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) |
---|
Always good to hear of new long-distance hikers. After a week or two, you’ll be a pro.Apologies if this has already been covered elsewhere. I am researching my first camino, would begin the week after Easter (around April 20th or thereabouts), and time is not limited (I'm loosely thinking I would walk for about 30 days). I am following @AJGuillaume and @peregrina2000 and others on the virtual plans for both Madrid and VdlP and trying to choose between and get down to more detailed planning. Some considerations:
- It is not important to me that I cover a certain distance or finish at a particular destination, but I do love the idea of completing a long camino if it turns out I am up for it. I'm also happy to take a taxi or train at various points if my stamina is not up to a particularly long day. I consider myself a relatively fit late 40's but hiking/long distance walking is new to me. Both routes seem possible to mostly walk shorter stages if I want to.
- I want to be off of asphalt / roads and in nature as much as possible, love the idea of spring wildflowers. History, churches, etc not a particular draw so much as nature, village life, delicious food, and occasional city comforts and conversation.
- I do not want the crowds of the CF, but I would prefer to encounter a handful of pilgrims on the journey.
- I understand that its impossible to predict weather and need to be prepared but I would like to try to avoid snow or flooding, or too much heat (85 degrees plus...).
- I would strongly prefer not to book most of my accommodations in advance. I will have funds available if needed to pay for a hotel, but prefer to stick to albuergues.
- I will have very basic Spanish but not fluent, I like the idea of needing to use Spanish. (why I'm not considering Le Puy, which also looks magical).
I welcome folks' advice, and thank you for all the kindness I've encountered already from present and future peregrinxs on this site.
I've gone both ways. If you prefer paths with less asphalt, I can strongly recommend the Camino de Madrid. I did this to Sahagun in 2019, beautiful trail, only a few pilgrims, enough albergues. Only one stage is very difficult (up to 1800m above sea level, 28km) but there is a good train connection to SegoviaApologies if this has already been covered elsewhere. I am researching my first camino, would begin the week after Easter (around April 20th or thereabouts), and time is not limited (I'm loosely thinking I would walk for about 30 days). I am following @AJGuillaume and @peregrina2000 and others on the virtual plans for both Madrid and VdlP and trying to choose between and get down to more detailed planning. Some considerations:
- It is not important to me that I cover a certain distance or finish at a particular destination, but I do love the idea of completing a long camino if it turns out I am up for it. I'm also happy to take a taxi or train at various points if my stamina is not up to a particularly long day. I consider myself a relatively fit late 40's but hiking/long distance walking is new to me. Both routes seem possible to mostly walk shorter stages if I want to.
- I want to be off of asphalt / roads and in nature as much as possible, love the idea of spring wildflowers. History, churches, etc not a particular draw so much as nature, village life, delicious food, and occasional city comforts and conversation.
- I do not want the crowds of the CF, but I would prefer to encounter a handful of pilgrims on the journey.
- I understand that its impossible to predict weather and need to be prepared but I would like to try to avoid snow or flooding, or too much heat (85 degrees plus...).
- I would strongly prefer not to book most of my accommodations in advance. I will have funds available if needed to pay for a hotel, but prefer to stick to albuergues.
- I will have very basic Spanish but not fluent, I like the idea of needing to use Spanish. (why I'm not considering Le Puy, which also looks magical).
I welcome folks' advice, and thank you for all the kindness I've encountered already from present and future peregrinxs on this site.
Couldn’t agree with Gerard more! I, too, cycled the VDLP and loved all the things he mentioned. Great countryside and amazing cities! I look forward to walking it in the future because if there is a downside to cycling, one goes too quickly (I typically rode three walking stages a day). Not being in a hurry should make this a wonderful camino for you. I rode around Easter three years ago and found few few others on The Way. Unplanned accommodations in albergues were never a problem.I cycled the VDP last March and it was wonderful . . . remote, beautiful with fresh springtime flowers, lots of animals, no people (there will be more in normal times, that was the height of the pandemic, but never very many). The villages are real, and Merida and Caceres are pure magic. And of course Salamanca. It haunts me still and I'll do it again either in Spring or in Autumn this year.
It is magical. Spanish or Magic ?I like the idea of needing to use Spanish. (why I'm not considering Le Puy, which also looks magical).
I don't entirely agree with the common recommendation against the VDLP for a first Camino. It wasn't my first, but I met several first timers there, for whom it was excellent. I think I would have been fine on it, as a first timer. I DO recommend that people consider the pros and cons - the VDLP is suitable for more independent-minded people.
Exactly! And @amy374 seems to have given a lot of consideration to what is important / not important to her and the possibility of 'a Camino less travelled' as an alternative.It’s totally a matter of preferences,
I walked the Vdlp as my first Camino and that was no problem at all. As for the social aspect I cannot compare to the CF, but it was my only Camino where a "Camino family" was formed. I still meet my Camigo's for a long weekend every year.I walked the VdelP in 2019 starting in Seville on the 28 March and finished in SdeC after 40 days of walking following the Camino Sanabres from Granja de Moreruela. I think there would be no problems walking this as a first camino, with a little bit of planning before and as you go. The website Godesalco.com allows you to input stages and gives good information on distances and places to stay as you start planning.
My average over the 40 days was 25.2 km, the longest day was 37.6km and the shortest was 14.7km. The longer distances were towards the second half of the camino when you start to get fitter.
At that time there was a great group of pilgrims walking so always people to share and chat with.
Day 30 I got to Puebla de Sanabria. Enjoy!
I also do not recall a lot of pavement on the VLDP, although there are some days where you are walking on secondary country roads which are the part of the VLDP. One long stretch of paved secondary roads I particularly recall is the stretch from A Guidina to Laza, about 35kms all on paved, butTHANK YOU so much to everyone for all these wonderful details and ideas. It seems that the VdlP offers better food (jamon!) and albuerges, but the Madrid less challenging walks and also more time off the road. How much of the VdlP is on asphalt or alongside a busy highway? Besides this detail I think I'm leaning toward VdlP (and it seems I will be in the company of a number of others next AprilI'm grateful for all the info and resources folks shared!
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?