Family of 4 with 9 and 11 yo- 150+km to walk late Oct…which route?

[Fromhome]

Hello, and firstly thank you for taking in the time to read our question. We plan our first camino starting out from Australia in late October 2017, with one month to journey. We are all fit, but our daughters are 9 and 11 so we will walk slowly and take things in as a family. We would be grateful of any suggestions or recommendations for our trip. We don't necessarily have to end in Santiago, (and hope to return to Spain in 2019 for a further month) and are looking forward to slowing down, and enjoying all that a Camino offers. Many thanks.

 

[Camino Addict]

Hi Fromhome,

The Camino Frances will probably be your best option, unless solitude if what you and your family are looking for. The Frances is so well developed, you'll have more options to stop if the young ones don't feel like walking on any particular day, and you're more likely to meet more families because that is the Camino most travelled. That will increase your chances of your daughters getting some time to interact with pilgrims their age.

Buen Camino!

 

[mspath]

Fromhome,

Late October/November is a great time to walk with generally golden days and cool nights. Do be aware however that many albergues start to close mid October. For lots of personal commentary regarding walking at this time including a kit list see my Camino Gazetteer blog.

To help with your planning check out what has been posted re walking in autumn in these threads--

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-frances-fall-scheduling.45430/

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

Happy research and Buen camino to all your family!

 

[Fromhome]

Hi Fromhome,

The Camino Frances will probably be your best option, unless solitude if what you and your family are looking for. The Frances is so well developed, you'll have more options to stop if the young ones don't feel like walking on any particular day, and you're more likely to meet more families because that is the Camino most travelled. That will increase your chances of your daughters getting some time to interact with pilgrims their age.

Buen Camino!

Thanks very much Camino Addict, we do enjoy solitude, but acknowledge that for a first trip with children the Frances seems the best bet.

 

[Fromhome]

Fromhome,

Late October/November is a great time to walk with generally golden days and cool nights. Do be aware however that many albergues start to close mid October. For lots of personal commentary regarding walking at this time including a kit list see my Camino Gazetteer blog.

To help with your planning check out what has been posted re walking in autumn in these threads--

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-frances-fall-scheduling.45430/

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

Happy research and Buen camino to all your family!

Thanks for the feedback. Just checked out your blog, thanks so much for all the work creating such a thing, what a resource! Good tip about some of the albergues being closed.

 

[HeidiL]

Having walked with a boy of 8/11/12/14 etc (the same kid) I strongly recommend the Francés as well. More people for your kids to have fun with when they start getting sick and tired of their parents. A lot of pilgrims miss their own kids and will gladly chat with yours while they're walking along, 50 meters in front of you, but do ask if they're OK with it...

 

[Kanga]

@Fromhome sounds like a simply wonderful family adventure. Be sure to do a search on "children" on the forum as we have lots of members who can help. The intrepid walking @Kiwi-family always springs to mind - two parents (although often only one could travel) and a family of eight!

Here are a few threads to get you started: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/albergues-children.45186/
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/el-camino-with-my-children-ages-9-and-14.43601/
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/walking-with-a-13-year-old.38185/