Camino Norte - where do I start for the 100km

[heynow]

Hi all,

I've found this forum tremendously useful to plan my first camino which starts next week. My friends are flying down from India to Madrid on the 18th and we wanted to walk the Norte (even though we speak no Spanish and it's our first Camino. Not too worried as we've trekked all over and survived )

I had a few questions I hoped you guys could help me with - we only have 10 walking days and then we all need to head back to work in our respective countries. We really wanted to get to Finisterre and so had planned about 5 days for the Camino to Santiago and then 3 days to Finisterre and one day back on the bus/ train to Madrid. My questions:

1. where is a good place for us to start (definitely over 100km so we earn the credential) and the best way to get there from Madrid. Right now I was thinking of the train to Lugo and then bus to the start point, whereever we decide it is

2. do we need to carry our cleeping bags in mid-April?

3. what do people usually do for lunch? stop somewhere for a sit-down meal or pack the makings of a sandwich

Thanks in advance!!

 

[sillydoll]

Whereis a good place for us to start (definitely over 100km so we earn the credential) and the best way to get there from Madrid. Right now I was thinking of the train to Lugo and then bus to the start point, whereever we decide it is

2. do we need to carry our cleeping bags in mid-April?

3. what do people usually do for lunch? stop somewhere for a sit-down meal or pack the makings of a sandwich

The starting place is Lugo which is 101km from Santiago.
There is very little left of the Camino del Norte from there as you join the Camino Frances shortly after and walk to Santiago on the CF.

You will definitely need a sleeping bag in April, and most of May, and possibly early June!

Yep - stop somewhere and have a picnic, or at one of the many cafe-bars along the way.

 

[evanlow]

Does it really have to be Camino Norte? The coastal finishes in Ribadeo (196 km) away from Santiago.

For the 100 km min to get a compostela the nearest big enough place would be Vilalba (121.9 km) or Baamonde (104 km).

Sil is right. It's better from the other Norte fork via the Camino Primitivo and start in Lugo (102 km). Lugo is a beautiful city.

 

[heynow]

Thanks for your replies. I think we may start in Lugo and join the Frances from there.