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Between León and Astorga, my map shows two CF route variants, which diverge at La Virgen del Camino and recombine at Hospital de Órbigo.
I walked the northern branch because I understood it to offer a larger selection of lodging places. It was a separate footpath beside and somewhat close to a busy, noisy two lane highway. There was a lot of truck traffic. The footpath was safe and straightforward but I did not find those two days to be scenic or uplifting. Next time I will explore the southern branch, of which I have little knowledge.
You might wish to research the southern branch before you reach the bifurcation point in La Virgen del Camino.
The alternate route after Leon through Villa de Mazarife is nice. We really enjoyed that route. Some of it is road walking, but they are quiet roads. Most of the time you are on paths that cut across the countryside though.
We took both of these alternatives. What I liked most about the way to Mazarife was finally seeing wildflower meadows in addition to planted fields. The hill route out of Villafranca was sunny so if the day is really hot you may want to take the valley way in the morning because the hills will provide some shade. Take plenty of water up the hill route as there is none until you have descended to Trabadelo. There is a fountain in town marked as "water quality not guranteed" but the locals drink from it. That sign keeps them from having to periodically having the water tested.Another section with a lot of road walking was just after Villafranca al Bierzo, heading up to O'Cebreiro - the main route is road, except the last 1/3 or so - but it isn't so busy since another highway was built to take the traffic.
The walking path through the valley is indeed on tarmac but is divided from the vehicles (most of the way) by concrete fence. Therefore I'd say it's very safe and not noisy as already mentioned....
Another section with a lot of road walking was just after Villafranca al Bierzo, heading up to O'Cebreiro - the main route is road, except the last 1/3 or so - but it isn't so busy since another highway was built to take the traffic. I think this section used to be sketchy, but now it is ok. And although it is road walking, you go up through a nice river valley, which is quite scenic and nice. But there is another route you can take out of Villafranca that kind of parallels the main route on paths and quieter roads - it climbs up out of the river valley, so you have more elevation gain, but it is an option to avoid the road if you want to.
Not true or it may depends on the time of year you were walking. There is an albergue with bar/restaurant in Pradela: https://www.gronze.com/castilla-y-leon/leon/pradela/albergue-lamas...The hill route out of Villafranca was sunny so if the day is really hot you may want to take the valley way in the morning because the hills will provide some shade. Take plenty of water up the hill route as there is none until you have descended to Trabadelo. There is a fountain in town marked as "water quality not guranteed" but the locals drink from it. That sign keeps them from having to periodically having the water tested.
Hope Ihave done this right - I read the questions and answers but have never submitted.According to Brierley’s guidebook, the Camino Frances is 66% path/track, 27% quiet road, and 7% main road.
This is so true. When I got to cities I wanted nothing more than to be shed of them. The funny thing is that we live in a city, and I enjoy living here, but on the Camino I yearned for the countryside.I found the 'hardest' walking surfaces to be the roads and hard footpaths in and out of the major cities, Pamploma, Logrono, Burgos etc. I dont think there are many softer alternatives for those. They mess with you because of the noise, the traffic, the people, the activity. After walking in quiet country lanes and paths, the cities are quite an assault on the senses, and hard under your feet.
Hope Ihave done this right - I read the questions and answers but have never submitted.
On the 10th day of Camino Portuguese I developed plantar fasciitis- I think it was from sidewalks and cobblestones on the last third. That hasn’t deterred me - I plan to do CF next spring. My husband and I are 76 and 81.
The alternate route after Leon through Villa de Mazarife is nice. We really enjoyed that route. Some of it is road walking, but they are quiet roads. Most of the time you are on paths that cut across the countryside though.
Regarding road walking in general - it seems that most of the time, if it was a busy road, there was a gravel path next to the road for walking. If you were walking on the road itself, the roads were not heavily traveled. And there are some places where you can take alternate routes away from the road. We had Bierley's guide and they were usually shown. One that I am thinking about is the walk from Fromista to Carrion de los Condes, which is mostly along a straight gravel path next to a road. But, you can take an alternate route that follows a small river. The route is pretty much parallel to the road and sometimes you can still see the road, but you are a couple hundred meters away, with trees and nice paths. It adds a couple km, but the walk is very pretty.
Another section with a lot of road walking was just after Villafranca al Bierzo, heading up to O'Cebreiro - the main route is road, except the last 1/3 or so - but it isn't so busy since another highway was built to take the traffic. I think this section used to be sketchy, but now it is ok. And although it is road walking, you go up through a nice river valley, which is quite scenic and nice. But there is another route you can take out of Villafranca that kind of parallels the main route on paths and quieter roads - it climbs up out of the river valley, so you have more elevation gain, but it is an option to avoid the road if you want to.
Hi Jim, wishing you all the luck. Would you mind sharing your experience getting to Le Puy with the strike? I'll be getting there on the 23rd if everything goes well. I'm a little nervous because of the strike.Really useful information I've put these in my GPS, getting excited I start from Le Puy en Velay next Tuesday providing I can get there on Manday with the train strike.
Sure but its nice to hear fresh answers from here-and-now people!It is always good to do a bit of a search before creating a post as most questions have been asked in the past. Here is one of the threads.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/how-much-of-the-trail-is-on-roads.5688/
Should there be a desire to search more, try asking to question on a search engine and go from there.
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