Camino Olvidado/ Camino Viejo: Bilbao-Villafranca del Bierzo 2014

[Susannafromsweden]

I have decided to walk this route next spring.
Have just started to google it.
It is on Wikipedia. It looks like they are about to add more inf and pics.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viejo_Camino_de_Santiago

Here in the first post I will put a summary with the stages, and add the links posted in the thread. As its good to have them in one place.
Stages and distances taken from this blog:
http://elcaminoolvidado.blogspot.se/

1. Bilbao - Gueñes, 18,3 km.
A blog with pics of the walk to Arija (stage 5)
http://rastreando.blogspot.se/2010/05/el-camino-viejo.html

2. Güeñes – Nava de Ordunte, 19,4 km.

3. Nava de Ordunte – Espinosa de los Monteros, 35 km.
Pics from Nava de Ordunte-Bercedo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josemarimauleon/sets/72157633160365116/

4. Espinosa de los Monteros - Pedrosa de Valdeporres, 27 km.
Pics from Espinosa-Entrambosrios
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josemarimauleon/sets/72157633074547784

5. Pedrosa de Valdeporres - Arija, 26,8 km.

6. Arija – Olea, 30,7 km.
Blog with pics from Arija-Aguilar de Campoo (stage 6-7):
http://rastreando.blogspot.se/2011/04/el-camino-viejo-ii.html

7. Olea – Aguilar de Campoo, 21,2 km.

8. Aguilar de Campoo – Cervera de Pisuerga, 27,3km.
From Aguilar de Campoo: Caminkas guide, who's Pamplona alternative joins here (differs a bit in the last stages, though) :
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1292227/camino files 12/Camino description VIEJO public 13.pdf
Blog with pics from stages 8-10:
http://rastreando.blogspot.se/2012/12/el-camino-viejo-iii-22-27102012.html

9. Cervera de Pisuerga - Guardo, 37 (?) km.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69170831@N05/sets/72157628000156112/with/6289757603/

10. Guardo –Puente Almuhey, 15,3 km.
This link is to pics of stages 10-11:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsas0010/sets/72157632559751041/
Blog about the walk from La Espina to Puente Almuhey:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/01/el-viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-la.html
Blog of walk from La Espina to La Mata de Monteagudo (that is on stage 11):
http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/anticipo-de-etapa-viejo-camino-de.html

11. Puente Almuhey – Cistierna, 18,5km.
Blog about Puente Almuhey to Santuario de La Velilla
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/el-viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-puente.html
From La Mata de Monteagudo to Cistierna:
http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/pena-corada-mirador-de-los-rejos-viejo.html
From La Virgen La Velilla to Cistierna:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-la-virgen.html

12. Cistierna - Boñar, 21,3 km.
A blog about the walk from Cistierna to Bonar:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2012/07/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de.html
Blog about the walk from Ercina to Boñar:
Part I: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/de-la-ercina-bonar-preparando-la.html
Part II: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/anticipo-de-la-etapa-del-viejo-camino.html
A blog about the part from Cistierna to La Vecilla (La Vecilla is on stage 13):
http://clubciclistamontanapalentina...-sexta-etapa-cistierna-la-vecilla-de-curueno/
From La Ercina to Bonar:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de-la.html
Ditto: http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/de-la-ercina-bonar.html

13. Boñar-La Robla, 27 km.
Blog about the part from Boñar to Valdepielago:
Part I http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-bonar-valdepielago-viejo-camino-de.html
Part II http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-valdepielago-san-feliz-de.html
From Bonar to Aviados
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2012/07/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de_10.html

14. La Robla-Pandorado, 28 km.

15. Pandorado-Fasgar, 26,4 km.

16. Fasgar – Igueña, 19,4 km.
Blog about the walk from Fasgar to Colinas del Campo:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/05/campo-de-santiago-viejo-camino-de.html
Here is a link to a map of stages 16-18:
http://www.bierzoalto.com/blog/el-camino-olvidado-en-el-bierzo/

17. Igüeña – Congosto, 31 km.

18. Congosto – Villafranca del Bierzo, 29 km.

Other blogs with info about the route:
http://www.viejocaminodesantiago.com/es/inicio

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Ok, me again.
I've been reading the other thread, and I don't think this link has been posted:
http://www.viejocaminodesantiago.com/es/inicio

Lots of inf about the route which starts in Bilbao there.
Maybe I should start a new thread about the Bilbao route, as the other thread is most about the Pamplona route.
I wonder if anyone has walked this route, which starts in Bilbao?

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Today's result of my Camino Viejo/Olvidado googling:
Nice pics from Flickr:
The part from Nava de Ordunte-Bercedo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josemarimauleon/sets/72157633160365116/

And, from Espinosa-Entrambosrios
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josemarimauleon/sets/72157633074547784/

And I also found a third set of pics called Camino Olvidado.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69170831@N05/sets/72157628000156112/with/6289757603/
These I haven't figured out where they are taken yet (apart from the end in Leon).
I googled Montana Palentina, which is witten on a few of the signs on the pics, and came to a website: http://www.xn--montaa-palentina-bub.com/
There is a map of the area around Aguilar de Campoo.

More later.

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks, Susanna for all of this information. I am confused about names, though. Are you saying that the Camino Olvidado and the Camino Viejo start in Bilbao and go to Villafranca, and that some other camino starts in Pamplona?

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Thanks, Susanna for all of this information. I am confused about names, though. Are you saying that the Camino Olvidado and the Camino Viejo start in Bilbao and go to Villafranca, and that some other camino starts in Pamplona?

I'm also confused at the moment, but trying to figure things out.
I think the route which starts in Bilbao, is called both Olvidado and Viejo.
And the Viejo Caminka talks about above here, and in the other thread, which starts in Pamplona, I don't know much about. See the last post in the other thread, with her stages. It starts in Pamplona.

I plan to focus on things I found on the route from Bilbao. As that's where I will walk from.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

just for the record: I hope to meet Susanna in Aguilar de Campoo or Alar del Rey, and walk at least a chunk of the way with her... I would like to do the whole hog to Villafranca, but I think she may be lured away by the San Salvador!

 

[Susannafromsweden]

just for the record: I hope to meet Susanna in Aguilar de Campoo or Alar del Rey, and walk at least a chunk of the way with her... I would like to do the whole hog to Villafranca, but I think she may be lured away by the San Salvador!

Yes, that would be fun, to get some nice company.
And I will walk the whole way, from Bilbao, to Villafranca!
(Maybe I will go back afterwards and walk the Salvador again)

 

[Rebekah Scott]

the third set of photos were taken in the Palentino part of the Olvidado, starting at Cervera de Pisuerga and moving west to Pison de Castrejon, Santibañez de la Peña, a rural shrine church whose name I can´t remember (our lady of the heather?) to Guardo and on to Cistierna in Leon. I can see these mountains from my house on a clear day, I would love to take this walk if it didn´t kill me!

 

[Susannafromsweden]

the third set of photos were taken in the Palentino part of the Olvidado, starting at Cervera de Pisuerga and moving west to Pison de Castrejon, Santibañez de la Peña, a rural shrine church whose name I can´t remember (our lady of the heather?) to Guardo and on to Cistierna in Leon. I can see these mountains from my house on a clear day, I would love to take this walk if it didn´t kill me!

Thank you!
I have just realised that the wiki page I linked to, is very good. Because after lots of the places on the list, there's a link to a little map or some other information.
I will try to see of there's a description somewhere of how many 100 or 1000 meter climb the stages are.
Can't be that bad. It's not the Himalaya. We can do it.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I know parts of this walk already. It follows a valley, more or less, or at least a series of passes. But they are HIGH valleys and passes, with tons of up and down...

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I know parts of this walk already. It follows a valley, more or less, or at least a series of passes. But they are HIGH valleys and passes, with tons of up and down...

Sounds fun. Would you say it's a bit like Camino Primitivo?Or like the mountain parts of the Salvador? Or worse?

I think Laurie have thoughts about this walk too....
Would be great if she could join in here and say if there maybe is some info on the spanish camino forums.
I'm sure one needs to bring the electric coil, to start with.
And, please note, I'm going to walk it in sandals.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I'm now posting a few links about this route which were mentioned by others in the other threads. So we can have all information in this thread.

This one, first posted by the member ovelha
http://elcaminoolvidado.blogspot.se/

Lauries link:
http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/de-la-ercina-bonar.html

Here is a link to Peter Robins website, where it says the route is under development:
http://pilgrim.peterrobins.co.uk/routes/details/viejo.html
(as you can see on the map, it starts in Bilbao)

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Okay, I will now test if I post a link to Panoramio. There, you search for a place and get a google earth map and a lot of photos, (if there is of that spot) at the same time.
Here I searched for Pison de Castrejon. That's where one of the churches on the third set of Flickr pics is.
http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=42.807572&ln=-4.625021&z=1&k=2&a=1&tab=1&pl=all

and here, Aguilar de Campoo:
http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=42.793191&ln=-4.262214&z=2&k=2&a=1&tab=1&pl=all

Wow, really. Do hope the links works.

Edit Update:
I have now test walked this route in Panoramio. I took the list of places on the way from the list in the Wiki link, and searched a few here and there in Panoramio. Wow, again. So many photos of Big mountains and wonderful churches.
Tomorrow, will google after description of the route, maps etc.

 

[peregrina2000]

I have checked over on the foro in Spanish, and I have found a couple of threads on the Viejo Camino. There are listings of blogs and information about activities on the route.

http://foroperegrinos.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=334664&p=335308&hilit=Viejo+Camino+de+Santiago#p335308

http://foroperegrinos.com/viewtopic...569&hilit=el+viejo+camino+se+recupera#p337569

I remember reading somewhere at some point in time that there is a lot of asphalt on this camino, kind of like the Vadiniense. That might be a deal-breaker for me, does anyone else remember seeing anything to that effect?

And on a list of fall activities, the Viejo Camino group posted that there will be a walk on Nov. 24th that will cover the 5th stage -- La Robla to Canales. All are invited, but alas, not many of us will be able to participate.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I remember reading somewhere at some point in time that there is a lot of asphalt on this camino, kind of like the Vadiniense. That might be a deal-breaker for me, does anyone else remember seeing anything to that effect?

Hola,
thanks for the links. There are lots of nice blogs out there.
About the asphalt, I've read too, that there are lots of that on the Vadiniense, but this one I don't know.
Looking at the maps which are avaliable, I suspect there can be some road walking in the beginning from Bilbao, as the camino seems to runs parallell to the road.
Myself I suspect that there can be some terrain walking. Oh well.
Got to find out if it's way marked all the way. Am not sure about that yet.

 

[caminka]

wow, susanna, there's a whole lot of info you found out there! things are certainly moving forwards on this viejo routes.

let me first explain about the names. it is confusing.
the route from bilbao to villafranca del bierzo is called camino olvidado, camino viejo and camino de la montana.
I called 'my' route viejo camino (with viejo first, for the distinction) because the first part from pamplona to vitoria-gasteiz follows a former roman road which was the oldest route the pilgrims would take and is mentioned in a document as 'the old route'. the name choice doesn't seem so smart now, with all this confusion.
I think it would be a good idea to choose one name for one route/section and use that.

reb rightly identified the third set of pictures from flicker, they go from cervera de pisuerga to guardo.

montana palentina are the mountains primarily to the north of cervera de pisuerga. the route deos not go into the mountains anywhere here. it sticks to the broad flat (mostly) valleys. but it can be really windy.

about asphalt. on the section after aguilar de campoo only.
- a longer section between matamorisca and salinas de pisuerga. also, last year the entry to matamorisca was very badly waymarked and I got lost.
- a main road out of cervera de pisuerga, but early in the morning that is not such a problem. after the climb away from that main road there is a smaller swamp that can be a problem in the rain especially. I somehow rounded it on the right, using stones and large branches.
- a long stretch along the main road between guardo and till after le espina.
- two long days of mostly main road walking are from la vecilla via cistierna to riello. (also due to construction work of an industrial site and a railway.)
- the last day before the only real mountain pass above campo de martin moro is also mainly on a side road (main valley road with little traffic).

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

wow, susanna, there's a whole lot of info you found out there! things are certainly moving forwards on this viejo routes.

let me first explain about the names. it is confusing.
the route from bilbao to villafranca del bierzo is called camino olvidado, camino viejo and camino de la montana.
I called 'my' route viejo camino (with viejo first, for the distinction) because the first part from pamplona to vitoria-gasteiz follows a former roman road which was the oldest route the pilgrims would take and is mentioned in a document as 'the old route'. the name choice doesn't seem so smart now, with all this confusion.
I think it would be a good idea to chose one name for one route/section and use that.

reb rightly identified the third set of pictures from flicker, they go from cervera de pisuerga to guardo.

montana palentina are the mountains primarily to the north of cervera de pisuerga. the route deos not go into the mountains anywhere here. it sticks to the broad flat (mostly) valleys. but it can be really windy.

about asphalt. on the section after aguilar de campoo only.
- a longer section between matamorisca and salinas de pisuerga. also, last year the entry to matamorisca was very badly waymarked and I got lost.
- a main road out of cervera de pisuerga, but early in the morning that is not such a problem. after the climb away from that main road there is a smaller swamp that can be a problem in the rain especially. I somehow rounded it on the right, using stones and large branches.
- a long stretch along the main road between guardo and till after le espina.
- two long days of main road walking are from la vecilla via cistierna to riello.
- the last day before the only real mountain pass above campo de martin moro is also mainly on a side road (main valley road with little traffic).

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you!
That sounds great.
I've been trying to find a map of this route, but so far I've only seen maps of the first six days, and the last section.
But it looks like they are doing one, as they are out with their gps, which one can see on this blog:
http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/anticipo-de-etapa-viejo-camino-de.html

So wonder if there's a map of it or GPS track, maybe?

And it looks like they are walking straight out in the terrain, too. So wonder, how much terrain is it? I'm okay with walking in the terrain, but would be good to know before take off.

 

[caminka]

these guys really are doing a lot of work on camino viejo.
as far as I know there is no map as of yet. they will probably make one once all the gps-mapping is done.

the part on the last blog is fairly up and down but it looks less terrain-y in the summer.
from la espina the route rises along a minor road, then there is a descent in a combination of tracks and mtb routes to puente almuhey. then there is a minor road with side tracks up a side valley to santuario de la velilla. after that there should be a forest road across a mountain pass to the main road in the cistierna valley, I don't know because I followed the main valley road because I was a bit sick.

they did a good job of finding all kinds of tracks, gravel roads and paths, but sometimes there was no other (fastest) way then a (main) road, especially considering few and far between accommodations. personally, I much prefer any kind of terrain then a road.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Hola,
I continue to look for information about this route. And here's what I found today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsas0010/sets/72157632594654386/

These pics are called "Cegonal". That should be somewhere in the middle of the route, I think.
Some of the pics are the same as the ones on the blog I posted a link to, in post #17, above.

Edit: here's the link to all their photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsas0010/sets/
There should be more Camino Olvidado pics there, I think.
I will take a look at that later and post more links of their pics.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Okay here's one to start with, the 10th and 11th etapa:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsas0010/sets/72157632559751041/

Thats 199 pics. I think some of the pics in the other set "Cegonal" (99 pics) may be the same.
I will have to check that out later.
Wouldn't it be nice to see pics of all the route.

 

[caminka]

Okay here's one to start with, the 10th and 11th etapa:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsas0010/sets/72157632559751041/

this starts at the closed tourist office in guardo (not even locals remembered when it was last open, but lovely corbles (new?)) then goes via ermita ss carmen y cristo del amparo, la espina (yellow church), crosses canada real leonesa oriental (the muddy bit, this are old cattle routes used to herd cattle from the plains of castilla to the sea and vice versa), they cross cegonal which is on the main road and not on the route, puente almuhey (with a triangular border stone and lovely romanesque portal), and continue up valdetuejar (taranilla, s martin, renedo) to santuario virgen de velilla.
a bit of a mix, in all.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I love the "The Virgin Appeared HERE" announcement on the wall! One for Gunnar´s collection!

 

[Susannafromsweden]

this starts at the closed tourist office in guardo (not even locals remembered when it was last open, but lovely corbles (new?)) then goes via ermita ss carmen y cristo del amparo, la espina (yellow church), crosses canada real leonesa oriental (the muddy bit, this are old cattle routes used to herd cattle from the plains of castilla to the sea and vice versa), they cross cegonal which is on the main road and not on the route, puente almuhey (with a triangular border stone and lovely romanesque portal), and continue up valdetuejar (taranilla, s martin, renedo) to santuario virgen de velilla.
a bit of a mix, in all.

Thank you! That's very helpful.
I was wondering if Cegonal was on the route or not. I could not find it on the list of places you pass ( I use the list on the wiki page). But I found it on the map.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I love the "The Virgin Appeared HERE" announcement on the wall! One for Gunnar´s collection!

Yes, I'm sure he would like it.
Actually I've been thinking it would be great to have @GunnarW here in this thread, as he is so good with maps.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Okay, me again. I've now started to write a summary in the thread start.
There I will post links to pics etc after we figured out where they are taken.

I have now started to put the links in the list. If you have any information about any of the stages, please post them here. Then I will add them to the list.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Hola,
More information about Camino Olvidado:

http://www.bierzoalto.com/blog/el-camino-olvidado-en-el-bierzo/
And here they are posting a link to a map of the three last stages:
http://www.bierzoalto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/camino-olvidado-bierzo-lona-imprenta-web-copia.pdf

I'm not sure about the beginning of the route on the map, though. "Campo de Santiago", it's not on the wiki-list, and when I google it seems like there a little route called Campo de Santiago. Or is it Campa de Santiago? Does anyone know more about this?
(Here is the link to Campa de Santiago: http://en.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2895908 )

 

[GunnarW]

I was attracked by this post because I noticed small alert coming from Susanna's post #24.
I noticed a year ago this section "viejo camino" and there was one subject in it. There's is more now and a lot to read and to click. Just fine for the coming winter months. I learned already that this camino is 500km long and it crosses La Robla. A pitty it doesn't cross the Camino Del Salvador at the Puerto de Pajares and goes over the mountains passing the lake I saw on the A66 (autopista León-Oviedo).
And it ends in Villafranca Del Bierzo. If I read Villafranca, I think at the attractive circle track around Ponferrada and the Dragonte alternative ....

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I was attracked by this post because I noticed small alert coming from Susanna's post #24.
I noticed a year ago this section "viejo camino" and there was one subject in it. There's is more now and a lot to read and to click. Just fine for the coming winter months. I learned already that this camino is 500km long and it crosses La Robla. A pitty it doesn't cross the Camino Del Salvador at the Puerto de Pajares and goes over the mountains passing the lake I saw on the A66 (autopista León-Oviedo).
And it ends in Villafranca Del Bierzo. If I read Villafranca, I think at the attractive circle track around Ponferrada and the Dragonte alternative ....

Welcome to the Camino Olvidado club Gunnar!
Indeed, this route does cross the Salvador. At La Robla, I think Rebekah said. Would be interesting to figure out where.
And, I've found maps of stages 1-6 and 16-18. Between there, I'm not sure there are any maps yet. That should be the best mountain part, I think, too.

 

[peregrina2000]

Susanna, do you think this route is well marked enough for someone who's really bad with maps (like me)? I would be happy to join the Camino Olvidado club if you thought there was something useful I could do to help you get stuff ready to walk. I stayed in the albergue in Cistierna (end of stage 11) when I walked the Vadiniense, but I didn't see arrows for anything other than the Vadiniense. (not sure you're at the "tips gathering" stage yet, but the menu del dia in the Hotel Moderno (a flight up from street level) was really very good).

My camino this year is likely going to be shorter than usual and later than usual, so I am not really sure what I'll be doing. If I can get a full 6 weeks, I might go back on the Levante (want to savor it before it gets mobbed, some of those four bed albergues will soon be at the breaking point and it's such a lovely route), but if I can't this might be a nice (and shorter) alternative.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Hola Laurie, of course you must join the club, it won't be any fun without you.
I'm also not very good at finding the way, so they better hurry up with putting out the yellow arrows for us.
When we have a map of the whole route, we are safe, so that's on top of my wish list.
I've seen in some of the pics that parts of the route is marked with signs which says Ruta de la Montana, or something like that. So maybe one can find more maps if one googles that.
I have also been thinking of doing a provisonial google map using a list of the towns on the wiki page.

The Levante sounds fun too, but in July it must be very hot. More than +25c makes me melt. I'm from the north, you know.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

The Levante is lots and lots of flat, and home to the hands-down worst hostal I have ever stayed in, The Bates Motel of Siete Iglesias... Johnnie Walker wrote about it on his blog. It was a scream, in the literal sense!

But I digress. Wanted to say the Camino Olvidado intersects the Vadiniense south of Cistierna, in the woods after the lovely Puente del Mercado. A fingerpost points up a logging road to the right, it has red/white blazes and is marked as a bike trail, I believe... but I knew what it was!

 

[AJ]

But I digress. Wanted to say the Camino Olvidado intersects the Vadiniense south of Cistierna, in the woods after the lovely Puente del Mercado. A fingerpost points up a logging road to the right, it has red/white blazes and is marked as a bike trail, I believe... but I knew what it was!

 

[peregrina2000]

The Levante is lots and lots of flat, and home to the hands-down worst hostal I have ever stayed in, The Bates Motel of Siete Iglesias... Johnnie Walker wrote about it on his blog. It was a scream, in the literal sense!

Reb, I have to say that you missed one of the most wonderful albergues on the Levante. In Sieteiglesias, there is a four bed albergue on the top floor of the ayuntamiento. It is spotless and totally comfortable. We ate in the hotel/restaurante on the highway, but walked by the place you must have stayed.

When we arrived in Sieteiglesias, the alcadesa took us upsairs to the albergue and gave us the key to the ayuntamiento. She also told us that the cleaning staff would open the library/internet for us in the afternoon, which was on the ground floor of the ayuntamiento. There is a very wonderful small store across the street and down a bit,with good supplies and a wonderful owner. This is one of my fondest Levante memories.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

View attachment 6932 View attachment 6933

Thank you, that was nice photos, and also exactly what I was looking for. That's the kind of signs I saw on a photo before.
Cistierna is the stop between stages 11 and 12. So that should mean this part of the route is way marked, too.
Will try to google walk around that area later today and see if there are more signs or yellow arrows.
I tested La Pola yesterday but didn't know where to start. Will try that again.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Ok, now I've also found the sign which was on AJs photo.
I started walking at the Puente de Mercadillo in Cistierna. Which is at the south end of Cistierna.
One yellow arrow here, must be the same for Olvidado and Vanidiense:


At the other side of the bridge, next yellow arrow:


And, perhaps a few hundred meter from that, the sign, I believe:


Nice to se one gets off the asphalt and into the woods.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I'm adding another google street view photo of the spot here. As you can see, there are more signs on the other side of the road.
The funny thing, is that if you continue to walk in street view, the signs disappear. The sun is shining in the pics without signs. I hope these pic are older, before the signs were put there. It would be sad if someone had removed them.

 

[AJ]

The photos I posted are not from google. They were taken by me in July this year.

 

[GunnarW]

Hello Susanna,
If you do the Olvidado and plan to continue after Villafranca del Bierzo, you need to do the Dragonte route. I found back some of my favourite yellow dots and placed them on the map below. In fact it makes sense that Olvidado goes straight to Dragonte if you look to the map. The Dragonte part is marked very well from "the centre" of Villar de Corrales. I only did the Dragonte from Villafranca till San Fiz de Seo (2/3 of the road) in 2011. If you want to know more about the Dragonte part, please search Dragonte on the forum. You will find my detailed report. The Dragonte part is difficult and long but easier then the difficult sections on the camino El Salvador.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

The photos I posted are not from google. They were taken by me in July this year.

Yes, I saw that. They are much better. Thank you. That means that the signs should be there now.
The little road to the right (when you follow the Camino de la Montana sign) is visible on google maps.
It goes to Yugueros.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Hello Susanna,
If you do the Olvidado and plan to continue after Villafranca del Bierzo, you need to do the Dragonte route. I found back some of my favourite yellow dots and placed them on the map below. In fact it makes sense that Olvidado goes straight to Dragonte if you look to the map. The Dragonte part is marked very well from "the centre" of Villar de Corrales. I only did the Dragonte from Villafranca till San Fiz de Seo (2/3 of the road) in 2011. If you want to know more about the Dragonte part, please search Dragonte on the forum. You will find my detailed report. The Dragonte part is difficult and long but easier then the difficult sections on the camino El Salvador.
View attachment 6942

Thank you Gunnar. I have now watched your film. That was nice, felt like being back on the Primitivo.
I've also been thinking about doing the Invernio after the Olvidado. But then I would have to go back a few km first.

 

[peregrina2000]

Thank you Gunnar. I have now watched your film. That was nice, felt like being back on the Primitivo.
I've also been thinking about doing the Invernio after the Olvidado. But then I would have to go back a few km first.

Well, if you walk the Invierno I can help you with that! It is lovely and lonely.

 

[peregrina2000]

I'm adding another google street view photo of the spot here. As you can see, there are more signs on the other side of the road.
The funny thing, is that if you continue to walk in street view, the signs disappear. The sun is shining in the pics without signs. I hope these pic are older, before the signs were put there. It would be sad if someone had removed them.
View attachment 6940

Susanna, it looks like the picture at 32 is the same as the one at 35/36? So it looks like that is the spot where REb remembers the split between the Vadiniense and the Olvidado/Montana. I do remember that the Vadiniense stayed on the side of the road all the way into Gradefes, which is the next stage.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Susanna, it looks like the picture at 32 is the same as the one at 35/36? So it looks like that is the spot where REb remembers the split between the Vadiniense and the Olvidado/Montana. I do remember that the Vadiniense stayed on the side of the road all the way into Gradefes, which is the next stage.

Hola, yes it's the same.
I'm now reading Caminkas guide book, which I've printed out. She says that her camino joins at Aguilar de Campoo, and from there the Olvidado is way marked with yellow arrows to Cistierna. In that case I think that the route should be at least way marked from stages 1-11 and 16-18.
The stages between may also of course be way marked by now, but I haven't yet found a map or something. That's just four stages and, that's were it crosses the Salvador.
I continue to read Caminkas book here.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Well, if you walk the Invierno I can help you with that! It is lovely and lonely.

Yes that would be fun. I will try to sort out this route first. I imagine the Invernio is easier.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hola, yes it's the same.
I'm now reading Caminkas guide book, which I've printed out.

Susanna or Caminka, can you post the link to the guide? I have looked on Caminka's website but I don't find it. Thanks so much. Laurie

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Susanna or Caminka, can you post the link to the guide? I have looked on Caminka's website but I don't find it. Thanks so much. Laurie

Here is a link to the link: Viejo Camino de Santiago
We should be able to use Caminkas guide at least from Aguilar de Campoo to Labaniego, after there it differs a little, as her route goes to Ponferrada.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Hola, I'm hoping @caminka will join in here. I got a few questions.
I wonder about the waymarking. I realised I got two of your guide books which I managed to mix up and in the older (12)one it says:
Page 32: "Here you join Camino Olvidado or Camino de la Montaña from Bilbao to Villafranca del Bierzo, that is slowly being researched, and is waymarked with yellow arrows until Cistierna."
And in the new one (13 ) it says:
Page 34: "Here join Camino Olvidado or Camino de la Montaña from Bilbao to Villafranca del Bierzo, (mostly ok) waymarked with yellow arrows."
I wonder how long it's way marked now, is it only to Cistierna or all the way to Villafranca?

At http://elcaminoolvidado.blogspot.se/ they posted maps of only the first six stages, which made me think they weren't quite finished with the waymarking yet, for the rest. But maybe they are?
Am confused now. :-/

 

[peregrina2000]

Here is a link to the link: Viejo Camino de Santiago
We should be able to use Caminkas guide at least from Aguilar de Campoo to Labaniego, after there it differs a little, as her route goes to Ponferrada.

Oh, of course, I had that link somewhere. Very helpful, so thank you.

Since I'm no good with maps, I wonder if my contribution might be to go through the blogs in Spanish and pull out information and categorize it according to the stages you have listed at the beginning of the post. I could start with this one: http://rastreando.blogspot.com

Not sure if this would help you, though, so let me know.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

That's great Laurie, everything helps.
It would be fun to have some information about all the stages.
That was a good blog (and one can translate it also).
They walked a long part of the route, and nice pics. I will put that on the list later.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Reb, I have to say that you missed one of the most wonderful albergues on the Levante. In Sieteiglesias, there is a four bed albergue on the top floor of the ayuntamiento. It is spotless and totally comfortable. We ate in the hotel/restaurante on the highway, but walked by the place you must have stayed.

When we arrived in Sieteiglesias, the alcadesa took us upsairs to the albergue and gave us the key to the ayuntamiento. She also told us that the cleaning staff would open the library/internet for us in the afternoon, which was on the ground floor of the ayuntamiento. There is a very wonderful small store across the street and down a bit,with good supplies and a wonderful owner. This is one of my fondest Levante memories.

well I´ll be (Village of the) damned! Any idea when that place opened? So glad to know pilgrims have that MUCH better option, because the town itself seems pretty interesting. (Retrospect makes these things so much more bearable. We got some good stories out of that night!)

 

[caminka]

Hola,
I'm not sure about the beginning of the route on the map, though. "Campo de Santiago", it's not on the wiki-list, and when I google it seems like there a little route called Campo de Santiago. Or is it Campa de Santiago? Does anyone know more about this?

the route on this map starts in Fasgar, the last village of Valle Gordo. it climbs to the pass (1641m), descends to a beautiful 'bowl' of pastures called Campo de Martin Moro with Santiago church, descends further on an old stone route (much thrown about by cows) to village Colinas del Campo de Martin Moro (with only casa rurales which possibly can also be booked/rented for a night only) and descends further to Iguena (with very friendly locals, a shop and one casa rural; hostal is closed!). after a short bit on the main valley road the route turns right and meanders between old open mine works on various tracks, paths and forest roads before dropping into Quintana de Fuseros. another short hop of the valley road and at a fountain (the last one for a long time) it follows various forest roads up to a hill range with more open mine works (not as shown on this map!, unless it has been changed) before dropping, in a long switchback, to Labaniego (with Santiago church and casas rurales, but no working fountains). then it descends across river Noceda and ascends to Losada (hostal there didn't answer the phone in 2012). then I don't know because I made a wrong turn after Labaniego and ended in Bembibre.

 

[caminka]

Indeed, this route does cross the Salvador. At La Robla, I think Rebekah said. Would be interesting to figure out where.

right next to the tourist office (which is open till 14h only).
it's also possible to short-cut from the albergue directly to camino olvidado, just ask whoever opens the albergue.

 

[caminka]

I'm also not very good at finding the way, so they better hurry up with putting out the yellow arrows for us.

the route is waymarked with yellow arrows at least from aguilar de campoo, where I joined it. there are just about sufficient that you can't get lost. I think I already wrote somewhere about the critical points, will dig that up.

aguilar de campoo - cervera de pisuerga, 27.5km
joining camino olivdado and yellow arrows. but lost them after quintanilla de corvio, should keep more to the left. in cervera very friendly tourist office. albergue is further 1.5km north and was full. hostal pineda, 20E (ask for low price).
after quintanilla de corvio, where an arrow points right, there are two intersections, the second unmarked. I went right in this one and ended on some fields away from matamorisca where I shoulf have ended, so I had to improvise back to the route. go left, although there doesn't seem to be anything on google maps.

cervera de pisuerga - castrejon de la pena, 21km
including a detour to valle de tosante and an almost roundabout route via traspena de la pena because I wanted to see the cruceiro and the church (which was open!). got a special offer in casa rural uncar, 25E.

castrejon de la pena - guardo, 23.5km
more or less joining the main road. albergue is 1.2km further on the route west of centre, call ahead. in centre pension garmar not too recommended. lodged by a super friendly couple.
after tarilonte de la pena the route makes an unecessary detour, imo. instead of turning right after the village, keep straight ahead (twice) and cross the railway when reaching the waymarked route.

guardo - puente almuhey, 15km
after the main road an ok waymarked stretch through woods. friendly casa rural muria, 25E.

puente almuhey - cistierna, 25km
camino goes north to santuario velilla, but I opted for the main road because I had a sick afternoon and night. for albergue key go to ayuntamiento or call a phone number posted on the door.

cistierna - bonar, 23.5km
a short 'detour' south with ruta vadiniense, but the split clearly waymarked. then the route follows a minor road which I eluded by a mountain bike route. in bonar also albergue. hostal ines, 20E.

bonar - la robla, 31km
a long day with lots of main road walking. the second part which is off the road might be blocked because of the new railway construction. for albergue call in advance, or stop by the tourist office (open till 14h), it's 500m north of the route. has kitchen.

la robla - pandorado, 32km
another long day with lots of main road walking. construction of the new industrial buildings at magdalena obliges you to stay on the main road. after leaving the road after riello you need sharp eyes to spot the very few arrows on the first 500m of the climb. call ahead to casa rural resthy to arrange for a two-night stay and transportation back and to fasgar. it has a kitchen. 60E.

pandorado - fasgar (pandorado), 26km
some tracks, still lots of side road. practically no supplies, only two bars on the route, but a few fountains. again casa rural resthy in pandorado, 60E + 30E for the transport.

fasgar - iguena, 20km
a beautiful day up to campo de santiago de martin moro then down, here a bit stony and precarious, to iguena. enough springs. hostal here closed! call ahead for casa rural begona, with kitchen. 30E.

iguena - bembibre, 27.5km
after quintana de fuseros and its fountain a long and lonely stretch to labaniego where all fountains were dry but there were poeple to ask for water. after it watch out for an arrow where you have to descend right to go to losada. I went left and ended in bembibre. hostal carmen, 25E.

 

[caminka]

I'm adding another google street view photo of the spot here. As you can see, there are more signs on the other side of the road.
The funny thing, is that if you continue to walk in street view, the signs disappear. The sun is shining in the pics without signs. I hope these pic are older, before the signs were put there. It would be sad if someone had removed them.

the right signposts are for the split for ruta vadiniense and ruta de la montana.
the left signposts and info board are for mtb 1 route that the camino sometimes follows and sometimes not, but the day stages often end in the same villages/towns. they go 'together' from cistierna to la robla, I think. the info boards are very useful, if a bit outdated.

 

[caminka]

Hola, I'm hoping @caminka will join in here. I got a few questions.
I wonder about the waymarking. I realised I got two of your guide books which I managed to mix up and in the older (12)one it says:
Page 32: "Here you join Camino Olvidado or Camino de la Montaña from Bilbao to Villafranca del Bierzo, that is slowly being researched, and is waymarked with yellow arrows until Cistierna."
And in the new one (13 ) it says:
Page 34: "Here join Camino Olvidado or Camino de la Montaña from Bilbao to Villafranca del Bierzo, (mostly ok) waymarked with yellow arrows."
I wonder how long it's way marked now, is it only to Cistierna or all the way to Villafranca?

At http://elcaminoolvidado.blogspot.se/ they posted maps of only the first six stages, which made me think they weren't quite finished with the waymarking yet, for the rest. But maybe they are?
Am confused now. :-/

sure, sure, I was on an extended weekend in prague. it was nice.

ignore the old guide. the new is updated with my notes from the route, and with info I got while being there. the route should be waymarked all the way to villafranca by now. it certainly is waymarked as far as just after labaniego where I took that wrong turn. I commented on some tricky stages above.

can you get to the guide, laurie? if not, pm me.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

sure, sure, I was on an extended weekend in prague. it was nice.

ignore the old guide. the new is updated with my notes from the route, and with info I got while being there. the route should be waymarked all the way to villafranca by now. it certainly is waymarked as far as just after labaniego where I took that wrong turn. I commented on some tricky stages above.

can you get to the guide, laurie? if not, pm me.

Thank you Caminka, that was very helpful.
I saw the list of your comments along the way, which you posted, before, but thought as there were so much road walking, maybe that was because the camino wasn't way marked yet. But now I understand the camino actually is on the road lots of the time. Ok, not much to do about that. I don't mind.
Btw have you seen a map of the part from Aguilar de Campoo?

 

[caminka]

Btw have you seen a map of the part from Aguilar de Campoo?

no, haven't seen it. have tried to do my own on google maps, but my old pc is sadly far too slow for that.

 

[peregrina2000]

That's great Laurie, everything helps.
It would be fun to have some information about all the stages.
That was a good blog (and one can translate it also).
They walked a long part of the route, and nice pics. I will put that on the list later.

Ok, Susanna, Just wanted to say that I will start working on translating that blog (the pictures are BEAUTIFUL) and I will post my translation on this thread as soon as I'm done. It may be a while, but it's nice to have a job to do to advance the goals of the Camino Viejo Club. Laurie

 

[peregrina2000]

Looks like Susanna and I are still the only members of the Camino Olvidado club. I am currently working on a translation of this fairly detailed blog/guide,
http://elcaminoolvidado.blogspot.com/ (I gave up on another blog because it was short on helpful details). I´m hoping we can compile enough good data to make this a walkable Camino for the "cartographically challenged" like me.

So, a shout out to the rest of the forum. Depending on how much time you have, this Camino is easy to add on to. Start in Irún, walk a week on the Norte into Bilbao. In Bilbao, say goodbye to the Norte and walk about 18 days to Villafranca del Bierzo on the Francés, which then puts you about a week away from Santiago. That makes for a Camino of about a month.

Anyone else interested?

 

[peregrina2000]

Just so I don't lose track of the other websites I come across while I am working on this blog, I´m copying here some links to the Leonese Association, which had various walks on different parts of this camino over the course of 2013.

One was from Ercina to Boñar
Part I: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/de-la-ercina-bonar-preparando-la.html
Part II: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/anticipo-de-la-etapa-del-viejo-camino.html

Another was Boñar to Valdepielago
Part I http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-bonar-valdepielago-viejo-camino-de.html
Part II http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-valdepielago-san-feliz-de.html

Susanna, have you seen these links? Laurie

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Just so I don't lose track of the other websites I come across while I am working on this blog, I´m copying here some links to the Leonese Association, which had various walks on different parts of this camino over the course of 2013.

One was from Ercina to Boñar
Part I: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/de-la-ercina-bonar-preparando-la.html
Part II: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/anticipo-de-la-etapa-del-viejo-camino.html

Another was Boñar to Valdepielago
Part I http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-bonar-valdepielago-viejo-camino-de.html
Part II http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-valdepielago-san-feliz-de.html

Susanna, have you seen these links? Laurie

Hola,
No, I don't think so. They look very interesting.
Thank you, that's great. I will put them in the link collection in the first post later, when I'm on my computer.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Susanna, have you seen these links? Laurie

I've been reading the blog, it's great especially as one can read it in English, too. And I think I recognise some pic from the Flickr links I posted before. Maybe it's written by one in the group who were on the pics there.
I can see that they had yellow paint with them, and painted a few arrows on the street, leading the camino away from the asphalt. Good.

 

[peregrina2000]

Susanna, some more links to blogs with pictures for stages 10 and 11.

http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/pena-corada-mirador-de-los-rejos-viejo.html

http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/anticipo-de-etapa-viejo-camino-de.html

Those may be duplicates, but I thought I'd send them along since I just saw them.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Susanna, some more links to blogs with pictures for stages 10 and 11.

http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/pena-corada-mirador-de-los-rejos-viejo.html

http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/anticipo-de-etapa-viejo-camino-de.html

Those may be duplicates, but I thought I'd send them along since I just saw them.

Thank you! That was also blogs with some of the pics from the Flickr group. Good. I have now put them all in place.
Starting to look nice, this.

 

[peregrina2000]

Here's a blog from a bicycle group that goes from Cistierna to La Vecilla, which is a little longer than the 12th stage above from Cistierna to Boñar.

http://clubciclistamontanapalentina...-sexta-etapa-cistierna-la-vecilla-de-curueno/

If you put it up top in its proper stage, we can supplement the translation once I´m done. Just about to start the Thirteenth Stage, so things are going well.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Here's a blog from a bicycle group that goes from Cistierna to La Vecilla, which is a little longer than the 12th stage above from Cistierna to Boñar.

http://clubciclistamontanapalentina...-sexta-etapa-cistierna-la-vecilla-de-curueno/

If you put it up top in its proper stage, we can supplement the translation once I´m done. Just about to start the Thirteenth Stage, so things are going well.

Done!
You are fast.
Still haven't found pics/blogs of stages 14-16. I'm working on it. I'm sure they are in the blog you are translating, but would be fun to find more.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

...and I've found another blog here:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/search/label/Camino de Santiago por la montaña
There are pics I recognise, but some new also.
Will sort that out later, and put the links on top.

I'm putting them here while I'm working with them.

Ok, I think this one is from Fasgar to Colinas del Campo:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/05/campo-de-santiago-viejo-camino-de.html
Wow, that looks beautiful. What a walk.

This one is La Ercina to Bonar:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de-la.html

Bonar to Aviados
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2012/07/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de_10.html

La Virgen la Velilla to Cistierna:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-la-virgen.html

Cistierna to Bonar:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2012/07/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de.html

La Espina to Puente Almhuey:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/01/el-viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-la.html

Puente Almuhey to Santuario de La Velilla
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/el-viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-puente.html

Ok, that was all, I think. Will have to check them again later before I add them to the list.

 

[peregrina2000]

Susanna, I am almost done with the translation of the 18 stages. I've added accommodation where I found some. Now the next step is for me to go through the blogs you've listed to see if there is helpful stuff that can be added. Should I just start with the ones in the first posting? Laurie

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Susanna, I am almost done with the translation of the 18 stages. I've added accommodation where I found some. Now the next step is for me to go through the blogs you've listed to see if there is helpful stuff that can be added. Should I just start with the ones in the first posting? Laurie

That sounds good. I've seen some info and pics on the blogs about albergues. We should make a list of the albergues and how far it is between them. I can do that when I get your translation.

 

[peregrina2000]

It looks to me like the only pilgrim albergues are the ones in Cistierna (on the Vadiniense) and La Robla (on the Salvador). I stayed in the one in Cistierna, and it's nice. But you'll be glad to have your coil.

And the one in La Robla is that nice new one on the Salvador.

But the other few that I've seen mentioned are youth hostals.

This appears to be a very scenic part of rural Spain, and there are lots of casas rurales that are rented whole, not single rooms. I've started to write to their emails and have heard back from a few that they will rent individual rooms to pilgrims, but it gets dicey on weekends and in high summer because the whole house is likely to be rented.

I'll send you the translation as soon as it's ready and we can PM about what to do next.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

It looks to me like the only pilgrim albergues are the ones in Cistierna (on the Vadiniense) and La Robla (on the Salvador). I stayed in the one in Cistierna, and it's nice. But you'll be glad to have your coil.

And the one in La Robla is that nice new one on the Salvador.

But the other few that I've seen mentioned are youth hostals.

This appears to be a very scenic part of rural Spain, and there are lots of casas rurales that are rented whole, not single rooms. I've started to write to their emails and have heard back from a few that they will rent individual rooms to pilgrims, but it gets dicey on weekends and in high summer because the whole house is likely to be rented.

I'll send you the translation as soon as it's ready and we can PM about what to do next.

Ah ok. I saw they mention quite a few albergues, but as some of them cost much more, they are probably youth hostels. Ok let's continue in pm.
And have a nice Lucia evening. Don't know if you celebrate Lucia there where you are, but anyway.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Looks like Susanna and I are still the only members of the Camino Olvidado club. I am currently working on a translation of this fairly detailed blog/guide,
http://elcaminoolvidado.blogspot.com/ (I gave up on another blog because it was short on helpful details). I´m hoping we can compile enough good data to make this a walkable Camino for the "cartographically challenged" like me.

So, a shout out to the rest of the forum. Depending on how much time you have, this Camino is easy to add on to. Start in Irún, walk a week on the Norte into Bilbao. In Bilbao, say goodbye to the Norte and walk about 18 days to Villafranca del Bierzo on the Francés, which then puts you about a week away from Santiago. That makes for a Camino of about a month.

Anyone else interested?

I am interested, and have been since I first heard of this path! But I know you guys would walk my legs off. And I cannot be away from home for long periods these days, alas... much depends on the "when."

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Ok, I've now managed to find the starting point (I think) for Camino Olvidado.
It's at the corner of the Cathedral, please note, there's a shell way marking on the road. Blue and yellow, the colours of the Swedish flag.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Ok I managed to walk a few km but then I lost the way. I've probably spent two hours trying to figure out how to walk but right now it's impossible. The instructions from the blog makes no sense when you compare them to the map.
It said continue a few km forward, but waymarking said turn right, and irl you are supposed to end up in a village which is to the left.
I tried to find the Punte del Diablo on the map. I failed. I even took the GPS track of the Northe and then tried to find the same spot on the google map, but it was impossible. I ended up on a place in the map where there was an error.
Frustrating.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

...now I've found it. I had to go back to the place where I last saw a waymarking and follow that, instead of the blog.
Here it is:
...and here I think is where one shall turn left which means you leave the Northe and start on the Olvidado:

 

[peregrina2000]

Susanna, When you say the instructions from the blog make no sense, is it my translation you are talking about?

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Yes that's the one. It works to Basurto, but then they say we shall walk on a path with views over an inlet, to Zorroza.
But that's too far. And if you look at the map on the first blog (I'm now talking about the Spanish site) the red line is not following their own description of how to walk, which says you shall walk the Calle Autonomia, and that is where the waymarking is, too. (the map says the path is along the river in Bilbao. I think we shall have to revise the text in the blog as we walk it.
But I'm hoping it gets easier out of town where it's less detailed.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

...me again. This is a pic of the GPS from Peter Robins website, how to get out of Bilbao on the Northe.
And the point to the left is where the Northe and Olvidado splits. So we don't walk to Zorroza, that's not even on the map. And its not along the inlet either.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Ok, today's Camino Olvidado news....
I'm google walking it and now just got out of Balmaseda. And here I saw a camino sign of this kind:

...which I think is great. I didn't know the waymarking was so good. I thought there would be only a few yellow arrows.

 

[peregrina2000]

Ok, today's Camino Olvidado news....
I'm google walking it and now just got out of Balmaseda. And here I saw a camino sign of this kind:
View attachment 7496
...which I think is great. I didn't know the waymarking was so good. I thought there would be only a few yellow arrows.

Hi, Susanna, I don't mean to get off topic, but could you explain how you go "google walking"? Glad to see there are signs! Laurie

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Hi, Susanna, I don't mean to get off topic, but could you explain how you go "google walking"? Glad to see there are signs! Laurie

I walk it in google street view. It's fun. The sun is shining most of the time.
It was difficult between Castrejana and Balmaseda. There the camino was not on street view so had to follow the road on google satellite maps instead. It goes along the river so far. Lots of nice things to see. Balmaseda looks very interesting.

 

[peregrina2000]

Susanna, my next effort will be to take Caminka´s guide and incorporate it into the translation. I´ll PM you.

 

[peregrina2000]

I have been asking a few questions on a Spanish forum about the Camino Olvidado, and just got a great suggestion. See what you think, Susanna and others who might be interested --

Walk into Ponferrada (there's a detour that will take you there from the last stage instead of to Villafranca), and from there walk the Invierno into Santiago, instead of the Frances. I walked the Invierno a few years ago and it is really lovely and really solitary. Not much in the way of albergues, but there are always places to stay.

I imagine it's a few days longer than the Frances, but it is really pretty. And no crowds to worry about. My stages here: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-camino-de-invierno.11151/

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Yes, I've also been thinking about that. Sounds much more fun than the Frances.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Hola,
I've found an article today about our camino Olvidado, with a few pics:
http://www.deia.com/2014/01/05/bizkaia/margen-izquierda-encartaciones/el-39camino-olvidado39

Always nice to see pics of yellow arrows on camino Olvidado.

 

[peregrina2000]

Susanna, we are going to have a great adventure! Glad to see that at least the first 18 kms have arrows.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Yes we are! And there are more yellow arrows along the road. Here's a few from the other stages, which I found when google walking.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

You guys ROCK. When do we take this hike in real time?

 

[peregrino_tom]

Susanna - nice work and good eyes! If I was walking along the road I'd probably have missed some of these.
Do you then tag these arrows onto a map, so that you can find them with GPS?
I can see google walking the camino becoming a popular armchair activity (but I need a good tutorial!)

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Susanna - nice work and good eyes! If I was walking along the road I'd probably have missed some of these.
Do you then tag these arrows onto a map, so that you can find them with GPS?
I can see google walking the camino becoming a popular armchair activity (but I need a good tutorial!)

Thank you!
No I haven't tagged them yet, as the problem is when google walking, I can only do the google street walking on the road, where the google car went. Thankfully, there are not so much road walking, a few km here and there, and that's where I found the arrows. When it's through the woods, I can only follow the way on the satellite map.
But it's fun anyway.
I do like this: I read the guide we are working on, and try to follow the way on the satellite map.
When I see something I recognize from the guide, such as "walk to the left of the church", the I jump down there in street view, and try to find the arrow. I walked so far Bilbao- Aguliar de Campoo that way.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I've just started walking out of Aguilar de Campoo. (Now on Laurie's territory) Two arrows on the poles here. This kind of waymarking always makes me a bit frustrated. Ok where to go then? Left or right?

 

[peregrino_tom]

Fortunately there's a little squiggle to the right on the sign post and the concrete post is facing down the right road.. so it has to be right - right? or am I going to have to retrace my steps in about 20 mins??

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Fortunately there's a little squiggle to the right on the sign post and the concrete post is facing down the right road.. so it has to be right - right? or am I going to have to retrace my steps in about 20 mins??

Yes! It was to the right! You have just won a "like"!

 

[Susannafromsweden]

You guys ROCK. When do we take this hike in real time?

Hola,
The plan is to start walking in June.

 

[peregrina2000]

...now I've found it. I had to go back to the place where I last saw a waymarking and follow that, instead of the blog.
Here it is: View attachment 7492
...and here I think is where one shall turn left which means you leave the Northe and start on the Olvidado:
View attachment 7493

Hi, Susanna, Just to say that based on what I saw on the Eroski guide, you are right that the Norte splits from the Olvidado at this point. Ascent for the Norte towards Santa Agueda, but turn to the L for the Olvidado. So that makes it seem like the person who said that the Olvidado goes right past the Bilbao albergue is correct.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

the route on this map starts in Fasgar, the last village of Valle Gordo. it climbs to the pass (1641m), descends to a beautiful 'bowl' of pastures called Campo de Martin Moro with Santiago church, descends further on an old stone route (much thrown about by cows) to village Colinas del Campo de Martin Moro (with only casa rurales which possibly can also be booked/rented for a night only) and descends further to Iguena (with very friendly locals, a shop and one casa rural; hostal is closed!). after a short bit on the main valley road the route turns right and meanders between old open mine works on various tracks, paths and forest roads before dropping into Quintana de Fuseros. another short hop of the valley road and at a fountain (the last one for a long time) it follows various forest roads up to a hill range with more open mine works (not as shown on this map!, unless it has been changed) before dropping, in a long switchback, to Labaniego (with Santiago church and casas rurales, but no working fountains). then it descends across river Noceda and ascends to Losada (hostal there didn't answer the phone in 2012). then I don't know because I made a wrong turn after Labaniego and ended in Bembibre.

Hi @caminka ,
I have a question about the way between Quintana de Fuseros and Labaniego. I can't find the way out of Quintana on the map.
There is a map of the route in one of the blogs I linked to before:
http://www.bierzoalto.com/blog/el-camino-olvidado-en-el-bierzo/
Can you say if that is the right way?
I've been reading the Spanish guide ( in the el camino Olvidado blog) and the way they describe it, it doesn't sound like it's the same way.

 

[Julio Santiago]

I have decided to walk this route next spring.
Have just started to google it.
It is on Wikipedia. It looks like they are about to add more inf and pics.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viejo_Camino_de_Santiago

Here in the first post I will put a summary with the stages, and add the links posted in the thread. As its good to have them in one place.
Stages and distances taken from this blog:
http://elcaminoolvidado.blogspot.se/

1. Bilbao - Gueñes, 18,3 km.
A blog with pics of the walk to Arija (stage 5)
http://rastreando.blogspot.se/2010/05/el-camino-viejo.html

2. Güeñes – Nava de Ordunte, 19,4 km.

3. Nava de Ordunte – Espinosa de los Monteros, 35 km.
Pics from Nava de Ordunte-Bercedo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josemarimauleon/sets/72157633160365116/

4. Espinosa de los Monteros - Pedrosa de Valdeporres, 27 km.
Pics from Espinosa-Entrambosrios
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josemarimauleon/sets/72157633074547784

5. Pedrosa de Valdeporres - Arija, 26,8 km.

6. Arija – Olea, 30,7 km.
Blog with pics from Arija-Aguilar de Campoo (stage 6-7):
http://rastreando.blogspot.se/2011/04/el-camino-viejo-ii.html

7. Olea – Aguilar de Campoo, 21,2 km.

8. Aguilar de Campoo – Cervera de Pisuerga, 27,3km.
From Aguilar de Campoo: Caminkas guide, who's Pamplona alternative joins here (differs a bit in the last stages, though) :
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1292227/camino files 12/Camino description VIEJO public 13.pdf
Blog with pics from stages 8-10:
http://rastreando.blogspot.se/2012/12/el-camino-viejo-iii-22-27102012.html

9. Cervera de Pisuerga - Guardo, 37 (?) km.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69170831@N05/sets/72157628000156112/with/6289757603/

10. Guardo –Puente Almuhey, 15,3 km.
This link is to pics of stages 10-11:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsas0010/sets/72157632559751041/
Blog about the walk from La Espina to Puente Almuhey:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/01/el-viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-la.html
Blog of walk from La Espina to La Mata de Monteagudo (that is on stage 11):
http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/anticipo-de-etapa-viejo-camino-de.html

11. Puente Almuhey – Cistierna, 18,5km.
Blog about Puente Almuhey to Santuario de La Velilla
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/el-viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-puente.html
From La Mata de Monteagudo to Cistierna:
http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/pena-corada-mirador-de-los-rejos-viejo.html
From La Virgen La Velilla to Cistierna:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/viejo-camino-de-santiago-de-la-virgen.html

12. Cistierna - Boñar, 21,3 km.
A blog about the walk from Cistierna to Bonar:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2012/07/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de.html
Blog about the walk from Ercina to Boñar:
Part I: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/de-la-ercina-bonar-preparando-la.html
Part II: http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/anticipo-de-la-etapa-del-viejo-camino.html
A blog about the part from Cistierna to La Vecilla (La Vecilla is on stage 13):
http://clubciclistamontanapalentina...-sexta-etapa-cistierna-la-vecilla-de-curueno/
From La Ercina to Bonar:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/02/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de-la.html
Ditto: http://rsas0010.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/de-la-ercina-bonar.html

13. Boñar-La Robla, 27 km.
Blog about the part from Boñar to Valdepielago:
Part I http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-bonar-valdepielago-viejo-camino-de.html
Part II http://caminosantiagoleon.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/de-valdepielago-san-feliz-de.html
From Bonar to Aviados
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2012/07/camino-de-santiago-por-la-montana-de_10.html

14. La Robla-Pandorado, 28 km.

15. Pandorado-Fasgar, 26,4 km.

16. Fasgar – Igueña, 19,4 km.
Blog about the walk from Fasgar to Colinas del Campo:
http://caminodelasluciernagas.blogspot.se/2013/05/campo-de-santiago-viejo-camino-de.html
Here is a link to a map of stages 16-18:
http://www.bierzoalto.com/blog/el-camino-olvidado-en-el-bierzo/

17. Igüeña – Congosto, 31 km.

18. Congosto – Villafranca del Bierzo, 29 km.

Other blogs with info about the route:
http://www.viejocaminodesantiago.com/es/inicio

Dear Friend del Camino,
I am extremely grateful to persons like you, so much excellent work to gather and discipline tons of information.
I am preparing my Camino 2016. One of the options is Jalance-Santiago (Lana+Olvidado+Invierno+Sanabres) or Faro-Santiago (Portugal Coastal path).
I am like a child with his Xmas gifts, exploring the routes (Google Maps, Garmin BaseCamp, Open Maps) that you have lovely documented.
My sincere thanks, impressed by your work,

 

[Julio Santiago]

I have been asking a few questions on a Spanish forum about the Camino Olvidado, and just got a great suggestion. See what you think, Susanna and others who might be interested --

Walk into Ponferrada (there's a detour that will take you there from the last stage instead of to Villafranca), and from there walk the Invierno into Santiago, instead of the Frances. I walked the Invierno a few years ago and it is really lovely and really solitary. Not much in the way of albergues, but there are always places to stay.

I imagine it's a few days longer than the Frances, but it is really pretty. And no crowds to worry about. My stages here: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-camino-de-invierno.11151/

Good afternoon, I am preparing all my road books to do what you suggested: Olvidado+Invierno...