Camino Frances in September

[perla_margherita]

Hello from Italy!

This is my first post, as I just discovered this forum yesterday. I am considering walking the Camino Frances, starting around the first of September, and finishing in early October. Has anyone walked the CF in early autumn? How is the weather? Are the hostels/bars/restaurants all still open? From my preliminary research, it looks like most hostels along the route are still open through the first of October.

I'm hoping to avoid the August crowds and heat. That said, I don't want to choose a time when no other pilgrims will be around!

I would appreciate any advice or helpful links (Italian, English, Spanish or French). Thank you!

 

[Anniesantiago]

I've walked the Camino Frances twice in the Fall. The first time, we began the first week of September.

The weather was lovely - ranging from hot to cold to rainy and wet and back to hot.
The albergues were not crowded - we never found ourselves without a bed.
The bars and cafes were mostly open. No problems finding food.

It is a wonderful time to walk!
Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions - or see my blog.
I just updated it with photos and info on my Camino Frances walks in 2006 and 2009

http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2011/06/camino-frances-part-1.html

Many people on this forum have walked in the Fall.
I'm sure all of your concerns can be addressed to your satisfaction.

You're going to have a GREAT time!

 

[WolverineDG]

The last time I walked, in Sept-Oct 2009, it was very hot. Unseasonably so. And a bit crowded. The heat made people stop walking early in the day, so the albergues were filling up by 1 or 2, instead of 3 or 4.

I was on the Camino about the same time as Annie, but she was on the Frances a few weeks after I was, so I guess the crowds thinned out & the weather got better.

Anyway, if I were going in the fall again, I'd start in October. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Kelly

 

[Portia1]

Kelly and I were on the Frances at the same time--unfortunately we weren't able to connect in Santiago. Hot and the albergues--at least up to Leon were crowded and completo by 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Things then thinned out--perhaps because I began staying in smaller towns rather than the Brierley "stops" or maybe it just took that long for pilgrims to settle themselves out. There were days when I felt like the part of a huge chain dance--40 to 50 in front of me and as many behind. I also did a number of the alternative paths so I encountered fewer people on those. Galacia was rainy and warm with a few cold, windy days thrown in for good measure.

After Leon until Sarria, the days were delightful--weatherwise and with the number of pilgrims about. The Meseta was great--in part because it was overcast most of the time I was walking and there was a wonderful breeze (how in the world people do that in the blazing sun of summer I will never know!). In Sarria, the numbers once again increased but I continued to stay in the smaller, in between towns so finding beds tended not to be a problem. And then the rain began and kept right on raining--10 days of it, off and on--it wasn't until the last day in Santiago that the sun was out all day!

Fall is a great time to walk--harvest all around, the mornings crisp, and the leaves just starting to turn--priceless! But don't go in September expecting the numbers to be appreciably less than summer. When I started in SJPP, they told me there were record numbers of pilgrims setting out--"looked like July" one fellow told me. Most of the people I met were older (40-70') or college age. The oldsters because they expected fall to be cooler (it certainly wasn't that fall!!) and fewer people; the college kids because it was the last hoorah before school started in Europe. I had a wonderful journey! In fact, returning this fall on Sept 9th to walk the Caminho Portuguese. Buen Camino!

 

[annakappa]

Ciao Perla. In 2009 Adriaan and I walked from Roncevalles to Santiago, starting 16th Sept and arriving in Santiago on 23rd Oct (the eve of our 45th wedding anniversary). Personally, I didn't find it too hot at all. In fact I have loads of photos of me in my lightweight jacket and I remember after Tricastela, the weather was definately cooler. This year we are going to risk it and leave a week earlier(on 7th Sept), due to other commitments. We experienced two isolated big storms and,the last 5 days approaching Santiago it became wetter and the last day was really wet. For the rest of the time, it was gorgeous walking weather (in my opinion). No problem finding accommodation in Albergues all the way until we arrived in Melide, where the Albergue was closed for renovations. Da que parte d'Italia sei? Anne

 

[roddy]

Perla,
I started from SJPP on the 2nd September 2010 and the weather was great, only three days of rain two of which were very light showers. I took a lightweight sleeping bag, but only used my silk sleeping bag liner most of the time .One of my special moments was when I arrived in Logrono in the evening with tendanitis and the private albergue was completo, i was directed to the church run albergue and had a truely fantastic experiance there. There was only one Albergue open Santa Irena with no local restuarant, most of the pilgrims were traveling by taxi to the nearest restuarant , but i made up my mind that I wouldn't set foot in a car until my camino was complete and I thought I was going to go hungry that night, but a german pilgrim I had seen along the way , had made a delicious pasta dinner and invited me to join him. I missed the camino so much that I went back this May,and walked the Portuguese route from Valenca. You'll meet a lot of wonderfull people on the camino and on this site willing to help and offer advice.
Enjoy

 

[PadreQ]

I too am planning on arriving in SJPP on September 7th and setting out on the 8th for SDC. That is assuming that I can negotiate the train and the bus connections from Barcelona. All of this is well outside my comfort zone.

So, a light sleeping bag? It sounds like the weather can be all over the place in September.

An Altus rain poncho? Can that be had in SJPP?

I'll take any other advice that Perla and I might find helpful.

 

[WolverineDG]

I don't know if you can get the altus in SJP, but you can in Pamplona. Buen Camino!

And definitely take a light sleeping bag. The days can be hot, but the nights will be chilly, if not down right cold.

Kelly

 

[grayland]

The nice Pilgrim shop on the main street (not old town) by the bridge did have the Altus with almost anything else you may need. The shop could use your business.

I think falcon once posted a link to the shop website.

 

[PadreQ]

I have been hunting for the link to the store in Saint Jean to no avail. I know that I had seen it at one point - but now.... no joy. Does anyone have the web address?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Sporting goods and Altus poncho in St. Jean Pied de Port:

http://www.directioncompostelle.com/

 

[PadreQ]

Muchisimas gracias, Falcon!

 

[grayland]

Thanks Falcon....It seems that the question on this Pilgrim shop comes up quite often.
Altus raincoats, other types of ponchos, walking sticks, water bottles, shirts & cargo pants, ear plugs, hats, Brierley guides...whatever you need and can't find at home.

 

[PadreQ]

I have been in communication with them - Pierre says they have Altus Atmospherics for 43 euros.

 

[fraluchi]

Pierre says they have Altus Atmospherics for 43 euros.

>
I may be an odd pilgrim (at least my wife thinks so) by carrying a sturdy but light umbrella. I have walked the CF on three occasions, twice in autumn and once in spring, and refuse to carry a heavy and expensive poncho all the way to Santiago.
The umbrella proved its purposes to protect against rain and sun.
Once I bought a very light (flimsy) poncho in a Chinese shop in León for 1 Euro. It lasted enough to get me until SdC.
I check the weather forecasts for the day and days ahead to adjust myself accordingly. In most towns on the CF there is a shop which sells "pilgrim" necessities, including rain gear.