Camino Frances Followed by VdlP

[Fares Ismail]

Hello everyone,

As my starting day approaches, I’ve been looking at alternative routes (ones that are less traveled and crowded). I initially thought about doing the Camino Frances and taking the Invierno route from Ponferrada.

But recently I started thinking about following the Frances up until Astorga and then going down along the VdlP and walking the route passing by Ourense (Camino Sanabres?)

I was wondering if anyone has any opinion on the route or advice. Should I stick with the initial plan (Invierno) or the new one?
Also if anyone knows how many kilometers the route is.
(Picture for added visuals )

Buen Camino,
Fares

 

[MileHighPair]

The Sanabres route is very similar to the Camino Frances from Astorga to Santiago in distance and terrain. If you walk from Astorga to Granja de Moreruela to get to the Sanabres it would definitely add a few days to the distance. If you did want to walk the Frances and the Sanabres, one possibility is to take a bus from Leon to Granja. This would allow you to skip the relatively unpleasant section leaving Leon and result in almost exactly the same distance as if you completed the whole Camino Frances. Buen Camino.

 

[Fares Ismail]

The Sanabres route is very similar to the Camino Frances from Astorga to Santiago in distance and terrain. If you walk from Astorga to Granja de Moreruela to get to the Sanabres it would definitely add a few days to the distance. If you did want to walk the Frances and the Sanabres, one possibility is to take a bus from Leon to Granja. This would allow you to skip the relatively unpleasant section leaving Leon and result in almost exactly the same distance as if you completed the whole Camino Frances. Buen Camino.

Thank you for your advice!
I was hoping not to rely on busses and was thinking of walking this path:



Do you think its possible? I can stay in one of the small towns along the way.

Also do you recommend I do the Sanabres or just stick to the Invierno after Ponferrada?

 

[MileHighPair]

The walk down to Mombuey would not be on a Camino, so you will not likely find anyone who has walked it. I have not walked the Invierno, so I cannot comment on that.

 

[Fares Ismail]

@MileHighPair Thank you for the help!
and your blog is a really nice read and very interesting

 

[AML]

Hi Fares,
Wait until you arrive in Astorga and then decide if you want to leave the Frances to continue on another path! You may feel different then and prefer to stay on the Frances particularly if you have made camino friends.....which you will!!

However, if you do need to leave the Frances for another route to Santiago, consider El Salvador from Leon to Oviedo, rthen you could either continue on the Primitivo or Norte, lots of options.

If you were going to the Sanabres camino, i would walk from Astorga down the Vdlp to Granja de Moreruela where it meets the Sanabres. This would be a safer option compared to walking the road to Mombuey, and more accommodation options..

Buen Camino
Aidan

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi, Fares,
I walked both Invierno and Sanabres (which are the same from A Laxe to SdC) and it's hard for me to prefer one over the other because I loved them equally. Both are stunning but maybe Invierno just a little bit tougher and also much more solitary.
But you don't have to walk all the way to La Granja de Moreruela to start Sanabres because there is a marked route from Benavente to Sta.Marta de Tera. But I only saw markers in Sta.Marta on the road coming from Benavente, haven't walked it yet! So that would shave off one stage from Benavente to La Granja and two stages from La Granja to Sta.Marta. Only saying this if you would be short on time. Otherwise I would recommend to walk south to La Granja because those two stages to Sta.Marta are very beautiful especially first day after crossing Rio Esla (if you turn left immediatelly after crossing the bridge).

Buen Camino!

 

[Fares Ismail]

Hi, Fares,
I walked both Invierno and Sanabres (which are the same from A Laxe to SdC) and it's hard for me to prefer one over the other because I loved them equally. Both are stunning but maybe Invierno just a little bit tougher and also much more solitary.
But you don't have to walk all the way to La Granja de Moreruela to start Sanabres because there is a marked route from Benavente to Sta.Marta de Tera. But I only saw markers in Sta.Marta on the road coming from Benavente, haven't walked it yet! So that would shave off one stage from Benavente to La Granja and two stages from La Granja to Sta.Marta. Only saying this if you would be short on time. Otherwise I would recommend to walk south to La Granja because those two stages to Sta.Marta are very beautiful especially first day after crossing Rio Esla (if you turn left immediatelly after crossing the bridge).

Buen Camino!

Thank you! This is very helpful