For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
I walked the Camino Frances in 2015 and am trying to decide on whether to walk the Le Puy route or the Camino del Norte this year. I would like to start in early May. I am a woman who will be walking alone. Are both routes well marked? Also I have read that a lot of the CdN is on the road. Is that also the case for the Le Puy route? Thanks!
ost everyone else walking will be French, doing a week or two week section. While there aren't as many people, there are enough to join a camino family if you want
Agree as they are going at a lovely pace , no one is in a rushYou will not have any trouble finding someone to walk with.
The big difference is the food, which is significantly better but much more expensive also. By food I mean dinner but you can always cook, which many people did.
On the Norte there is more choice of food and accommodation
I would always elect to stay in albergues if walking alone, because that is the best way to meet people who are also walking.
the "community" of walkers in France that I always find in Spain
Based on the town lodging capacity, you'll have 40-50 other walkers in your daily cohort
Not really -- unless you are doing 30 km days. In the 18 km range, it's more like 6 weeks, inclusive of rest days.Does 30 days to SJPP form Le Puy seem reasonable?
Thanks everyone! It seems that whichever route I pick is a winner. My biggest concern is getting lost. And deciding whether to do a crash course in Spanish or French! Does 30 days to SJPP form Le Puy seem reasonable?
Dogs are not a problem.I read from other posts about the unleashed dog issue on Le Puy route.
What if, oh dear God, what if the situation happened, barking or worse....., what should I do? Running?
I walked the Camino Frances in 2015 and am trying to decide on whether to walk the Le Puy route or the Camino del Norte this year. I would like to start in early May. I am a woman who will be walking alone. Are both routes well marked? Also I have read that a lot of the CdN is on the road. Is that also the case for the Le Puy route? Thanks!
Thank you! The photos are beautiful. Which month did you walk the Le Puy route?I have done both and they are superb. I have never found "the road sections" on the Del Norte to be a problem as they are very quiet and very scenic. You can't go wrong with either but the Le Puy route will cost more and very little English spoken. The French on the Le Puy route tend to book the Gites in advance. I have a photographic blog you might like to view. I will give you both links http://dermotdolan.blogspot.ie/2014/10/the-le-puy-route-gr65-chemin-st-jacques.html http://dermotdolan.blogspot.ie/2015/10/camino-del-norte-september-october-2015.html
Thanks! If the Le Puy route has better signage than the Camino Frances then one has nothing to worry about!I walked the Le Puy route alone and genuinely never felt uncomfortable or in danger. Locals (mostly women) would sometimes express concern for my safety ("don't you feel scared!"), but never my fellow hikers or hosts. Of course, you're never really alone on the Camino, I was never further than a couple km from the next pilgrim.
I speak French, which helped a lot, but it had been a long time and my French was pretty terrible. All the locals I met were extremely friendly and patient with me! Most of the guide books for this section are in French, but the Miam Miam Dodo (the most popular guide) has all of its listings marked with symbols for easy understanding.
The signage is a bit mixed, as each district along the route maintains its own markings. They all use the red and white stripes, some towns paint them on trees, other towns have more permanent metal signs.
BUT! I found Le Puy to have better markings than the Camino Frances (No one is going around with a spray can to reroute lost pilgrims towards their business, for example.)
Those Photographs are from mid September 2014, but I have also hiked the route in early April 2012 where I encountered a bit of snow on the Aubrac but it was very beautiful then also. I believe the Wildflowers are magic in May. I believe the route can be busy from mid July to mid AUGUST as this is when a lot the French take holidays and you can get a lot of French hikers doing part of the route, not necessarily as Pilgrims but doing it as a GR (It is also known as the GR 65 which is a long distance hiking route that is also the Pilgrim route) Hope this is helpful. Regards DermotThank you! The photos are beautiful. Which month did you walk the Le Puy route?
I believe the route can be busy from mid July to mid AUGUST as this is when a lot the French take holidays and you can get a lot of French hikers doing part of the route, not necessarily as Pilgrims but doing it as a GR
Normally in one of those extremely expensive hotels if i am correct.recovery time for feet, legs and body.
I've done the Del Norte/Primitivo route last year and would love to consider the Le Puy, but have been reluctant as I've felt insecure about walking in France. You (and the previous comments by others) are helping me become excited about the possibility of doing this route in 2018.These are my two favorite routes and I would have an extremely hard time choosing between them. The French women are great walkers--out for the day, week, or fort-night in little groups and I think you would feel very welcome there. On the Norte, you would not find that many people out walking on your route unless they are pilgrims. Both are extremely beautiful trails in different ways--the Aubrac and the market towns of the LePuy route, the coastal cities with gorgeous beaches, and mountains for contrast, of the Norte.
I've done the Del Norte/Primitivo route last year and would love to consider the Le Puy, but have been reluctant as I've felt insecure about walking in France. You (and the previous comments by others) are helping me become excited about the possibility of doing this route in 2018.
Thank you, Davey, for the encouraging words! I won't close the door on considering that route after all!No need to feel insecure walking in France, I was as well looked after by the locals in France as I was is Spain. I have been asked many times if I prefer walking in Spain or France, but that is impossible to answer, because both are totally different, but both very beautiful. I cant wait to walk in France again! You will not be disappointed!
Davey
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?