Joining the Camino Frances as late as possible

[notion900]

Just wondering, do you have to join the Camino Frances at Melide? Is there any alternative route and stopping off place so you can join later and avoid the crowds for the last 2 days?

 

[mspath]

Just wondering, do you have to join the Camino Frances at Melide? Is there any alternative route and stopping off place so you can join later and avoid the crowds for the last 2 days?

There is no camino path as such but you could 'wing it' by walking your own route on small roads. Eventually you might join the CF at Lavacolla to walk into Santiago. Try using Google Maps to get an idea of back roads to follow from Melide to Lavacolla.

Happy plotting and Buen camino!

 

[NualaOC]

Hi @notion900, there's some very useful information here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/lugo-to-sobrado-2016.40889/

There are a couple of options that might be of interest to you.

 

[notion900]

Thanks so much

 

[micamino73]

Just wondering, do you have to join the Camino Frances at Melide? Is there any alternative route and stopping off place so you can join later and avoid the crowds for the last 2 days?

We walked from Lugo to Friol and to Sobrado and only joined the frances at Santa Irene, 22km before santiago.

 

[mspath]

As others have suggested Sobrado is wonderful! The monastery has a pilgrim albergue. From there you could ' wing it' to O Muino de Pino and stay in the Casa Rurale. From there walk into Santiago.

 

[Castilian]

And once you are in Sobrado (on the Camino del Norte), if you don't want to join the Francés in Arzúa you can take a variant out of Boimorto that doesn't join the Francés till Santa Irene (something like 23 kms away from Santiago de Compostela)

 

[notion900]

Thanks for all your suggestions

 

[notion900]

And once you are in Sobrado (on the Camino del Norte), if you don't want to join the Francés in Arzúa you can take a variant out of Boimorto that doesn't join the Francés till Santa Irene (something like 23 kms away from Santiago de Compostela)

I've looked up the variant here on Gronze, it is called the Camino Vello (Hair Camino?!), I would like to do it, does anyone know what the way marks are like now (it says poor in the CSJ Norte Guide 2015) ? Where exactly does it join the Frances? In Santa Irene itself?

 

[jsalt]

I've looked up the variant here on Gronze, it is called the Camino Vello (Hair Camino?!), I would like to do it, does anyone know what the way marks are like now (it says poor in the CSJ Norte Guide 2015) ? Where exactly does it join the Frances? In Santa Irene itself?

Hi, I have been following this thread, as also interested in this variant. Try google maps for Boimorto, A Coruna, Spain to A Salceda, Spain. I don’t know if this link will take you there:

https://www.google.co.za/maps/dir/Boimorto,+A+Coru%C3%B1a,+Spain/A+Salceda,+Spain/@42.9582672,-8.2732704,12z/

And click on the little walking man at the top. Jill

 

[domigee]

I've looked up the variant here on Gronze, it is called the Camino Vello (Hair Camino?)

If it is Galician, it could mean 'old', but I stand to be corrected....

 

[Pelegrin]

If it is Galician, it could mean 'old', but I stand to be corrected....

Camino Vello is "semiGalician". Complete Galician is Camiño Vello. But yes the meaning is Old Camino/Camiño.

 

[Castilian]

I've looked up the variant here on Gronze, it is called the Camino Vello (Hair Camino?!), I would like to do it, does anyone know what the way marks are like now (it says poor in the CSJ Norte Guide 2015) ? Where exactly does it join the Frances? In Santa Irene itself?

I can't see any reference on the link you provided calling it the Camino (sic) Vello. Anyway, it joins the Francés in O Xen. For info about the variant take a look at:

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/etapa-de-sobrado-dos-monxes-a-arzua (click on observaciones)
http://bardos1959.blogspot.com/2013/08/camino-del-norte-variante-sobrado-de.html

 

[notion900]

I walked the Camino Vello variant of the Norte last Thursday, although no-one but the British Confraternity Guide to the Norte Part 2 calls it that (p 52-3).

It starts at the far end of Boimorto, and the locals have kindly made home made signs. The albergue in Boimorto also gives out photocopied maps. It's very easy, all on tarmac, and quiet, if a bit boring. You need to take food and water for the whole day, there is one bar but was closed when I passed. I would highly recommend it at high season if you want to avoid Arzua and stay off the Camino Frances as long as possible. It's about 25 km from Boimorto to Pedrouzo, but add another 1 or 2 as the albergue in Boimorto is well before the village centre and Boimorto is a long village.

Route description could not be easier: leaving Boimorto on the Norte, bear right at the health centre (instead of left for the normal route via Arzua). Go straight for a really long way! Football Stadium on your right, ages later a chapel on your left. Keep going straight straight straight until you think you are going mad. After about 10km(!) look out for an absolutely distinctive white cylindrical concrete pigeon tower with a pointy conical roof in a garden on your right. When you see it, turn next left and then 200m later turn right (signpost Oines with a shell sticker on it). Keep straight again for ages and ages. Cross the ugly workings of a new motorway (when road complete will have to detour a little to the right onto a new bridge for this, but it should be obvious). Keep going straight. Cross a slightly busy road with houses (O Xen I think), dive into a gap in the hedge opposite and surprise pilgrims on the Camino Frances!

Any queries feel free to PM me.

 

[jsalt]

Thanks for the update! I’ll be going that way in November. Jill

 

[NualaOC]

I walked the Camino Vello variant of the Norte last Thursday, although no-one but the British Confraternity Guide to the Norte Part 2 calls it that (p 52-3).

It starts at the far end of Boimorto, and the locals have kindly made home made signs. The albergue in Boimorto also gives out photocopied maps. It's very easy, all on tarmac, and quiet, if a bit boring. You need to take food and water for the whole day, there is one bar but was closed when I passed. I would highly recommend it at high season if you want to avoid Arzua and stay off the Camino Frances as long as possible. It's about 25 km from Boimorto to Pedrouzo, but add another 1 or 2 as the albergue in Boimorto is well before the village centre and Boimorto is a long village.

Route description could not be easier: leaving Boimorto on the Norte, bear right at the health centre (instead of left for the normal route via Arzua). Go straight for a really long way! Football Stadium on your right, ages later a chapel on your left. Keep going straight straight straight until you think you are going mad. After about 10km(!) look out for an absolutely distinctive white cylindrical concrete pigeon tower with a pointy conical roof in a garden on your right. When you see it, turn next left and then 200m later turn right (signpost Oines). Keep straight again for ages and ages. Cross the ugly workings of a new motorway (when road complete will have to detour a little to the right onto a new bridge for this, but it should be obvious). Keep going straight. Cross a slightly busy road with houses (O Xen I think), dive into a gap in the hedge opposite and surprise pilgrims on the Camino Frances!

Any queries feel free to PM me.

Thank you! This is very helpful.

 

[notion900]

You are welcome. I didn't see anyone else walking all day, although children from the pigeon tower house did want to sell me their home made bracelets, so I guess some people must pass by that way. Be aware that the little traffic there is can come rather fast and the roads are not wide. There is one section with blind summits where you need to be especially careful and keep your ear out. The barman at Bar Bobby is also super helpful and nice (although often stressed!).

There is a nice outdoor swimming pool next to the football stadium open 4 to 8pm if anyone is in Boimorto in summer.

Buen camino

 

[PK Smit]

Any up dates on this??