Lugo - Ourense a good idea?

[KariannNor]

I have been trying to find a way to avoid the circus during the last stages of Frances. In two hours you can take the Lugo - Ourense train and walk the last stages on the Plata. Is it a good idea, or are there just as many people there because many are thinking the same thing?

 

[Antnix1]

It's a good idea if that's what you want to walk.
Technically it's not a single Camino de Santiago as the rules are the stages must be consecutive but many people mix and match, walk stages in reverse, etc so it's your decision.

 

[jungleboy]

I have been trying to find a way to avoid the circus during the last stages of Frances. In two hours you can take the Lugo - Ourense train and walk the last stages on the Plata. Is it a good idea, or are there just as many people there because many are thinking the same thing?

There certainly aren’t as many people on the Plata/Sanabrés as the Francés. But maybe another option that makes more sense is to walk the Via Verde alternative from Lugo which connects to the end of the Norte rather than the Francés.

 

[Corned Beef]

to walk the Via Verde alternative from Lugo which connects to the end of the Norte

Details?

 

[KariannNor]

There certainly aren’t as many people on the Pkata/Sanabrés as the Francés. But maybe another option that makes more sense is to walk the Via Verde alternative from Lugo which connects to the end of the Norte rather than the Francés.

Thanks for the suggestion. I cannot find Via Verde described at Gronze. Maybe there is a description, if there is a marked route, somewhere else?

 

[trecile]

It's a good idea if that's what you want to walk.
Technically it's not a single Camino de Santiago as the rules are the stages must be consecutive but many people mix and match, walk stages in reverse, etc so it's your decision.

The only part that matters for the Compostela is the last 100 km, which must be in a recognized route.

Thanks for the suggestion. I cannot find Via Verde described at Gronze. Maybe there is a description, if there is a marked route, somewhere else?

Unfortunately, the Verde is not a recognized Camino route.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Thanks for the suggestion. I cannot find Via Verde described at Gronze. Maybe there is a description, if there is a marked route, somewhere else?

It’s a marked route, albeit not recognised. I walked it last year as part of my Primitivo, but I don’t bother with a Compostela. I’ll find the excellent thread from @Telelama and post it.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-verde-trail-conditions.80616/post-1152487

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/has-anyone-walked-the-ruta-verde-recently.81403/post-1152036

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Incidentally, whilst I didn’t use any apps on the Camino, you’ll find the Verde on Mapy.cz . Probably worth downloading Mapy if you don’t already have it.
If you do decide to do this, you might also want to continue onto the Norte variant.
If you need help with accommodation options, post here or pm me.

I absolutely loved the first day of the Verde, the second half was also nice, but the best ends partway though the day when you hit the Norte. It’s all on here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/mid-july-on-the-primitivo.81898/

or my videos.

 

[KariannNor]

Thanks to all of you. Now the pieces fall into place, it is the route with the green arrows. Will watch your videos Peter and read up on this one. Thank you very much.

 

[KariannNor]

But, if one choose Ourense, it will be 104.3 km if I have calculated correctly, before SDC. Isn't a bit strange that not more people have noticed this option if that paper is important? For my part, I still don't know if it is.

 

[Antnix1]

But, if one choose Ourense, it will be 104.3 km if I have calculated correctly, before SDC. Isn't a bit strange that not more people have noticed this option if that paper is important? For my part, I still don't know if it is.

They have.. there are groups and it's getting busier. But the frances remains more popular

 

[Tincatinker]

You could try reversing the Vía Künig from Lugo down to Ponferrada and then the Invierno and up to Santiago. You’ll still qualify for a Compo but you’ll have fun with the PO

A search for the Via on here will take you to a couple of great threads on “doing it our Way”

 

[KariannNor]

You could try reversing the Vía Künig from Lugo down to Ponferrada and then the Invierno and up to Santiago. You’ll still qualify for a Compo but you’ll have fun with the PO

A search for the Via on here will take you to a couple of great threads on “doing it our Way”

and PO is?

 

[Tincatinker]

and PO is?

Pilgrims Office. They like well behaved Pilgrims who walk to Santiago not around three sides of it as I’m proposing

 

[KariannNor]

Pilgrims Office. They like well behaved Pilgrims who walk to Santiago not around three sides of it as I’m proposing

Ahh.. thanks.. ;-)

 

[David Tallan]

I have been trying to find a way to avoid the circus during the last stages of Frances. In two hours you can take the Lugo - Ourense train and walk the last stages on the Plata. Is it a good idea, or are there just as many people there because many are thinking the same thing?

I would advise against it. As mentioned elsewhere, I wouldn't be put off by the scaremongering you read. I walked from Lugo to Santiago (including the part from Melide to Santiago during the busiest time of year). In the part after Lugo, including the part after Melide, I can say with certainty that I had just as much solitude as I had on the Primitivo before Lugo. All I needed to do was stop in Salceda and Lavacolla instead of in Arzua and O Pedrouzo as others were doing.

You develop a rhythm and mindset measuring a country day after day with your feet. It is more than interrupted when you take a bus or train elsewhere and resume. I think you are better off with a continuous journey. Save the walk from Ourense for a future Camino where you walk the Sanabres.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[David Tallan]

It's a good idea if that's what you want to walk.
Technically it's not a single Camino de Santiago as the rules are the stages must be consecutive but many people mix and match, walk stages in reverse, etc so it's your decision.

I believe it would still qualify for a Compostela as the last 100km would be on a single recognized Camino.

 

[dougfitz]

I believe it would still qualify for a Compostela as the last 100km would be on a single recognized Camino.

That's my take on this as well. When I walked the Sanabres from Ourense last year, there were a few people walking it who had started their camino on other routes. There might be some more complexity calculating a distance certificate for a disjointed route, but I know that it was done for my wife when she walked a few years ago. I don't know the current position of the Pilgrim Office on this, but there will be no harm in asking them to do that.

 

[VNwalking]

@KariannNor, I just walked from Lugo on the Primitivo proper, and found things on the Francés to be remarkably mellow - far mellower than I remember it from 2014 and 2015. The albergues I stayed in were not full, and the only "throngs" were on the last day, after the Santiago airport. On the Francés I stayed in Boente (Albergue El Aleman- which is fantastic) and the Santa Irene municipal.

 

[geraldkelly]

What circus??? Nobody tells me anything!!!

 

[Rita Flower]

But, if one choose Ourense, it will be 104.3 km if I have calculated correctly, before SDC. Isn't a bit strange that not more people have noticed this option if that paper is important? For my part, I still don't know if it is.

The walk from Ourense is beautiful, well supported and not at all crowded. I walked solo every day but met others at cafes and albergues. Apart from the hot springs in Oursense, a highlight is the Monastery at Oseira. You can get a tour of this huge historic place in the afternoon and attend vespers in the evening. The monastery has one of the rare statues of the Virgin of the Milk - Mary feeding the baby Jesus. When I walked in 2022 I had the feeling that this route would become very popular in the years to come so it might be wise to ‘get in early’.
You will get a Compostela for the Sanabres, not the Francés and I am not sure if your kilometres the Francés would be counted on a distance certificate. If you want a Compostela for the Francés you will need to walk from Sarria.
Whatever you choose - enjoy.
Buen Camino

 

[dougfitz]

If you want a Compostela for the Francés you will need to walk from Sarria.
Whatever you choose - enjoy.

Just to be clear, the Compostela does not show what route you walked, only the distance certificate does.

 

[Rita Flower]

Just to be clear, the Compostela does not show what route you walked, only the distance certificate does.

Thanks Doug - this little pilgrim is still learning

 

[Wandershot]

I would advise against it. As mentioned elsewhere, I wouldn't be put off by the scaremongering you read. I walked from Lugo to Santiago (including the part from Melide to Santiago during the busiest time of year). In the part after Lugo, including the part after Melide, I can say with certainty that I had just as much solitude as I had on the Primitivo before Lugo. All I needed to do was stop in Salceda and Lavacolla instead of in Arzua and O Pedrouzo as others were doing.

You develop a rhythm and mindset measuring a country day after day with your feet. It is more than interrupted when you take a bus or train elsewhere and resume. I think you are better off with a continuous journey. Save the walk from Ourense for a future Camino where you walk the Sanabres.

But that's just my opinion.

This! I walked in June. After Lugo, I stopped in Ferreira, Melide, Calle and Lavacolla. Melide and Calle where nowhere near full and because I was off-stage, I had quite a bit of quiet time, especially in the AM.

And last year in August, I volunteered at the Ribadiso muni, which is just before Arzùa (lovely historic spot). We were only full one day, with most folks carrying on to Arzùa.