GR routes in N.Spain

[angelab7]

How reliable are these routes? How good is the signposting? I am planning to take a group of young people on pilgrimage to the Ignatian sites in July/August; we shall be walking parts of the GR21, GR120 and GR34.Where can I get details of the routes?
Angela

 

[Arn]

Angela,

Spain used to be a difficult country to drive around away from the main cities and Mediterranean coastal belt. But in recent years this has all changed. Massive investment has resulted in huge upgrading of most rural and cross-country routes. So driving and hiking in rural Spain is now a pleasure, with good traffic free main roads through spectacular scenery. Motorways - autovia - incur a toll, while dual carriageways - autopista - are often, but not always, free. Sign-posting is good except in towns, where you need to keep a good look-out for small signs often on the far side of junctions.

In Spain the Federación española de deportes de montaña y escalada is responsible for the maintenance of the GR maps. Many GR routes make up part of the longer European walking routes which cross several countries. Thus, there's a concerted effort to insure they are as complete as possible.

As always, when there appears a question of "Go right or Left" ask a local. Unless your a man...follow your nose, go the wrong way and...when you finally admit you're wrong...Ask for directions!

Buen Camino,

Arn

 

[sillydoll]

There are a couple of websites of other groups on the the pilgrimage that might help:
http://www.beunos.com/pilgrimage.htm

http://cisphil.blogspot.com/2006/04/cis ... n-and.html

http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/jmac/Loyola/loyola.htm

http://office.ajcunet.edu/connections/d ... &article=3

http://www.sjweb.info/jesuits/shrines.cfm

http://www.bc.edu/centers/cis/

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I´ve hiked several Grand Randonee routes in northern Spain over the last few months, and find them very well posted indeed, with those nice red and white blazes every couple of km. or so. (Did you know the Camino Aragonese is a Grand Randonee? And so is the Canal de Castilla! The Picos de Europa are full of nicely marked and mapped trails.)

Reb.

 

[Peter Robins]

Did you know the Camino Aragonese is a Grand Randonee

oh no it's not! It's a Sendero de Gran Recorrido - a term the Spaniards invented to fit the GR acronym http://www.fam.es/comites/senderos/gr/gr65-3.htm

 

[Rebekah Scott]

how about I just say "Grrrrr!"
Every day I get a little more edumacated. Thanks!

Is there a GR map for spain, and where can I get one?

Reb.

 

[Peter Robins]

the national federation Arn mentions is at http://www.fedme.es/?action=seccion.sec ... seccion=89
though they don't seem to have a map there any more; there is one at http://www.euro-senders.com/web_eng/index.htm

Prames publish an overview guide for FEDME, now in its 5th edn
http://www.prames.com/buscar.asp?sitio= ... 0recorrido