First Camino starting from Pamplona - weather during April?

[Tay]

Hi everyone,
I'll be starting my first Camino on the 31st of March from Pamplona (visa pending). I'm really looking forward to it, although in my haste to plan everything I may have overlooked my clothing and the weather. I'm a South African living in Ireland and I'm perpetually cold here. I saw from old posts a couple of years ago that April is a bit of everything weather wise, did anyone walk last year around this time and find it chilly?
Looking so forward to it!
Tay

 

[Mikel Olivares]

The weather is very variable at this time.
In addition there is much difference between some regions and others,
It is very different Castilla y Leon than Galicia.
In Castilla y León it does not rain normaly. And Galicia is the region that rains the most from Spain.
Buen Camino.

 

[Mark Lee]

https://www.wunderground.com/
You can look up past year's weather in Spain in different cities on that site.

 

[Camino Chris]

Hi everyone,
I'll be starting my first Camino on the 31st of March from Pamplona (visa pending). I'm really looking forward to it, although in my haste to plan everything I may have overlooked my clothing and the weather. I'm a South African living in Ireland and I'm perpetually cold here. I saw from old posts a couple of years ago that April is a bit of everything weather wise, did anyone walk last year around this time and find it chilly?
Looking so forward to it!
Tay

I walked the Frances one year earlier, spring 2015 and I was really worried about the weather. I hate being cold, wet or hot, but hey, don't we all! It was chilly in the early weeks in the mornings, so I wore all my layers, plus gloves and a knit hat, and did fine. Rarely encountered rain that year. The one extra piece of clothing I brought not talked about often was a fleece vest. Used it over my microfleece long sleeve pullover and it still fit under my puff coat. Kept me nice and cozy til I could remove it a couple hours later.

 

[Magda2017]

Hi Tay, I'm starting in Logrono on April 2 or 3 but I have to bike due to time constraints. Maybe I'll see you, if not, enjoy the walk

Magda from Toronto

 

[Susan Peacock]

Walked last year starting on April 14th in SJPdP. It was pretty cold until we were a week out from Santiago. We did have a fair amount of rain/mud. Walked in a snow storm to Cruz de Fero on May 12th. Take some layers so you can adjust to the unpredictable weather. The only thing I wish I'd had were gloves. The thing I appreciated the most was my Altus poncho. It is a beautiful time to walk so don't let the cold scare you away

 

[Mikel Olivares]

These photos are from the end of March 2015

 

[cher99840]

View attachment 31833 View attachment 31834 View attachment 31835
These photos are from the end of March 2015

Your pictures are beautiful. However I hope that I do not experience this wonderland in April.

 

[Susan Peacock]

I would be surprised if you don't encounter some winter weather somewhere. Especially in the higher elevations. This is Cruz de Fero on May 12th.... yes May

 

[Joseph_MT]

Hi everyone,
I'll be starting my first Camino on the 31st of March from Pamplona (visa pending). I'm really looking forward to it, although in my haste to plan everything I may have overlooked my clothing and the weather. I'm a South African living in Ireland and I'm perpetually cold here. I saw from old posts a couple of years ago that April is a bit of everything weather wise, did anyone walk last year around this time and find it chilly?
Looking so forward to it!
Tay

Hi Tay,

I'll arrive by bus in Pamplona on 30th March, however will then travel to SJPdP on 31st to start my Camino from there. Wishing you a Buen Camino

 

[Susan Peacock]

Hi Tay,

I'll arrive by bus in Pamplona on 30th March, however will then travel to SJPdP on 31st to start my Camino from there. Wishing you a Buen Camino

Just remember that there is no chance that the Napoleon route will be open on March 31st, so you will need to walk the Valcarlos route.

 

[Joseph_MT]

Just remember that there is no chance that the Napoleon route will be open on March 31st, so you will need to walk the Valcarlos route.

Thanks Susan.

I intend to start walking on 1st April as will be arriving in SJPdP late in the day, however if the Napoleon route will still be closed on 1st April will take the Valcarlos

 

[Susan Peacock]

Thanks Susan.

I intend to start walking on 1st April as will be arriving in SJPdP late in the day, however if the Napoleon route will still be closed on 1st April will take the Valcarlos

Buen Camino!!! It will be wonderful no matter the route.

 

[Joseph_MT]

Buen Camino!!! It will be wonderful no matter the route.

Thanks

 

[Tincatinker]

I'm a South African living in Ireland and I'm perpetually cold here.

Ah, you'll be used to the soft weather then - no danger of dehydration. Though if you are cold in that blessed wash of the Gulf-stream just wait till you are out on the Meseta with a continental north-easterly chasing your tail .

Tay, you are going to hit so many variations of weather in 6 weeks: and its different every year even when its always the same. You need sound waterproofs and several thin insulating layers so you can vary and adjust as required. In 2012 I wore everything I had in my pack for two days - even to sleep in - from Rabanal to Ponferrada was two days of sleet, snow and icy wind. Ponferrada to Villafranca was walked in shirtsleeves. My pack felt heavy, it had stuff in it.

Granny always said if you're cold eat more 'you can't run a boiler without fuel'.

 

[Tay]

View attachment 31833 View attachment 31834 View attachment 31835
These photos are from the end of March 2015

Oh gosh, thought I'd be getting away from this type of weather. But it is still beautiful!

 

[Tay]

Ah, you'll be used to the soft weather then - no danger of dehydration. Though if you are cold in that blessed wash of the Gulf-stream just wait till you are out on the Meseta with a continental north-easterly chasing your tail .

Tay, you are going to hit so many variations of weather in 6 weeks: and its different every year even when its always the same. You need sound waterproofs and several thin insulating layers so you can vary and adjust as required. In 2012 I wore everything I had in my pack for two days - even to sleep in - from Rabanal to Ponferrada was two days of sleet, snow and icy wind. Ponferrada to Villafranca was walked in shirtsleeves. My pack felt heavy, it had stuff in it.

Granny always said if you're cold eat more 'you can't run a boiler without fuel'.

Haha! Thanks, I may have to take Granny's advice. I'll definitely invest in some wool base layers.

 

[Tay]

Hi Tay,

I'll arrive by bus in Pamplona on 30th March, however will then travel to SJPdP on 31st to start my Camino from there. Wishing you a Buen Camino

Hi Joseph,
We'll probably cross paths. I plan on taking it slow during the first few days
Wishing you a Buen Camino too!

 

[Joseph_MT]

Hi Joseph,
We'll probably cross paths. I plan on taking it slow during the first few days
Wishing you a Buen Camino too!

I guess we will Due to my limited days off work I'll have to cover more distance in less days

 

[dougfitz]

https://www.wunderground.com/
You can look up past year's weather in Spain in different cities on that site.

Another good source of climate information is http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos.

 

[DurhamParish]

Hi everyone,
I'll be starting my first Camino on the 31st of March from Pamplona (visa pending). I'm really looking forward to it, although in my haste to plan everything I may have overlooked my clothing and the weather. I'm a South African living in Ireland and I'm perpetually cold here. I saw from old posts a couple of years ago that April is a bit of everything weather wise, did anyone walk last year around this time and find it chilly?
Looking so forward to it!
Tay

Keep an eye out for me. I'll be in Pamplona on the 27th of March, just a few days ahead of you. I walk pretty slow. Just say hello as you pass.