the Camino Primitivo. Leaving from Oviedo.

 

[Tia Valeria]

I would suggest that you make your own stages and stop as you feel the need, using the information in either the CSJ guide or a site like gronze to see where there is accommodation. You do not have to walk the 'stages' given, they are there IMO as a useful way to split up the directions. The only unbreakable stage is between Grandas de Salime/Castro and A Fonsagrada as there is no accommodation between them.
Buen Camino

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Livinha, Welcome to the forum!

No need to walk 30 km on your first day, or any day for that matter, on the Primitivo. There is an albergue in Grado, which is only 21. And San Juan is not 30, I think it's more in the 24-25 range. Buen camino, when are you going to walk?

 

[petro]

Hi Livinha,

I walked from Oviedo to Escamplero the first day. I stayed in the municipal albergue. It was a nice walk to ease into the camino. The next day I walked to Cornellana.

Buen Camino

Petro

 

[Anemone del Camino]

The only unbreakable stage is between Grandas de Salime/Castro and A Fonsagrada as there is no accommodation between them.
Buen Camino

This is not correct, there is a beautiful albergue between Grandas de Salime and A Fonsagrada, in Castro. Great dinner as well:

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/mobile/albergue-residencia-juvenil-de-castro

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Laurie, sorry to say, but it is 30km from Oviedo to San Juan, and just under 25 to Grado. At least that is what Ersoki says.

 

[peregrina2000]

Laurie, sorry to say, but it is 30km from Oviedo to San Juan, and just under 25 to Grado. At least that is what Ersoki says.

Hi, Anemone, ahhh, once again we see how the distances are notoriously unreliable. I used mundicamino, which says 21 to Grado and 3+ from there to San Juan. So, while the exact distances may be unclear, I would say that Oviedo to Grado is a very do-able day for most. There is not much in the way of elevation gain, at least not in comparison to what awaits after Grado! The extra push to San Juan may be hard, especially if it's in the mid afternoon sun and with the added weight of food bought in Grado to cook at night. And if the new municipal albergue in Grado is full, there is a good cheap option in that hotel/pension on the highway out of town.

If I were starting out and were unfamiliar with my own abilities and the terrain, I would go with the thought that I would get myself to Escamplero and then decide whether the additional +-11 kms seem reasonable. Does that seem like good advice to you, Anemone?

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Let's see... Cicerone says it's 29.5, and the Pere Gerard has it as 27.1km, so Municamino looks like the outlier.

I first walked to Esclampero, via Naranco where I spent some time, but I must have walked at least 4 hours. Jet lag kicking in. Then to San Juan I walked from 7 am to 2 pm, with one 20 minute stop for lunch in Grado.

For those coming from the Norte, it may be a quicker day, but with jetlag, and my Geisha steps, there is no way I would have made it. That hill past the Coca Cola machine in Grado is a beast!

 

[Tia Valeria]

This is not correct, there is a beautiful albergue between Grandas de Salime and A Fonsagrada, in Castro. Great dinner as well:

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/mobile/albergue-residencia-juvenil-de-castro

That is why I said Grandas/Castro.

The only unbreakable stage is between Grandas de Salime/Castro and A Fonsagrada as there is no accommodation between them.

Folk need to be aware that Castro is a Youth Hostel type albergue and if booked for a youth group will not have rooms for pilgrims. We stayed at Castro and the meals are great, but it is best to check that they are open/available. Otherwise it is as I said, nothing until A Fonsagrada.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

My appologies, but I don't understand why one would put two towns in together as if they were the same.

As far as not getting a bed because it's the juvenil, you risk not getting a bed in all other albergues on the Camino regardless of who gets there before you, group of youth or pilgrims. In fact, this albergue is open to anyone. And, like many other alberges, you can reserve ahead and make sure you get a bed.

 

[Tia Valeria]

I put them together because they are so close and then nothing until A Fonsagrada.
If there is a youth group booked in then they take precedence so phoning is advisable. This is different to groups (or individuals) walking and taking a chance on beds. I don't know if they allow non youth-walkers in when they have a youth group booking as it is a 'juvenil' not a 'pilgrim' albergue and they only have 4 rooms (with 4 beds in each) and I presume that they cannot put pilgrims in the same room as the youngsters even if they have a spare bed.

As a side note the juvenil at La Isla on the Norte has a sign outside saying that it does not tke pilgrims, only those who are with the groups of 'juvenil'. We can be thankful that Castro takes pilgims when possible.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Do what feels best to you-- As said above, you can see how you feel in Escamplaro (I think very roughly 13 km, please no one get out a yardstick); you will have some km under your belt and a little down and up. Usually I say 'you can always turn around' but in this case I'd say think in Ezcamplaro if you want to go ahead or not, since there is another down then up ahead of you enroute to SJdV
Buen Camino (she says, wishing she were going)

 

[BarbyLivie]

Hi Livinha,

I walked from Oviedo to Escamplero the first day. I stayed in the municipal albergue. It was a nice walk to ease into the camino. The next day I walked to Cornellana.

Buen Camino

Petro

This is great information as I am hoping to ease in a little more slowly too. Thank you!

 

[alaskadiver]

There are no set stages. We did Oviedo to Escamplero for our first day and would do it again. There are also private rooms above from the restaurant (a 4 min. walk from the municipal albergue) that you can reserve ahead of time.

 

[BarbyLivie]

There are no set stages. We did Grado to Escamplero for our first day and would do it again. There are also private rooms above from the restaurant (a 4 min. walk from the municipal albergue) that you can reserve ahead of time.

Thank you!

 

[alaskadiver]

Thank you!

I corrected my post. I meant to write Oviedo to Escamplero. Serious mistype there