HappyValerie
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (2017)
Camino Le Puy to SJPP(or however far I get) (2020)
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I have done both stretches twice. Yes Le Puy is dearer but much better value for money. I never had a problem sourcing lunch in France and it is right what others have said the average age of the walkers is much older than of the CF. None the less it is a lovely walk, and if the sun shines the scenery is unforgettable.
I walked the Frances first, loved it and since have walked many other routes including the entire Le Puy route x 3. It remains my favourite. It is a little more expensive than Spain, but very good value for money.I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine
I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.Hello Happy Valerie,....having just walked last October Le Put to Cahors 360 k's I believe Gleshiro has domed it up perfectly .I would add that it is a very tough walk / climb up and down mountains for the walk Le Puy to Cahors. Yes more expensive too. I'm 75 and very fit carried everything I.e. 9 kg pack and what I did notice was Other Pelegrinos were having their gear transported each day at a cost of 10 Euros per item . Well that certainly made their walk a lot easier but added to the cost each day. .....Burn Camino .I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
..Garry from Newcastle Australia.
I really don’t know what bushwalking means after reading this thread. You’re never off trail on this route.
I’ve done the Le Puy route twice for sport. Many French are just on vacation, but you may be surprised to find some of them emerging from Mass as I was one day.
One of the things I most enjoyed was the fact that — instead of being part of an international troop in Spain — I was one of a minority of foreigners being hosted by the French. Time and time again I was not allowed to pay for my own coffee: Vous êtes en France! they said.
All of this is colored by the fact that I’m in France at the moment, exploring Toulouse and thinking about another hike. But I know if I do hike again it will be in France.
I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
My husband and I are planning to walk Le Puy to StJPP starting first week of April. Hope to see you on the trail!I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
My wife and I walked the GR65 in 2016 and found it much different than the Camino. Typically, there are few villages between start and end for the day. The terrain is much more up and down than the Camino. The best part is the food. Can’t beet the food. Here is a list of where we stayed and miles walked for the day.I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
I walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
From Figeac, which is worth exploring a bit itself, you can hop a train and easily visit Rocamadour. A great day at a great monument!If you walked the Camino Le Puy, any recommendations or suggestions for potential rest days along the Le Puy? Any particular place worthy of spending a day and if so, why? Thx
Hello, I am joining this conversation late, but see you walked Le Puy in April. I'm wanting to walk it next april and wondering how you found the weather. I understand it can be cold with snow in the higher aubrac region, but was it doable and was there any problem finding accommodation in the early part of your camino. Thanks and looking forward to your reply and any other info you might want to share. Merci.Another vote for the Le Puy route. I walked it in April 2018.
Yes, it is different from the CF:
The advantages are:
- Fewer walkers most of whom first language is French (though many can speak English too),
- less infrastructure,
- somewhat tougher terrain (though the route is well marked and I managed well in Goretex hiking shoes, not boots),
- 25% more expensive.
Agree that Miam Dodo guides are the best. I usually only reserved a bed 24 hours ahead when there was only one option at my intended stopping place. I did however call each lunchtime (by then I knew how strong my legs felt) to my planned accommodation to inform them I was coming , so that there would be enough food prepared! Not once did I struggle to secure a bed.
- the food in the Gite d'Etapes (equivalent to private Albergues) is superb. I would take the communal dinner whenever it is available,
- no bunk beds!
- the scenery is varied and magnificent,
- local communities are delighted to see you - there is no 'Camino fatigue' for them,
- great camaraderie among the modest number of thru-walkers, who you inevitably get to know when you meet each evening,
- Some lovely historic village churches, isolated chapels and ... a highlight ... Conques Abbey (I recommend the Abbey's own accommodation and the pilgrim mass).
Enjoy your planning and Bon Chemin!
.
Hi Maruska,Hello, I am joining this conversation late, but see you walked Le Puy in April. I'm wanting to walk it next april and wondering how you found the weather. I understand it can be cold with snow in the higher aubrac region, but was it doable and was there any problem finding accommodation in the early part of your camino. Thanks and looking forward to your reply and any other info you might want to share. Merci.
Wow.. thank you so much for your speedy reply! I was wavering on whether Le Puy was the right choice for an April start, but I'm more determined now that it will be great. I don't mind some snow on the ground and will just have to work around the weather. I do have my high school French which I will definitely work on improving over the coming months. Once again thanks for replying... it helps calm uncertainty. Bon chemin for any future camino you may go on.Hi Maruska,
The weather varies year to year of course but for me it was mostly fine. In the month I had two days of rain, though some days were quite windy. However, walkers in May and June 2018 got quite wet and muddy. The Aubrac had some patches of lying snow and some 'bullets' of wind-driven hail, but I was more focused on the wild scenery than the weather!
I booked ahead only in Le Puy and a couple of places where there really was only one choice. Everywhere else I called ahead at lunchtime for the same evening.
Accommodation tends to open for the season at Easter, which in 2022 is mid-April. In 2018, I began walking on Easter Tuesday! On only two days did I not get my first choice accommodation, one of those being Figeac where there are a lot of non-camino hikers and a lot more room choices.
I took a down gilet to be warm in the evenings, but didn't use it during the day, when my walking jacket held in the heat I was generating through walking!
It's a lovely route. If you can manage a bit of French it is more sociable, but in most places there was at least one other English speaker.
Bon Chemin!
I walked it in a heatwave before covid.Don't know if anyone is still responding to this thread but I am looking at starting it at the end of June. Am I crazy? I did both the Frances and the Portuguese in July/August and just started my days early to avoid the hottest hours of the day.
Any thoughts?
I walked the C Frances last summer from SJPP to Santiago and would like to start this mid June from Le puy to Pamplona. I don’t speak any French and am traveling alone. Will it be a problem with my lack of French? Thank you. Mary EllenI walked the Frances twice and then chose the Le Puy route the following year in June of 2018. They have very few similarities; both are unique and lovely, but are very different. I always recommend the Frances as a "first" Camino, but the Le Puy is very beautiful. Whatever one you choose will be a win!
It was not much of a problem at all in general. However, I walked with two friends so we had each other for companionship at the communal dinners, which would have been a little awkward otherwise, as the French mostly talked among themselves.I walked the C Frances last summer from SJPP to Santiago and would like to start this mid June from Le puy to Pamplona. I don’t speak any French and am traveling alone. Will it be a problem with my lack of French? Thank you. Mary Ellen
Thanks for your reply. How was the trail different from the Camino Frances? Is it just fewer services, or would you say more difficult? I understand there are fewer pilgrims. Thx againIt was not much of a problem at all in general. However, I walked with two friends so we had each other for companionship at the communal dinners, which would have been a little awkward otherwise, as the French mostly talked among themselves.
The trail was more demanding for me, but totally worth it as it is very different from the Frances in all respects; the terrain, architecture, gites, etc. and very beautiful in it's own charming way. It did not seem quite as much of a pilgrimage, possibly because it shares most of the path with the GR trails. The Cele variant was very special as well, should you consider it.Thanks for your reply. How was the trail different from the Camino Frances? Is it just fewer services, or would you say more difficult? I understand there are fewer pilgrims. Thx again
The trail is more off road than the Frances, as it meanders alongside fields and through forested areas; you are much further away from the sound of traffic. You won’t often find anything open for lunch, most villages are inhabited by people who aren’t there during the day, so pack something to eat. The first two weeks are a lot of up and down, up and down, up and down. But it’s doable and beautiful.Thanks for your reply. How was the trail different from the Camino Frances? Is it just fewer services, or would you say more difficult? I understand there are fewer pilgrims. Thx again
Thanks very much. I will plan to do more research.The trail is more off road than the Frances, as it meanders alongside fields and through forested areas; you are much further away from the sound of traffic. You won’t often find anything open for lunch, most villages are inhabited by people who aren’t there during the day, so pack something to eat. The first two weeks are a lot of up and down, up and down, up and down. But it’s doable and beautiful.
Hi Valerie, If you're on Facebook, there's a group dedicated to the route started by Robert Forrester which might be worth joining. They are quite large informative group and often have people actively on the route posting their comments. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViaPodiensisI walked from SJPP to Santiago in Autumn of 2018 and loved it!!! I am Caminoing again, flying out of Sydney in 7 and a half weeks' time . I am undecided whether to walk from Le Puy to SJPP, or to walk Camino Frances again staying in different places and enjoying Springtime.
Pros: I will enjoying reviving my schoolgirl French from quite a few decades ago; the scenery sounds exquisite: and it will be experiencing a different part of the Camino world. Also the Pilgrim ceremony to farewell pilgrims in Le Puy sounds like a lovely start & way to meet fellow pilgrims straight away.
Cons: It seems that it may not be as well marked, and may intertwine with a regular main bushwalking trail; I have to "listen to my body" re when to stop for the day ( My research suggests there are less gites/albergues & it is recommended to book accommodation two nights ahead); and that the cost of living in France is quite a bit more than Spain which can add up over 5-6 weeks.
I am spending a week in Germany first, catching up with peregrinos from last camino, and have nothing booked after that except my flight home from Madrid mid-June.
Suggestions welcome
PS. I read heaps & heaps of forum threads, & listen to Camino podcasts as I go for walks around the streets near my home. The countdown is on. I just want to refine my research.
Thx so much!Hi Valerie, If you're on Facebook, there's a group dedicated to the route started by Robert Forrester which might be worth joining. They are quite large informative group and often have people actively on the route posting their comments. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViaPodiensis
Loving this thread! I want to walk this route but I dont speak any French and I am concerned that this will mean I will struggle with accommodation.
Fabulous! Did you have any trouble finding places in gites as I'm guessing this was peak season for this route?Oui, Oui, Le Puy! I know this is an old thread but we just got back last week after hiking Le Puy with the Rocamadour variant and then. home out of Paris. Quite a few long distance trails in my past and boy, I loved this one and can't wait to go back. The food (the cheese!!), scenery, history, incredible churches/ villages and warm people who went out of their way...it really was a wonderful pilgrimage. We left May 1 and ran into sleet, rain and wind. That broke and changed to searing heat. Just enough variety to keep things interesting! And thank goodness for the French postal system that allowed us to ship home the cool weather gear and lighten up the packs. Have already started looking at starting in Rocamadour next time, heading south to hook into the GR 65 for the next stages. Oh, and my terrible French is not really an issue anymore, thanks to the amazing person who created the Google Translate app!
Prebooked and given the numbers, I think I'll probably prebook in the future. I kind of like lazing around over coffee, wandering off the trail to see something interesting and not worried about the proverbial bed race!Fabulous! Did you have any trouble finding places in gites as I'm guessing this was peak season for this route?
How far ahead did you pre-book? I was thinking of booking a couple days ahead of time.Prebooked and given the numbers, I think I'll probably prebook in the future. I kind of like lazing around over coffee, wandering off the trail to see something interesting and not worried about the proverbial bed race!
I got back about a month ago and things were pretty busy. It really depends on the time of year. We also did Le Puy en Velay to Rocamadour so not the whole GR65. Some of the towns were really small and I think it also depends on how long you want your stages to be. The beginning seemed much more crowded to me. The French use the GR routes for short vacations, too, so we did the Rocamadour variant with the same people and stayed in the same places. Watch the weekends for booking, I think it fills up more for people taking short weekend breaks. But what a wonderful route, I can't wait to get back!How far ahead did you pre-book? I was thinking of booking a couple days ahead of time.
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