Camino lite

[Danny Ashton]

Hi, I hope you don't mind but I have a question regarding my upcoming camino (or part of it)

I currently live in Spain and am planning on doing the Camino starting on June 14th.
However, I have to return to the UK to start a new job on 24th June . This gives me and my girlfriend barely 2 weeks to do what would be considered the highlights.
I've read some interesting views on which the highlights are (more are welcome) but the main question I have is. Are we still allowed to stay in the Albergues?
Some people might see this as a bit cheeky but we are willing to put in as many miles as possible and seeing as its a shorter time frame and we are both young (and poor) and pretty fit we would be able to cover quite a lot of miles each day.
Can we get a credencial for just certain parts? And will albergues refuse us if we don't have many sellos or only sellos starting from a certain point?
Alternatively, is it possible we can easily find similarly-priced accommodation in non camino hostels etc?

I know it may seem like we're just being cheap, but we really cant afford it any other way, and if we had the time we would definitely be doing the full thing.
We'd really love to see this part of the country.

Sorry for the length of this post. Thanks in advance

 

[zammy]

NO problems, walk from Ponferada, get your credential and hit the road. None of the problems you mention exist.

 

[Danny Ashton]

Thanks for your reply, but we were hoping to cover some different parts of the camino rather than just the last 200km, We have accepted that we wont be able to get our compostela at the end as we wont meet all the criteria really. But we were hoping to mix walking and then maybe a bus trip to a certain area then more walking.

Thanks again though

 

[rubyslippers]

You have to have walked the day you stay in the Algergues. If you take a train or a bus make sure you get a stamp that morning where ever you get off so it will show that you started there. It's easy to hop around. Doing the last 100 gives you a right to the Compostela and it's a beautiful part of the trail. Most skip the Meseeta which is outstretching and not as up and down, but I loved the vistas. Loved Borgos too. If you train or bus in somewhere you cannot stay in the Albergues. There are many Pensions which are not much more where you may share a bathroom, but have your own twin bed room. Just make sure you get the stamps.

 

[cherrys]

Hi, I hope you don't mind but I have a question regarding my upcoming camino (or part of it)

I currently live in Spain and am planning on doing the Camino starting on June 14th.
However, I have to return to the UK to start a new job on 24th June . This gives me and my girlfriend barely 2 weeks to do what would be considered the highlights.
I've read some interesting views on which the highlights are (more are welcome) but the main question I have is. Are we still allowed to stay in the Albergues?
Some people might see this as a bit cheeky but we are willing to put in as many miles as possible and seeing as its a shorter time frame and we are both young (and poor) and pretty fit we would be able to cover quite a lot of miles each day.
Can we get a credencial for just certain parts? And will albergues refuse us if we don't have many sellos or only sellos starting from a certain point?
Alternatively, is it possible we can easily find similarly-priced accommodation in non camino hostels etc?

I know it may seem like we're just being cheap, but we really cant afford it any other way, and if we had the time we would definitely be doing the full thing.
We'd really love to see this part of the country.

Sorry for the length of this post. Thanks in advance

Hi - I agree about starting from Ponferrada. Buses do run on different sections, but I think you will spend more time waiting for buses and zigzaging across northern Spain than walking. The scenery from there out is great, especially from Villafranca del Bierzo to Sarria (take the high route up to the right just across the bridge). Or start from Astorga, a beautiful town, also with great scenery on the Rabanal - Molinaseca section, then shorten the route as time allows. It took me nine days from Ponferrada, another three from Astorga, doing anywhere from 16 - 28 km a day depending on the terrain and my mood. You can get a credencial on the forum from Ivar, so you won't have to worry about picking one up wherever you start. Do that now. And buen camino - Cherry

 

[november_moon]

We have 15 days for our walk and are starting in Leon - plan to average 20 km per day.

 

[rubyslippers]

I think it's a good idea to start from Leon. 20 km is about right I think. I did longer than that on more than one occasion and feel it contributed to my blisters initially. Buen Camino November_moon

 

[Felipe]

If you have a short time, and want to cover "all the highlights", the answer is simple: go with a bycicle. You can do all Camino Frances in two weeks. This will also solve your possible problem with albergues: "bicigrinos" are welcomed.