Camino Frances

[V&G]

Thinking of doing our first Camino later this year ( SJPP - Sant). Due to work commitments we are unable to start anytime before October 15th. What could we expect weather wise? How many fellow pilgrims may we encounter at this time? Any other helpful tips regarding clothing / equipment etc, would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Thinking of doing our first Camino later this year ( SJPP - Sant). Due to work commitments we are unable to start anytime before October 15th. What could we expect weather wise? How many fellow pilgrims may we encounter at this time? Any other helpful tips regarding clothing / equipment etc, would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks.

Welcome to the Forum. That is the time of year that I enjoyed my two Caminos on the Frances. It is a great time in the fall to go. Mornings can be chillier, but the daytimes are generally warm. There will be plenty of Pilgrims at that time, especially from Sarria to SdC. Until Sarria, I never felt that it was crowded. Both times (2017 and 2018) there were lots of school-aged kids from Sarria on.

 

[NorthernLight]

It's a great time to walk. Many albergues start to close after Oct 31, but enough stay open to deal with the smaller numbers. It's not a big deal, as enough services still exist. Any bed race is long done, and people don't feel they have to stop walking so early.

 

[Albertagirl]

I have always walked in the fall, often beginning in October. It is a great time to walk: cool in the mornings but comfortable all day. I have had problems with getting a place to stay as it gets into November, as albergues close for the season. This fall, I shall be on the Frances from about Oct. 17 for 8 to 10 days, as I walk from the end of the Camino de Madrid in Sahagun to the beginning of the Invierno in Ponferrada. I do not anticipate any particular problems, but I will consider the availability of accommodation and whether to make some bookings. As for clothing, you are from Scotland, so your usual walking gear should do you in the fall. Buen camino.

 

[mspath]

To begin your research and help with planning check out these earlier forum threads/links.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/anyone-doing-the-camino-in-october-november.33632/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/walking-camino-frances-in-october-november.17421/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-frances-in-october.47068/

Happy planning and Buen camino!

 

[C clearly]

October 15th

Perfect timing, but take light layers to accommodate any and all weather.

 

[RJM]

Anything from warm, sunny weather in October to cold rain and even snow in November.
By mid October many of the albergues in the smaller towns have closed for the year, and reopen in March or April, so to some degree you need to stay in the bigger towns, such as those in the stages of the Brierley guidebook, but that is not an issue because by mid October the pilgrim numbers have diminished so much there is never a problem finding a bed in an albergue. You can arrive late in the afternoon and there is always a place to stay. That is rather nice.