- Time of past OR future Camino
- Le Puy, Francis, Portugal, Norte, West Highland W,
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OK thanks ...been debating later in April or early May...and good to know that it doesn't seem to be "that much harder" Thx again for the insightsTough call. More elevation change the first days on the Norte than Le Puy. Weather near the Bay of Vizcaya late in April can be iffy. I lived there for years and if there is a major late season snow storm n the US, it finds its way there a week later.
Unfortunately spring - April/May is my only windowI also found the Del Norte very pleasant in October, FYI. Not sure if that is relevant for you… harvest season is a treat along the way
I would opt for the May start, but that’s just because the average rainfall is less in May than in April and temps are a bit higher. I’ve walked the Norte starting in Irún in early May and late May and found the month of June to be even better than May. But given your restrictions, I would say, just start as late as possible. There is a sweet spot on the Norte, when lots of accommodations are open and available for pilgrims at low prices. Too early, and they’re not open. Too late, and they are filled with tourists, and you will have low availability and high prices. When I walked through the month of June, we were often able to find two bedroom apartments for 60€ for 4, or hotel prices in the 20-30 range. Those prices would be several times higher in peak season.Unfortunately spring - April/May is my only window
Just trying to decide when in April or early May to start
Thank you very much for your detailed feedback, all great points to consider.I would opt for the May start, but that’s just because the average rainfall is less in May than in April and temps are a bit higher. I’ve walked the Norte starting in Irún in early May and late May and found the month of June to be even better than May. But given your restrictions, I would say, just start as late as possible. There is a sweet spot on the Norte, when lots of accommodations are open and available for pilgrims at low prices. Too early, and they’re not open. Too late, and they are filled with tourists, and you will have low availability and high prices. When I walked through the month of June, we were often able to find two bedroom apartments for 60€ for 4, or hotel prices in the 20-30 range. Those prices would be several times higher in peak season.
There’s also a thread on the forum about coastal alternatives to all the asphalt. These off-camino routes are spectacular, at least all the ones I’ve done have been. Though the trails are all well marked, I think a GPS is a good idea because getting from the camino route on the road over to the trail is not always obvious or direct, even though it’s usually less than a kilometer.
But having put in a big plug for May, I know lots of people who have walked in April and also loved it! So you don’t have any bad choices here, IMO.
We've walked both the Le Puy and the Norte, in early spring.Le Puy vs Notre difficulty:
Hi all, we are seniors, done several Caminos most recently le Puy (Via Pondiensa). We loved it but it was a tough walk in sections - like the walk out of Conques and the hike out of Cahors amongst many others. I have read that Del Norte is tougher - more elevation and more pavement.
Thx Kanga - this really helpsWe've walked both the Le Puy and the Norte, in early spring.
We did not find the Norte much tougher than the Le Puy, but I think I was fitter when I started the Norte so that may have helped.
I agree that it would be better to start as late in the spring as possible, we experienced quite a bit of rain in April.
Wow - that's cool for late June- July but great walking weather. Thx for that update!Indeed start as late as possible. I'm walking the Norte from Bilbao now and we have had on and off rain. My previous experience on the Norte is that the weather in October was better than early June. One just never knows being on the coast.
Temperatures in the morning have been cool at around 12c and haven't gotten higher than 24c on sunny days.
Thank-you this information is very very helpful. Appreciate you taking the time to respondHaving twice walked both routes I would definitely class the Norte as easier than the Le Puy. The walks out of both Cahors and Conques are much harder than anything on the Norte. The Norte certainly has some more pavement, but also more pleasant beaches to walk along (firm sand for walking barefoot). It also has some very interesting little quirks (eg you have to catch a couple of small ferries across estuaries, as well as a transporter bridge, some escalators along streets, a train across a bridge etc). Its ups and downs are somewhat more than the Le Puy route. But this is mainly due to the last part of the Le Puy route being very flat and easy compared with earlier parts of Le Puy which have a lot of steep ups and downs.
Thank you very much - all these experiences help us figure out what to do and when! Appreciate you taking the time to answer me.I walked the Norte this year April 28-June 7. Had rain the first day, then not again until Galicia, though it did rain occasionally in the afternoons after I was in for the day. Did almost all the alternatives in @peregrina2000’s extremely helpful ‘alternatives’ thread, and highly recommend, though it did result in adding (spectacular, asphalt-free) days. Cannot compare to LePuy, however, as I haven’t walked it.
We started in Irun on March 19th 2019 as we also prefer cooler temperatures and had great weather with only a few days of rain .Second question
We can't walk in the heat...we have started all our Caminos in April, we were thinking for Norte around the 20th...I know this is a hard question to answer but knowing it's on the water, more rain and cooler is this a reasonable start date?
wow - thx...did you walk all the way to Santiago? How were the temps - teens and low 20's C?We started in Irun on March 19th 2019 as we also prefer cooler temperatures and had great weather with only a few days of rain .
You have gotten some really good adviceWe did not find the Norte much tougher than the Le Puy, but I think I was fitter when I started the Norte so that may have helped.
’ve walked the Norte starting in Irún in early May and late May and found the month of June to be even better than May. But given your restrictions, I would say, just start as late as possible.
Everyone knows from what they speak and they are all giving excellent advice. The people I have inserted here have always been people I have listened to and followed their advice. I would especially add that the thread on Variants that @peregrina2000 mentioned will add lots of enjoyment if you choose the Norte. There is more up and downs on the Norte early on but a lot of great payoffs to the ups. Bring walking poles for sure. I think Le Puy overall may be more beautiful only because of the wide variety of landscapes. But you sure can't beat seating on a rock eating lunch or taking a break looking out into endless miles of ocean.Weather near the Bay of Vizcaya late in April can be iffy. I lived there for years and if there is a major late season snow storm n the US, it finds its way there a week later.
Yes we arrived in Santiago on April 30th with a few rest days.wow - thx...did you walk all the way to Santiago? How were the temps - teens and low 20's C?
I would opt for the May start, but that’s just because the average rainfall is less in May than in April and temps are a bit higher. I’ve walked the Norte starting in Irún in early May and late May and found the month of June to be even better than May. But given your restrictions, I would say, just start as late as possible. There is a sweet spot on the Norte, when lots of accommodations are open and available for pilgrims at low prices. Too early, and they’re not open. Too late, and they are filled with tourists, and you will have low availability and high prices. When I walked through the month of June, we were often able to find two bedroom apartments for 60€ for 4, or hotel prices in the 20-30 range. Those prices would be several times higher in peak season.
There’s also a thread on the forum about coastal alternatives to all the asphalt. These off-camino routes are spectacular, at least all the ones I’ve done have been. Though the trails are all well marked, I think a GPS is a good idea because getting from the camino route on the road over to the trail is not always obvious or direct, even though it’s usually less than a kilometer.
But having put in a big plug for May, I know lots of people who have walked in April and also loved it! So you don’t have any bad choices here, IMO.
Thank you thank you - so kind to respond with such detail.I feel confident we can start walking late April and while cooler and wetter, for me much better that to dry and too hot! Hiking poles for sure and good rain gear!You have gotten some really good advice
I too have walked both and found Le Puy a little tougher. Both are beautiful.
Everyone knows from what they speak and they are all giving excellent advice. The people I have inserted here have always been people I have listened to and followed their advice. I would especially add that the thread on Variants that @peregrina2000 mentioned will add lots of enjoyment if you choose the Norte. There is more up and downs on the Norte early on but a lot of great payoffs to the ups. Bring walking poles for sure. I think Le Puy overall may be more beautiful only because of the wide variety of landscapes. But you sure can't beat seating on a rock eating lunch or taking a break looking out into endless miles of ocean.
Hi, we are seniors (69 and 74). We completed Le Puy in early May this year. We had done it in 2014. Like you we don’t walk in the heat - even though we are Australians - in fact we had 4 days of snow on the Aubrac Plateau. We left Le Puy on the 24th March. We did Del Norte in 2015 the year after our first Le Puy and I think Le Puy is tougher. We walked Del Norte through April. The weather was good - a few rainy days. We loved Del Norte but didn’t do Primitivo just the coastal route. The first day out of Irun is tough but we’ll worth the climb. Good luck.Le Puy vs Notre difficulty:
Hi all, we are seniors, done several Caminos most recently le Puy (Via Pondiensa). We loved it but it was a tough walk in sections - like the walk out of Conques and the hike out of Cahors amongst many others. I have read that Del Norte is tougher - more elevation and more pavement.
I was wondering for those that have done both how you would compare them. I do realize that everything is relative but I'm just trying to get a general sense of the difficulty so i can plan rest days and # of walking days etc.
So is it a little bit harder 10%? or 25%? or way, way harder...any feedback appreciated.
Second question
We can't walk in the heat...we have started all our Caminos in April, we were thinking for Norte around the 20th...I know this is a hard question to answer but knowing it's on the water, more rain and cooler is this a reasonable start date?
We will be walking to Finisterre/Muxia so 35-40 days so really want to minimize hot weather avoid the heat dome Europe seems to be getting theses days...if we can
Thx all
Thanks Annie - that info is very helpful! We too plan to do the coastal route and not do the Primitivo, and it sounds like we can start in April!Hi, we are seniors (69 and 74). We completed Le Puy in early May this year. We had done it in 2014. Like you we don’t walk in the heat - even though we are Australians - in fact we had 4 days of snow on the Aubrac Plateau. We left Le Puy on the 24th March. We did Del Norte in 2015 the year after our first Le Puy and I think Le Puy is tougher. We walked Del Norte through April. The weather was good - a few rainy days. We loved Del Norte but didn’t do Primitivo just the coastal route. The first day out of Irun is tough but we’ll worth the climb. Good luck.
I started May 1 in 2011 - times and weather patterns change but it was lovely and comfortableUnfortunately spring - April/May is my only window
Just trying to decide when in April or early May to start
Hi, we started the Norte from Irun on 29th April this year and had no rain for the first three weeks. Only about 4 days after that were drizzly on and off until Santiago. Usually t-shirt was warm enough when walking. Plenty of accommodation available.Thank you thank you - so kind to respond with such detail.I feel confident we can start walking late April and while cooler and wetter, for me much better that to dry and too hot! Hiking poles for sure and good rain gear!
Thx so much Karen - I hope 2023 is the same because that's when we plan to do.Hi, we started the Norte from Irun on 29th April this year and had no rain for the first three weeks. Only about 4 days after that were drizzly on and off until Santiago. Usually t-shirt was warm enough when walking. Plenty of accommodation available.
I have walked both and enjoyed them both immensely. I think the LePuy may be my favorite overall, so please know my bias. The first five days on the Norte are challenging. Having said that, if you do not take a few of the variants during the first several days - including day one out of Irun to San Sebastián - you can avoid more difficult parts with the big(ger) ups and downs. Yes, there is a lot of asphalt on the Norte, some of which can be avoided by taking alternative tracks. There are great resources on this forum that will show you where those are and how to get to them. I normally walk in April/May, but I walked the Norte in September and it was very sunny and unseasonably hot. The hot asphalt resulted in a couple of not-too-terrible blisters, which I have generally managed to avoid on other caminos. There were long stretches on fairly untraveled roads that had no shade. That was, I think, the toughest part for me. I also found the Norte a bit more expensive, especially in Basque Country (touristico areas). It was more comparable to the LePuy than, say the Frances of Portuguese, in that regard. I was prepared for this as many of the Albergues were still closed due to Covid. This pushed pilgrims into competition with the tourists for private rooms.Le Puy vs Notre difficulty:
Hi all, we are seniors, done several Caminos most recently le Puy (Via Pondiensa). We loved it but it was a tough walk in sections - like the walk out of Conques and the hike out of Cahors amongst many others. I have read that Del Norte is tougher - more elevation and more pavement.
I was wondering for those that have done both how you would compare them. I do realize that everything is relative but I'm just trying to get a general sense of the difficulty so i can plan rest days and # of walking days etc.
So is it a little bit harder 10%? or 25%? or way, way harder...any feedback appreciated.
Second question
We can't walk in the heat...we have started all our Caminos in April, we were thinking for Norte around the 20th...I know this is a hard question to answer but knowing it's on the water, more rain and cooler is this a reasonable start date?
We will be walking to Finisterre/Muxia so 35-40 days so really want to minimize hot weather avoid the heat dome Europe seems to be getting theses days...if we can
Thx all
Thx Duayne, what a great note. Thank you for taking the time to write a response for me, it was really really helpful!I have walked both and enjoyed them both immensely. I think the LePuy may be my favorite overall, so please know my bias. The first five days on the Norte are challenging. Having said that, if you do not take a few of the variants during the first several days - including day one out of Irun to San Sebastián - you can avoid more difficult parts with the big(ger) ups and downs. Yes, there is a lot of asphalt on the Norte, some of which can be avoided by taking alternative tracks. There are great resources on this forum that will show you where those are and how to get to them. I normally walk in April/May, but I walked the Norte in September and it was very sunny and unseasonably hot. The hot asphalt resulted in a couple of not-too-terrible blisters, which I have generally managed to avoid on other caminos. There were long stretches on fairly untraveled roads that had no shade. That was, I think, the toughest part for me. I also found the Norte a bit more expensive, especially in Basque Country (touristico areas). It was more comparable to the LePuy than, say the Frances of Portuguese, in that regard. I was prepared for this as many of the Albergues were still closed due to Covid. This pushed pilgrims into competition with the tourists for private rooms.
As for the question of whether the Norte is harder than the LePuy? In my opinion. yes, there are bits that are somewhat more physically taxing early on. 25% harder? No, I don’t think so. My suggestion would be manage your distances according to the level of difficulty (refer to Gronze) each day, and have a good look at any variant you may be tempted to take. Also, get off the asphalt when you can. Thanks to great advice of those on the forum, I had a lot of lovely walks along the beach or coastline instead of up on the hot road. The Norte is a beautiful Camino and impossible not to enjoy, even with some big ups along the way. Buen Camino!
The Cicerone GR65 Guidebook says the walk out of Cahors after the Pont Valentre bridge requires some scrambling??? Is that the case?Having twice walked both routes I would definitely class the Norte as easier than the Le Puy. The walks out of both Cahors and Conques are much harder than anything on the Norte. The Norte certainly has some more pavement, but also more pleasant beaches to walk along (firm sand for walking barefoot). It also has some very interesting little quirks (eg you have to catch a couple of small ferries across estuaries, as well as a transporter bridge, some escalators along streets, a train across a bridge etc). Its ups and downs are somewhat more than the Le Puy route. But this is mainly due to the last part of the Le Puy route being very flat and easy compared with earlier parts of Le Puy which have a lot of steep ups and downs.
In 2017, with a giant backpack, I did use my hands at some points going up there and it was a bit scary. It's still hiking and not mountain climbing at all, but it certainly is one of the steeper and technically more difficult sections of the GR65. This year I took the alternative path ("route equestre", for people with horses and donkeys - go right instead of up, follow the orange balisage) and was happy I did. With a smaller pack it is probably no problem at all, but with my monster pack and sandals I did like the alternative route better.The Cicerone GR65 Guidebook says the walk out of Cahors after the Pont Valentre bridge requires some scrambling??? Is that the case?
We are doing Le Puy now it’s tougher than the del Norte.Le Puy vs Notre difficulty:
Hi all, we are seniors, done several Caminos most recently le Puy (Via Pondiensa). We loved it but it was a tough walk in sections - like the walk out of Conques and the hike out of Cahors amongst many others. I have read that Del Norte is tougher - more elevation and more pavement.
I was wondering for those that have done both how you would compare them. I do realize that everything is relative but I'm just trying to get a general sense of the difficulty so i can plan rest days and # of walking days etc.
So is it a little bit harder 10%? or 25%? or way, way harder...any feedback appreciated.
Second question
We can't walk in the heat...we have started all our Caminos in April, we were thinking for Norte around the 20th...I know this is a hard question to answer but knowing it's on the water, more rain and cooler is this a reasonable start date?
We will be walking to Finisterre/Muxia so 35-40 days so really want to minimize hot weather avoid the heat dome Europe seems to be getting theses days...if we can
Thx all
If you were doing the Norte now, chances are you would possibly say it was tougher than the Le Puy.We are doing Le Puy now it’s tougher than the del Norte.
Good morning from California. I am hoping to do the le puye camino next year but I did the camino Norte in 2017. I started May 6th and before I was finished , about 40 days total, I had some very hot days. Walking near the coast the weather was almost always pleasant but as we left the coast to go to santiago we experienced some really hot days. Hope that helps and buenLe Puy vs Notre difficulty:
Hi all, we are seniors, done several Caminos most recently le Puy (Via Pondiensa). We loved it but it was a tough walk in sections - like the walk out of Conques and the hike out of Cahors amongst many others. I have read that Del Norte is tougher - more elevation and more pavement.
I was wondering for those that have done both how you would compare them. I do realize that everything is relative but I'm just trying to get a general sense of the difficulty so i can plan rest days and # of walking days etc.
So is it a little bit harder 10%? or 25%? or way, way harder...any feedback appreciated.
Second question
We can't walk in the heat...we have started all our Caminos in April, we were thinking for Norte around the 20th...I know this is a hard question to answer but knowing it's on the water, more rain and cooler is this a reasonable start date?
We will be walking to Finisterre/Muxia so 35-40 days so really want to minimize hot weather avoid the heat dome Europe seems to be getting theses days...if we can
Thx all
Thx Keith...did you find Del Norte pretty? From the videos i watched seems like a lot of road walking and big cities...?Good morning from California. I am hoping to do the le puye camino next year but I did the camino Norte in 2017. I started May 6th and before I was finished , about 40 days total, I had some very hot days. Walking near the coast the weather was almost always pleasant but as we left the coast to go to santiago we experienced some really hot days. Hope that helps and buen
camino
Thx for your thoughtsWow. Lots of people with a variety of appraisals. So obviously your experience can fall into a range depending on what challenges you.
My wife and I did both in May. le Puy to Sjpp in 2017 and Norte in 2018. The spots you mention as hard are both very steep. The Norte has some steep climbs but some longer ones in Basque Country that show overall elevation gains and losses higher than Le Puy stages. Both smooth out as you move along. We found we were in great shape when we got near the end and I finished in Roncealles after an easy hike over the Napoleon route. Even though this is a hard stage. So it will depend à great deal on your condition going in. We were both around 60 in age at the time.
We’re looking forward to doing the Frances to round out our experience…..
As for dates, your probability of getting rain does increase slightly as you move your departure date back, but the variability from one year to the next is very high. This was a bad year to start in April…… Next year may be glorious…
Bien Camino
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