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) |
---|
Hi all.
Firstly, what a great forum - tremendous source of information
Planning on doing the Camino as a 50th birthday present to myself - finishing in Santiago on my birthday May 28th.
Was just thinking Frances but having read more about Norte & Primitivo, I'm now muddled!!
I'm a trail & mountain runner and love getting away for a few days in the hills and mountains here in the UK. I like the solitude and peace during the day, and then a bit a natter in the evening at campsite or youth hostel.
The more I read about the Frances, the more I think it won't give me what I want. A Norte/Primitivo route sounds like it will be quieter - am I right in thinking its a bit more rural too?
Any advice gratefully received
If you are used to the mountains and hills then maybe the long road sections of the Norte might grate with you. A forum member (Peregrina2000) walked the Santo Toribio route to Potes from Santander, then walked the Ruta Vadiniense over the Picos to Leon, then the San Salvador route back over the mountains to Oviedo and then the Primitivo. If you started in Santander you would still have a lot of road walking but you could shorten it by starting in Santillana del Mar which is another traditional start point for Santo Toribio. The amount of road walking has been lessened on the Vadiniense, there is a guide in the resources section on here for it. The San Salvador is stunning and quite hard trail in places which might suit you, use the Confraternity of St James guide. You will meet peregrinos at the albergues on the Norte but on the turn off for Potes and on the Vadiniense you could be the only one, the same goes for the San Salvador but that is looking less likely even in May, on the Primitivo you will meet quite a few pilgrims and is good for mixing in the evenings. The Frances is special, you could almost say it is a way of friendship but if you like isolated rugged trails then don't expect it on that route apart from a few places.
I think the distance of the route I suggested from Santillana would be around 700kms.
Good Luck
I am also doing the Camino for my 50th. I start in Sarria on 27th march and will slowly complete my journey on the 2nd of april. Kind of worried as this is my first backpacking trip. A pity that our timings dont cross.I too dithered between the Norte and the Frances for my first camino, and in the end chose the Norte because I like the sea and don't like crowds. I am very glad I did because it was a fabulous walk with great scenery, mountains, beaches, cliff top walks and towns en-route. There was room to set my own pace and walk alone when I wanted solitude, and good companionship when I wanted company. The irony of it was that having set out to walk alone, I developed a tight camino family and we met up and walked a lot together, and then a friendship evolved into a romance and the last half was walked hand in hand with a very sweet soul from Germany. (Two years on and we are planning to walk the European Peace Walk together this summer). If you want solitude during the day, hills and mountains to traverse on your own, then company in the evenings, I would definitely suggest you consider the Norte, starting in Irun, and you can decide whether to stay on it or go along the Primitivo while you walk. Buen camino, and happy half century!
Thanks for all the quick replies - all helpful.
I guess I just don't want to feel like I'm on a motorway or in a procession of hundreds. I'm not after total solitude but want to feel as though I'm on my own adventure, my own journey. And as much trail, and as little tarmac as possible.
Oh dear....sounds like a list!!
I agree with Mike about the asphalt on the Norte, it is not fun.
Well....after much reflection (& dithering) , I'm all sorted to do the Frances and it feels right
My wife and I watched The Way a few years ago and just looked at each other and said we have to do that, so that was always my driving force. Jenny has just had knee surgery so perhaps we'll do a shortened Frances or Primitivo for her 50th in 2018
Anyway, flights all booked so no turning back.
So excited
Thanks for the advice everyone
Sheeest .... you just threw up a red flag about walking the del Norte .... how onerous and perhaps dangerous is walking "the asphalt" ?
I take it that pathways off asphalt aren't always an option so it's walking the road, along with not being able to avoid breathing the fumes of passing vehicles. I've walked the Camino Francis twice, so I wouldn't want to walk it again, and I thought that the northern route might be a more interesting challenge to commence in September.
Old Koot:
The Norte gets a bad rap on asphalt walking. Sure you do walk through coastal towns, and have the option in places to walk the highway. That said, the are alternative routes and the e-9 intersects the route in many places. The Norte is a great route with lots of ocean views.
Ultreya,
Joe
Sheeest .... you just threw up a red flag about walking the del Norte .... how onerous and perhaps dangerous is walking "the asphalt" ?
I take it that pathways off asphalt aren't always an option so it's walking the road, along with not being able to avoid breathing the fumes of passing vehicles. I've walked the Camino Francis twice, so I wouldn't want to walk it again, and I thought that the northern route might be a more interesting challenge to commence in September.
... I hope that my comment about asphalt didn't break the deal with the Norte for anyone. I would highly recommend Joe's suggestion to head to the E-9, which is a European coastal path that you will see at many intersections. It always takes you back to the camino.
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?