Early April.

[redivo]

Hello guys, I hope I'm not being too repetitive here.

I have already booked my tickets to Madrid, to arrive on April 2nd. I haven't decided yet between the Camino Frances or Norte, but I would like to know about weather conditions and issues on early April. Do you guys have suggestions? Is it ok to walk alone either path? I hope to hear about your experiences.

 

[wayfarer]

I left STJPP on April 20th and took Valcarlos route on advise due weather. You should be fine to walk alone on Frances as you will have plenty company on the trail, I have not walked the Norte route so I cannot help there.

 

[jpflavin1]

Redivo:

I walked the Frances (Napoleon route) in 2011 from SJPdP (March 23rd start) and the Vasco from Irun in 2012 (March 30th start).

The weather is pretty unpredictable in the Spring so the best advise I would offer is check with the locals before deciding on which route. If you choose the Frances, I recommend you stop the first day at Orisson. It opens after April 1st. This choice makes for a short 1st day but ensures you ease into your Camino. It is perfectly safe to walk alone though one is never alone on the Frances. In early April there should be at least 10-20 Pilgrims starting everyday from SJPdP.

In regards to the Norte, you will have to get advise from someone else. I did walk the Vasco which begins in Irun and connects to the Frances in Santa Domingo de la Calzada. That is a very solitary walk and I did not encounter any Pilgrims until I reached Haro (day eight).

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[scruffy1]

Alas, you ask a very good question. 2010, the Holy Year was perfect weather in April, cool (cold) mornings say 5 degrees C. 15 at noon, perfect walking weather, flowers and Spring all the way on the Camino Frances. 2011, warm not hot but too warm, Spring long gone over the same period. 2012 was lovely until the last week of April when the rains came, rains? Deluge! Noah must have experienced something similar. The weather is changing, mark it up to pollution or to "natural" changes in the Earth's weather, last year and the year before have little meaning when considering what will be next year. My opinion? Bilbao, Santander, Coruna or Pamplona Burgos Leon? Beautiful San Sebastian or Gijon against Carrion de los Condes or Rabanal or Villafranca del Bierzo? Wonderful camaraderie among many fellow pilgrims pushing towards a similar goal or lone personal confrontation with wonders and the difficulties of the effort along the coast? The Camino Frances hands down.
S

 

[redivo]

Thank you, friends, for sharing. I'll definitely ask around once I get to Spain. Even though I'm set for the Frances, I still feel the need to walk the Norte.

 

[beccawrite]

We are walking our first Camino starting in Roncesvalles, taking the Frances, on April 8, so we will be right behind you! Who knows, perhaps our paths will cross!! Wishing you many blessings and Buen Camino!!

 

[Tia Valeria]

Thank you, friends, for sharing. I'll definitely ask around once I get to Spain. Even though I'm set for the Frances, I still feel the need to walk the Norte.

In early April you might find the weather kinder on the Norte with the mountain passes at the far end, around Miraz, Sobrado de Monxes, rather than possible snow early on and around O Cebreiro.

However we found that the best advice was to walk the Camino which truly calls. For us that was the Norte/Primitivo mix, for others the full length on the Norte or the Francés.
Buen Camino whatever you decide