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Hi. I arrive Leon around lunchtime and I am in Spain until 28 September. So I plan to walk for 16 days.Hi Dooze, what time do you arrive in Leon and will you have been travelling for long.
I did that section in May and only called ahead once when nearing Ponferrada because I wanted to spend the night in a hotel. The rest of the time I was on the trail by 7, never called ahead and always found a bed in the Albergue of my choice.Hi guys
Just checking, I am starting in Leon on 9 September. Do you suggest that I just arrive in
Leon and start walking. I am walking alone. or shall I make some bookings ahead. I am planning on staying at Refugios/Auberges. Any advice welcome please.
Thankyou so much!Allan has given you great information above but IMO I would take a rest in Leon that first day, stroll around see the Cathedral, get your bearings for a departure the next day. True the way out of Leon is industrial and can be uninteresting but it is all part of the Camino, the choice is yours. Below is a link for all accommodation along the Camino and can be downloaded from this forum. Have a great Camino
Buen Camino
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/“all”-albergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/
I agree. I stayed at the Benedictine Convent my first night and it was a GREAT way to begin my Camino.Allan has given you great information above but IMO I would take a rest in Leon that first day, stroll around see the Cathedral, get your bearings for a departure the next day. True the way out of Leon is industrial and can be uninteresting but it is all part of the Camino, the choice is yours. Below is a link for all accommodation along the Camino and can be downloaded from this forum. Have a great Camino
Buen Camino
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...lbergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/
I agree. I stayed at the Benedictine Convent my first night and it was a GREAT way to begin my Camino.
Hi, I am hopefully staying at the Benedictine Convent on Tuesday 2nd September but they won't take a booking. My flight gets into Oviedo at 14.30. Would I be too late to get in there? AngieI agree. I stayed at the Benedictine Convent my first night and it was a GREAT way to begin my Camino.
Thanks Katy, just worried about my first night. I am will have to get the train or bus down to Leon and find the Convent etc. I am not going to race for beds the next day. I will find a hostel somewhere the next day it is the just the first night.Leon is far too fabulous a place to miss! The cathedral is outstanding and there are lovely little streets to wander in and stop for a drink or tapa. I started my second leg from there in May but took a bus to Virgen del Camino from the bus station ( located adjacent to the train station) as less chance of getting on the wrong bus. It went direct to Virgen del Camino though was only pilgrim and only person to get off! Quick coffee and look at the very interesting modern church there (great sculptures on outside a bit Epstein-ish and modern stained glass) and hey presto you're right on the camino. Nice start and no need to beat yourself up about bussing the first bit.
Katy
I don't totally disagree that the Convent lacks in ambiance, but I do believe as stated before that it is a great way to spend a first night. And the folks who run it have exactly the right approach for serving weary perrigrinos.
Hi guys
Just checking, I am starting in Leon on 9 September. Do you suggest that I just arrive in
Leon and start walking. I am walking alone. or shall I make some bookings ahead. I am planning on staying at Refugios/Auberges. Any advice welcome please.
I will stay a night in leon and set off the next day. I think I will take a chance and find accomodation along the wayMaybe I didn't make my suggestion clear enough. "If you have not been to Leon before I would suggest that you visit the Cathedral.
If you decide to skip the Leon outskirts you could catch a bus to Virgen del Camino and save some 7k/8k.". Not knowing if you had been to Leon before I meant to strongly suggest visiting the Cathedral and my information was intended to be there if you didn't want to walk out of Leon on whichever day you left it. I personally always stay a night in Leon at a Hostal near the Basilica de San Isidro.
Bogong you have convinced me to walk and not bus! I think it was the please that did it.I stayed there 15 March this year. And the people running it are wonderful and helpful and friendly, and the old city is absolutely gorgeous. But it was one of the most disappointing experiences of my Camino. There were quite a lot of people there then, despite it being winter. However I saw very few of them indeed actually on the track either before or after. Some appeared to be in semi-permanent residence claiming "sickness", and I was told that numbers were simply tourists looking for a cheap place to stay and that some albergues looked to this to keep cash flow going during the off season. Anyway that's not a problem for me. The shortage of toilet/shower facilities would be off-putting in busier times, but the real disappointment was the lack of camaraderie. The hospitalerios had advertised a Pilgrim meal for the evening and I thought what a lovely opportunity for some fellowship with others. But I was the only one there. From overheard conversations it seemed most others were on a crawl of Tapas bars.
Also they locked you in until 7.30 am. As was my wont, I headed off a bit earlier but had to talk my way out ("no puedo dormir por el ruido" I think). They understood between the lines perfectly.
Please walk out, don't bus. The initial part of the walk is fabulous, although there is a bit of "industrial" after that. It's all part of the experience (and the Camino is a celebration of life as much as anything). I walked on to Hospital de Orbigo the next day to purge myself. Lovely, easy longish day, and Hospital was another celebration.
De colores
Bogong
Did you catch the train or bus back from Santiago to Madrid?We started in Leon and pre-booked a room there for our arrival night. We flew from San Francisco to Madrid, arrived in the evening so we spent the night in Madrid, then took the train to Leon the next day. We knew that we were likely to still have some residual jet lag upon our arrival in Leon and just felt more comfortable knowing where we would stay that night. It worked out well since we missed our intended train from Madrid to Leon and ended up arriving a few hours later than planned. This way, we got a good sleep and started fresh the next morning.
After that, we mostly just turned up at albergues and found space, although we did opt for hotel rooms a couple nights along the way. One day we had a really crappy day of walking and decided that we really wanted a room to ourselves, a private bathroom with plenty of hot water, and a little luxury (comparatively speaking) - so when we stopped for lunch, we got on booking.com and made a reservation for a room in an upcoming town. Another day I was having trouble with my ankle, so we took a taxi to the town we wanted to end up in that day (we had arranged to meet up with some friends there) and we booked a hotel room for the night since we didn't feel right about coming in a taxi and taking up space in an albergue - wanted to leave those for people who had actually walked all day.
Did you catch the train or bus back from Santiago to Madrid?
There is a bus to Leon at Madrid airport?Well, we had planned to take the train, but sometimes the forces that be have other ideas. Unfortunately we had to end our Camino early due to an emergency at home, so we didn't actually walk all the way to Santiago.
Day time trains take about 6 hours to get to Madrid, but there is also a night train that takes about 9.5 hours and arrives in Madrid about 8am - we had planned to take the night train.
WOW this is what I am looking for too! THANKS for all this information!
May I ask how long time you all spent on, or plan on spending to walk from Leon to Santiago? I know it's different from person to person. I'm not a fast walker and probably not too long a distance per day, as I REALLY like to enjoy every single flower etc. I'm still not sure if Leon is THE place for me to start or if I should start earlier.....I'm going on MONDAY!!!
Hi Ullali! I am actually starting on Sept 6 from Astorga. I had originally planned Leon, but as I have just two weeks, I felt Astorga was a better starting point. I think if you have around 17-20 days starting in Leon is perfect. It's a beautiful city, and you may want to spend an extra day there before you get started. The cathedral is a must! I do agree that leaving Leon through the industrial area is not so pleasant and would also suggest a bus past that point. But once you are back in the countryside, it's a terrific walk. Buen Camino!
I spent 17 days going from Leon to Santiago.
I got a flat tire near Rabanal ... I took two days off at Trabadelo hoping it would get better with rest ... and I walked the rest of the way with a limp ... so that slowed me up.
I was not keen to finish ... I was enjoying the trip. I was all too conscious of the peregrinos speeding on past to meet their deadlines in the real world and I was determined not to be part of that.
So I guess that means if you drag your feet it can take 17 days.
Ullali, it is a tough decision! I think Finistarre and/or Muxia shouldn't be missed. It really does make it feel like the official "end". That said, you can always take a bus day trip to the coast. Many people do that too. So this way you can have more days walking. I spent two nights in Leon, saw the cathedral and ate well at a few restaurants before continuing on. I would have loved to start there but time isn't on my side this time around! I am sure even starting in Carrion de los Condes would leave you enough time- but you might want to start closer and spend a bit more time in Santiago. There is never arriving too early! It's an amazing place to be. The energy there is incredible! (You might just want to stay 2-3 days!)
Where did you stay in Leon? I am finding it hard to pre book.We started in Leon and pre-booked a room there for our arrival night. We flew from San Francisco to Madrid, arrived in the evening so we spent the night in Madrid, then took the train to Leon the next day. We knew that we were likely to still have some residual jet lag upon our arrival in Leon and just felt more comfortable knowing where we would stay that night. It worked out well since we missed our intended train from Madrid to Leon and ended up arriving a few hours later than planned. This way, we got a good sleep and started fresh the next morning.
After that, we mostly just turned up at albergues and found space, although we did opt for hotel rooms a couple nights along the way. One day we had a really crappy day of walking and decided that we really wanted a room to ourselves, a private bathroom with plenty of hot water, and a little luxury (comparatively speaking) - so when we stopped for lunch, we got on booking.com and made a reservation for a room in an upcoming town. Another day I was having trouble with my ankle, so we took a taxi to the town we wanted to end up in that day (we had arranged to meet up with some friends there) and we booked a hotel room for the night since we didn't feel right about coming in a taxi and taking up space in an albergue - wanted to leave those for people who had actually walked all day.
Hi Ullali, I am getting excited now too. I fly from Stansted on Tuesday 2nd September to Oviedo and then take the train to Leon. I fly back on the 18, so I only have 16 days. I think I am going to walk and have a couple of days in Santiago and then walk to Finisterre. I have to get back to Oviedo as it was much cheaper than flying back from Santiago. There will be a lot of travelling on my trip but that is part of the fun and an opportunity to meet lots of interesting people.Awww! I'm so sorry about your flat tire and limp there! AUGH! That sounds awful!....but this is very helpful too (I mean for me to decide from)....I think I might be able to add some distance then and hope and pray I don't get hurt like you did!....Hope you are all good again!
Hi Ullali, I am getting excited now too. I fly from Stansted on Tuesday 2nd September to Oviedo and then take the train to Leon. I fly back on the 18, so I only have 16 days. I think I am going to walk and have a couple of days in Santiago and then walk to Finisterre. I have to get back to Oviedo as it was much cheaper than flying back from Santiago. There will be a lot of travelling on my trip but that is part of the fun and an opportunity to meet lots of interesting people.
I might meet up with you, although I will be a little ahead of you.
Buen Camino
I might have reached Leon by then OR even be ahead of YOU, if my legs are good? I really have NO idea how fast or slow I will be, or when I will be where /there? But yeah we might just meet!
I didn't think Albergues let you book in advance! Sounds great!
VERY Buen Camino to you too!
And here is their home page.I don't stop in albergues in Leon I always stay at a hostal. It is in the center, near the Cathedral, and on the Camino. It gives you that little bit of extra time to explore and enjoy Leon. You can find iyt on Booking.com
Hostal Restaurante Boccalino, Plaza San Isidoro, 9, 24003 León, Spain
Ullali, the albergues run by city and provincial authorities and by local church/ convent/ monasteries do not allow booking in advance, they are run on a 1st come basis. The privately run albergues almost all allow booking in advance by phone if you have their phone number and enough Spanish to make the call ( a bone of contention with many peregrinos ), for myself I place my trust in my namesake Santiago to provide and have yet to be disappointed in 40+ camino nights.
Relax, go with the flow and enjoy the experience
Seamus
I don't stop in albergues in Leon I always stay at a hostal. It is in the center, near the Cathedral, and on the Camino. It gives you that little bit of extra time to explore and enjoy Leon. You can find iyt on Booking.com
Hostal Restaurante Boccalino, Plaza San Isidoro, 9, 24003 León, Spain
I have a strong, strong suggestion for you. Get to Leon, see the sights and bus forward to Hospital de Orbigo. I am definitely not the type that buses ahead and I did not skipped a stretch on the Camino. However, now I know better and I would 100% skipped the stretch between Leon and Hospital de Orbigo and use that time to take it much, much slower after Astorga, much specifically after O'Cebreiro.
BUEN CAMINO!!
Well, then good thing you didn't start from SJPDP!! I loved Villar de Mazarife, Hospital De Orbigo, and Astorga as well and actually have walked both routes after Virgen del Camino. Hence, the advice to skip the stretch Leon- Hospital to allow a much slower pace after Hospital. Again, glad I did not skipped a stretch, but more glad that because of that I can advise from experience if anybody has to.I have a different perspective. In May 2011, a friend and I started in Leon. After two days of visiting the beautiful cathedral, San Isidoro, the Roman walls, and getting oriented to Spain, we took the bus to Virgen del Camino and walked to Villar de Mazarife, the next day to Hospital de Orbigo, and then to Astorga. On those first few short days, we got our "Camino legs." After Astorga, the terrain gets steeper, so we appreciated have done a few days of relatively easy walking to make the more challenging part of the walk easier. I wouldn't miss any one of those towns. In fact, the next year, 2012, while walking from Leon to Villar de Mazarife, I had my one and only Camino "epiphany" in which some very important pieces of my life fell neatly into place and the answer to a question I had been struggling with for several years was answered in a very mystical and magical way.
Did exact hike in May, 2014. Took train from Santiago to Leon and hiked back. Stayed in the Benedictine Convent albergue and began my hike the next morning. Did not book ahead until Sarria and did not need to (I was always on the trail by 7:30 and at my albergue by early afternoon). As I neared Sarria, I usually used my cellphone and a Booking.com app to reserve a bed in a private albergue. Seventeen days on the trail and did not have a single problem finding a bed.Hi guys
Just checking, I am starting in Leon on 9 September. Do you suggest that I just arrive in
Leon and start walking. I am walking alone. or shall I make some bookings ahead. I am planning on staying at Refugios/Auberges. Any advice welcome please.
I have a different perspective. In May 2011, a friend and I started in Leon. After two days of visiting the beautiful cathedral, San Isidoro, the Roman walls, and getting oriented to Spain, we took the bus to Virgen del Camino and walked to Villar de Mazarife, the next day to Hospital de Orbigo, and then to Astorga. On those first few short days, we got our "Camino legs." After Astorga, the terrain gets steeper, so we appreciated have done a few days of relatively easy walking to make the more challenging part of the walk easier. I wouldn't miss any one of those towns. In fact, the next year, 2012, while walking from Leon to Villar de Mazarife, I had my one and only Camino "epiphany" in which some very important pieces of my life fell neatly into place and the answer to a question I had been struggling with for several years was answered in a very mystical and magical way.
I have a different perspective. In May 2011, a friend and I started in Leon. After two days of visiting the beautiful cathedral, San Isidoro, the Roman walls, and getting oriented to Spain, we took the bus to Virgen del Camino and walked to Villar de Mazarife, the next day to Hospital de Orbigo, and then to Astorga. On those first few short days, we got our "Camino legs." After Astorga, the terrain gets steeper, so we appreciated have done a few days of relatively easy walking to make the more challenging part of the walk easier. I wouldn't miss any one of those towns. In fact, the next year, 2012, while walking from Leon to Villar de Mazarife, I had my one and only Camino "epiphany" in which some very important pieces of my life fell neatly into place and the answer to a question I had been struggling with for several years was answered in a very mystical and magical way.
Well, then good thing you didn't start from SJPDP!! I loved Villar de Mazarife, Hospital De Orbigo, and Astorga as well and actually have walked both routes after Virgen del Camino. Hence, the advice to skip the stretch Leon- Hospital to allow a much slower pace after Hospital. Again, glad I did not skipped a stretch, but more glad that because of that I can advise from experience if anybody has to.
Well, then good thing you didn't start from SJPDP!! I loved Villar de Mazarife, Hospital De Orbigo, and Astorga as well and actually have walked both routes after Virgen del Camino. Hence, the advice to skip the stretch Leon- Hospital to allow a much slower pace after Hospital. Again, glad I did not skipped a stretch, but more glad that because of that I can advise from experience if anybody has to.
The city bus goes only to La Virgen.Do you know if the bus goes beyond Virgen del camino? Or are there hostels between there and either Manzarife or Hospital.
Thank you Falcon. That's very helpful and will enable us to make clearer plansThe city bus goes only to La Virgen.
There is a bus that goes through Villadangos del Paramo to Hospital and Astorga.
I do not think there is a bus through Villar de Mazarife.
There are no albergues between La Virgen and Villadangos or Mazarife.
There are albergues after Villadango and Mazarife, but before Hospital.
The bus itinerary along this section is limited to either early hours in the morning and not every day of the week. So, it is spotty at best. You can walk to Villar de Mazarife, get to the Albergue Tio Pepe across from the church and they can call you a taxi that can take you to either Villadangos or HospitalDe Orbigo. It will not be cheap (i.e. >20 Euros). So, my advice would be to take the bus to Virgen del Camino. Take the route to Villar de Mazarife, which is very pretty on the countryside (agree with Marilyn that there is something very special about this section that invites to deep meditation). Stay in Villar. Next day early start to Hospital de Orbigo. Buen Camino!